France sees 2020 winter wheat area down nearly 5pc

• Heavy rain has disrupted autumn sowing of wheat and barley in France, the European Union's biggest grain producer.
• France's main oilseed crop, the ministry estimated that the area would reach 1.05 mln ha.

In its first sowing estimates for next year's harvest, the ministry pegged the winter barley area for next year at 1.25 mln ha, down 4.3pc.

Heavy rain has disrupted autumn sowing of wheat and barley in France, the European Union's biggest grain producer, leading analysts to anticipate a sharp fall in the crop area.

For winter rapeseed, France's main oilseed crop, the ministry estimated that the area would reach 1.05 mln ha, down 4.9pc compared with this year but 26.8pc below the five-year average.