According to the MARS report from the European Commission, the May precipitation has come in time for the wheat, barley and rapeseed crops. Only in Spain does persistent drought lead to a lower harvest. In France there was too much rain, which does not benefit the yield.
The total harvest of (soft) wheat the report for the European Union at 6,10 tonnes per hectare. This means that the harvest is 2,7% above the 5-year average and 8,6% above last year. For France, the largest European wheat producer, the figures were adjusted downwards. A storm that passed over the country in June brought a lot of rain and lodging in wheat and barley. In the southeast of the country it is very dry. The disease pressure is also high.
The average potato yield in the European Union is 3,2% above average. Lower yields are expected from the major potato countries only in Poland. For the Netherlands, the forecast is 4%, up to 44,3 tons per hectare. This was 36,6 tons per hectare last year. Belgium shows an increase of 3%, Germany an increase of 2,7% and France an increase of 2,6%.
Drought in Southern Europe
It remains persistently dry in Spain. The yield expectations have therefore been corrected downwards. A lack of precipitation is expected to cause problems this summer, because irrigation bans will be in force. In Germany and Poland the rain did fall on time. Only rapeseed is having a hard time this season. This is expected to be the smallest harvest in more than 10 years.
For large parts of Europe, meteorologists expect higher temperatures than average in the long term, with occasional showers. However, there will not be much rain. Slightly cooler weather is expected for the months of July, August and September.
Benelux unchanged
The MARS report presents a mixed picture for the Netherlands. Sufficient rain has fallen in large parts of the Netherlands in recent weeks, although it remained colder than average. Crops develop differently depending on how much moisture they have. Sugar beets, potatoes and corn are behind in development. A closed crop is not expected everywhere on the longest day. The revenue expectations for the Benelux remain unchanged.
The Matif in Paris recorded green figures on Monday, June 17, closing €2 per tonne higher (September wheat contract). However, the contract must give up this profit again on Tuesday morning, June 18. The CBoT in Chicago was also higher for wheat, soy and corn.