PARIS: The European Union should see a rise in yields for its main cereal crops this year after plants came through winter without frost damage and with regular rain boosting soil moisture, the EU crop monitoring unit MARS said on Monday.
For soft wheat, the EU's largest crop, the combined average yield for the bloc's 27 members is expected to rise to 5.65 tonnes a hectare this year, up 4.5 percent from 5.41 tonnes in 2012, MARS said in a monthly report. This would be 0.3 percent above the average of the past five years.
For barley, the combined yield would reach 4.46 tonnes a hectare, 2.3 percent higher than last year's 4.37 tonnes. This would include a 2.6 percent rise for spring barley to 3.97 tonnes, and a 0.8 percent fall to 5.24 tonnes for winter barley.
For maize, planting of which is yet to start in earnest, the crop unit forecast a 16.7 percent jump in the average EU yield to 6.96 tonnes a hectare from 5.96 tonnes.
Other forecasters also expect EU grain yields and output to rise this year.
Last year's grain yields in the EU were curbed by a combination of rain in western countries and hot, dry weather further east that notably slashed maize output.
Heavy rain in the UK that spoilt last summer's harvest has already hampered sowing of 2013 crops, while the return of wintry weather across Europe this month has raised concerns about crop damage, but MARS said grains were mostly in a satisfactory state.
"So far fair wintering conditions suggest good yield potentials but the impact of the continued cold spells in central Europe needs to be closely monitored," it said.
The unit's simulations showed no winterkill losses due to frost should occur up to March 30, with crops in central and northern Europe still hardened against the cold, although the conditions led to delays in crop growth, MARS said.
For rapeseed, the EU's main oilseed crop, MARS projected a stable yield this year at 3.10 tonnes a hectare.
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