French wheat, barley crop ratings fell in week to April 15

PARIS:* Farm office FranceAgriMer estimated in a weekly report on Friday that 81 percent of French soft wheat crops were in good or excellent condition by April 15, down from 83 percent a week earlier.

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

* FranceAgriMer rated 77 percent of French winter barley as good/excellent, down from 79 percent a week earlier, while the equivalent spring barley rating fell to 89 percent from 91 percent.

* For grain maize, 29 percent of the expected area for this year's harvest had been sown, up from 16 percent a week earlier.