European arable farmer all-in on the cultivation of oilseeds

The European Commission expects arable farmers in the EU27 to sow a total of 5,94 million hectares of rapeseed, the majority of which is already in the ground as winter rapeseed. Last season the acreage amounted to 5,33 million hectares. That's a plus of 11,5%. Compared to the five-year average, the acreage is growing at a slightly more modest 6%.

More rapeseed in Germany
The German cooperative rapeseed processor Rapool estimates that 1,1 million hectares of rapeseed have been sown in the country. This despite dry and difficult conditions during sowing. Rapeseed was sown up to and including mid-September, where this is normally no later than about 5 September. Last year the acreage still amounted to 999.500 hectares and cultivation has already picked up a bit. One of the main reasons why German farmers rely on rapeseed is the market for biofuels. High oil and diesel prices mean that biodiesel with the addition of rapeseed is lucrative again.

The European Commission currently assumes a theoretical yield of 19,28 million tons of rapeseed at the current surface area. That is 13% more than was harvested last season and 12% more than the multi-year average. Despite a dry summer, rapeseed performed well in Europe this year, including in France. Arable farmers have also sown more hectares there.

More oilseeds
In total, the harvest of oilseeds for the coming season is estimated at 32,24 million tons. That is a plus of more than 7% compared to last season and the multi-year average. The cultivation of sunflowers is expected to increase by 17% - to 5,1 million hectares - and that of soybeans even by 19%, accounting for 1,12 million hectares. In Spain and Romania in particular, farmers are investing more in sunflowers.

Shrinkage in protein crops
The cultivation of protein crops is actually shrinking, the EC reports. Less field and fava beans and lupins are expected to be grown. In total, the acreage will shrink by 1,6% to 1,42 million hectares. With an average harvest, the yield can be higher. The cultivation of broad beans in particular is showing a contraction. Field beans remain stable in Europe at 770.000 hectares. The new CAP, which will come into effect from 1 January, does not seem to increase the cultivation of protein crops for the time being, although this is a goal.

Previously written about a considerably larger Canadian rapeseed harvest, the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture now calculates with a slightly lower figure. This is mainly due to an area that has decreased by 4% to 8,6 million hectares. Good for 18,4 million tons of rapeseed. Canada Statistics reported last month that 19,5 million tons could be harvested this year.

Australia achieves record exports
For the third year in a row Australia has to deal with the weather phenomenon La Nina, which ensures that especially the east coast of the country receives a lot of precipitation. Locally this causes problems, on the other hand, larger harvests are the result. The Australian agricultural agency Abares calculates with 6,64 million tons of rapeseed that will be harvested this season, compared to 6,76 million tons last season. Europe in particular is a major export customer. In the 2021-2022 season, Australia exported 5,64 million tons of the black gold. That is the largest volume in 10 years. Europe bought 3,39 million tons of this in the period up to August. EU countries normally import a lot of rapeseed from Canada, but that country was unable to meet export expectations last season due to a disastrously bad harvest.

Farmers in Ukraine are also opting more for oilseeds. According to the APK-Inform market agency, more companies are opting to sow rapeseed and sunflowers because these products are easier to export than wheat or maize. The country is even working on a pipeline to the Polish port of Gdansk to export crude oil. The current sunflower harvest is 10,5 million tons. That is one million tons more than previously thought, but still 40% less than was harvested last season.