The maize in Europe suffered greatly from the heat and drought. In the yield estimate of the European Commission, the yield of maize is estimated to be 16% lower than the five-year average. Other summer crops are also affected by the drought, although some crops are not yet in such a bad shape.
The exceptionally warm and dry weather conditions affected crops in large parts of Europe in July and August. This results in lower yields for several summer crops in the August edition of the European Commission's JRC Mars bulletin. The drought was already unique in Northern and Central Italy, Spain, France and parts of Central and Eastern Europe, but in the past month the Benelux and Germany, among others, have been added. Irrigation bans apply in several countries. This affects almost all summer crops. However, the conditions were favorable for harvesting the winter crops well and quickly, so there were hardly any yield losses.
Corn very bad, sunflower next
Little to no water and heat stress coincided with the flowering phase and grain development, resulting in yield losses on several crops. In the July edition, corn recorded 7,4% less compared to the five-year average. In July there was a further decrease of 8,6%, which rises to 16% and brings the average yield to 6,63 tons per hectare. In Hungary and Romania 34% and 23% lower yields are expected and in Italy 25% compared to the five-year average. In the Netherlands, a yield of 10 tons is expected, 6,8% less than the five-year average and even 22% less compared to 2021/22.
For sunflowers, a 12% lower yield is expected, 2,06 tons per hectare of sunflower seeds. In France, the yield is even expected to be so poor that despite the significant increase in acreage, the total yield is the same as in other years. Soybeans are also down sharply this month by 9,6%. In total, the yield of the crop is estimated to be 15% lower in Europe. The drought in Italy causes 25% less yield and takes the cake. Other countries also all have negative scores, except for a few with a minimal plus.
The crop for which an above-average yield is still expected is rapeseed. The majority has been almost completely harvested and recorded an increase of 2,4% on the five-year average with an average of 3,15 tons per hectare.
Delivering sugar beets and potatoes
The sugar beets have visibly suffered from the drought and heat and many growers from all over Europe are wondering what this has done to the growth and what will happen to the crop. According to the yield estimate, sugar beets are declining by 2,7%, but at 75,3 tons per hectare they are still just above the five-year average. The drought has negative effects on leaf growth, but this is partly compensated by a high sugar content. Further growth is still possible if the crop is watered. In the Netherlands, a slightly above-average yield of 86,2 tons is expected, 2,7% higher than the five-year average. Despite the drought, France still records a plus of 5,7% and the hectare yield amounts to 87 tons of sugar beet.
The hectare yield of potatoes in Europe is almost at the five-year average. A yield of 34,2 tonnes per hectare is currently expected, just like the five-year average. According to the yield estimate, the forecast is down 2,5%. On average, the potatoes are not in such a bad condition, the report states. In several regions, the crop was ahead of other years in terms of growth, so the crop was already further developed when the drought started to affect it. A lot of irrigation has also been applied in Europe to further stimulate growth. According to the report, a positive hectare yield of 42,7 tonnes on average is still expected in the Netherlands. With 40 tons per hectare, France is 3,3% below the five-year average and Germany sees its hectare yield shrink to 40 tons by 3,7%. According to the report, Belgian potato growers also harvest 2,5% less and Spain sees a decrease of 9,7%. In Northern Europe, the potatoes are above average and at least 5% more hectare yield is expected.