MARS lowers yield of autumn crops

The second heat wave occurred when the corn fields were just starting to bloom, which cost yields. The expectation has therefore been adjusted downwards by 2%. This has also had an effect on sugar beets and potatoes. France, Poland and Italy are mentioned in particular, but the Benelux is also discussed.

Grain harvest positive
Compared to the 5-year average, the crops do score positively. Wheat and barley yields will be slightly higher, but have been reduced compared to the July forecast. The bulletin states that the wheat harvest is almost complete. The average potato yield is estimated to be 3,1% below average and that of beets in MARS is 4,9% lower.

Drought plays a major role in France. Despite the restrictions on irrigation, only a small number of irrigated beet and potato plots have been affected, the European Commission reports. In the country, approximately 40% of the potatoes and 10% of the beets are irrigated. Yet the drought has an impact everywhere and yields are historically low. In neighboring Germany there is a clear difference between the south and the rest of the country. It is extremely dry in the north and east.

Drought in Poland
Poland is severely affected by persistent drought, despite the fact that some areas have received an average amount of rainfall. The grain harvest is poor and there are problems with diseases. Corn yields little because it was hot and dry during the flowering period. The low trend for potatoes and beets is maintained.

Due to ample rainfall in the United Kingdom and Ireland, these crops do well there, although there are problems with diseases due to the wet and sultry weather. Water damage has occurred locally in plots. According to the bulletin, the damage caused by the heat and drought in the Benelux has been limited; The border region in particular has been hit hard. Yet yields maintain the 5-year average.

For the EU-28, the European Commission expects a potato yield of 32,7 tons per hectare. The 5-year average is 33,8 tons. However, the yield is 5% higher than last year. For the Netherlands the yield is 41,7 tons. For Belgium this is 42 tons and for Germany 39,7 tons.

A similar story applies to sugar beets. The Dutch yield is estimated at 85 tons per hectare. For France this is estimated at 80 tons and in Germany at 72,8 tons. After Spain (88,5 tons), the Netherlands has the highest beet yield.

Black Sea Region
The MARS bulletin also looks at the situation around the Black Sea. It has been dry in Russia, but the precipitation in June has somewhat compensated. The wheat harvest is expected to remain better than last year. An average harvest is estimated for corn. A similar story applies in Ukraine. The crops yield slightly less due to the drought.