French wheat, barley crop ratings fall, maize sowing progresses

PARIS:* Farm office FranceAgriMer estimated in a weekly report on Friday that 83 percent of French soft wheat crops were in good or excellent condition by April 8, down from 84 percent the previous week.

* That compared with 78 percent at the same stage last year.

* FranceAgriMer said 79 percent of French winter barley was good/excellent, down from 80 percent a week earlier, while the equivalent spring barley rating fell to 91 percent from 94 percent.

* For grain maize, 16 percent of the expected area for this year's harvest had been sown, up from 8 percent a week earlier and above a year-ago level of 1 percent.