French cereal crop ratings were little changed in the week to May 22, data from farm office FranceAgriMer showed, confirming more stable crop conditions after rainfall this month eased dry conditions in the European Union's biggest grain producer. The condition of French soft wheat improved slightly, with 76 percent of crops rated good or excellent by May 22 compared with 75 percent a week earlier, FranceAgriMer said in a weekly update published on Monday.
The rating was below the year-earlier level of 83 percent, although crop conditions in 2016 subsequently deteriorated sharply due to torrential rain, culminating in the worst French wheat harvest in three decades. Rain since the end of April relieved parched grain belts in France, but traders are now watching to see if a hot, dry spell in the past week, with temperatures topping 30 degrees Celsius (86?F) in the much of the country, has affected crops.
Storms forecast from Monday are then expected to bring some showers and cooler temperatures. In its weekly report, FranceAgriMer also estimated that good/excellent ratings for durum wheat, the variety used in pasta, also rose one point over the period to 68 percent.
Winter barley ratings were stable on the week at 67 percent good or excellent, while the equivalent spring barley ratings edged down to 77 percent from 78 percent. Grain maize was rated 87 percent good/excellent, compared with 86 percent a week earlier. Farmers had finished maize sowing during the week to May 22, ahead of last year, when 94 percent of the area had been sown by the same date. Nearly all maize crops had emerged from the soil, with 94 percent reaching the growth stage compared with 77 percent a year ago. FranceAgriMer's weekly crop report is usually released on Friday but was delayed due to last Thursday's Ascension Day holiday in France.