PARIS: The state of France’s maize crop, hit by an exceptionally hot and dry summer, remained at its worst on record last week while the harvest advanced briskly, data from farm office FranceAgriMer showed on Friday.
Ratings of French grain maize crops showed 22percent were in good or excellent condition by September 28. That was stable compared with a revised figure for the previous week and the lowest score in FranceAgriMer records going back to 2011.
The figure compared with a year-earlier 62percent. A very dry September offered little relief for French maize (corn), production of which is forecast to fall to its lowest since the 1970s. Dry weather and small volumes have supported a fast harvest pace.
The grain maize harvest was 67percent complete by Monday, against 45percent a week earlier and a five-year average of 20percent for the same week, FranceAgriMer said. Rain returned to France this week, including heavy storm showers in the south, which may slow field work.