PARIS: Condition of French cereal crops worsened from last week, data from FranceAgriMer showed on Thursday, in a sign that lasting dry weather in the European Union’s largest grain producer may be taking a toll on yield.
Ratings showed 81percent of soft wheat crops were in good or excellent condition by April 27, down from 83percent a week earlier, but still up from 74percent a year ago, FranceAgriMer said in a crop report. Ratings remained unchanged at 84percent between February 23 and April 13.
Analysts and forecasters have warned that dry conditions in many parts of Europe may become a concern as crop water demand increases ahead of flowering.
Although France continued to see dry weather this week, rainfall was expected in many parts of the country over the weekend and early next week.
Winter barley ratings also fell with 77percent of the crop in good or excellent condition by Monday, down from 81percent a week earlier, still up from 70percent by the same time last year.
Ratings showed 88percent of the spring barley crop was in good or excellent condition, down from 92percent in the previous week but better than 82percent in the year-ago period.
The fall was even sharper for durum wheat, with 72percent of the crop in good condition by April 27, down from 81percent a week earlier and below last year’s level of 76percent. For maize, data showed farmers had sown 73percent of the expected area, against 56percent a week earlier and 60percent a year ago.
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