Europe is still heading for an above-average grain harvest. Abundant precipitation in Western and Central Europe, Romania and Ukraine has caused major damage to the crops locally, according to the JRC institute. However, the impact on revenues on a larger scale remains limited. Concerns about the quality of the grain are increasing.
The July edition of the JRC Institute's MARS report contains no major shifts compared to a month earlier. The average grain yield is estimated at 5,67 tons per hectare. That is 6,3% above the 5-year average and 0,7% higher than the expectation in the previous report. The extreme rainfall in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands has only limited influence on crop yields. The start of the harvest has been delayed.
Barley performs less, wheat performs better
Winter barley yields are 0,8% lower than what was expected in the June edition of the MARS report. But with an average expected harvest of 5,85 tons per hectare, the yield remains 4% higher than the 5-year average. The yield forecast for soft wheat has been adjusted further upwards. JRC assumes a yield of 6,05 tons per hectare, 6,3% above the 5-year average.
Good potato yield forecast
Potatoes are doing well according to the MARS report. The average expected yield is 34,7 tons per hectare. That is 5,1% above the 5-year average. The yield forecast for Germany is 44,8 tons per hectare. That is 7,6% above the 5-year average and 4,6% higher than the 2020 harvest. A yield of 43,6 and 41,6 tons per hectare is predicted for the Netherlands and Belgium. That is 3,7% and 3,8% above the 5-year average, respectively. In France, an average harvest is forecast at 41 tonnes per hectare, 0,4% above the 5-year average.
Above average beet yield in the Netherlands
The yield forecast for sugar beet is 73,5 tons per hectare, just 0,2% below the 5-year average. The beets are in relatively poor condition, especially in Eastern Europe. An above-average yield is expected for the Netherlands. At 86,9 tons per hectare, the yield is 4,9% above the 5-year average and 5,8% higher than the 2020 harvest.