The European continent has been split in two in terms of crop development this spring. In the north it is wetter than average while – especially in the Iberian Peninsula – it is extremely dry. The overall impact on crop development remains limited according to figures from the JRC. The Mars report makes some tweaks to the grain yield figures. Sugar beet yields are declining slightly.
Spain continues to turn red on the maps, including in the MARS bulletin of the Joint Research Committee (JRC). Italy has gone from an extremely dry situation to extreme rainfall. This is especially the case in the northeast of the country, resulting in damage to grain crops.
The JRC will not be tinkering with grain yields in the EU this month. Only that of barley has been adjusted slightly downwards. Mainly because the spring barley is not well developed everywhere. Wheat is up slightly, while barley yields are down a percentage point. This is only 3% for spring barley.
Wet spring, small impact
It is still very early to make any statements about potatoes and sugar beets, but according to the European researchers, the delayed sowing and planting time will not have a major impact. The sugar beet yield is reduced by 1%, but this still remains 6% above the multi-year average. For potatoes this is 7% above average.
However, the report does mention that persistent rainfall in most European countries has caused a later sowing and planting time. Potatoes and corn in particular have been affected. In Eastern Europe, persistent rainfall, up to 120 millimeters in some cases, has caused flooding and increased disease pressure.
Potato yield higher
The Mars report now mentions above-average potato yields for the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. These are 6% in the Netherlands, 11% in Belgium and 11% above the multi-year average in Germany. In France the yield remains unchanged and in Poland there is hardly any shift in the yield.
This is slightly different for sugar beets. There, the analysts left the Netherlands and Belgium approximately the same, with the yield in Germany increasing by 10% and that in France by 5%. On average, sowing could take place earlier there and the conditions for initial development were good.