Heatwave expected in Europe as grain yield expectations dip

Sign up to receive the Weekly Market Report and Grain Market Daily from AHDB. The EU Commission’s MARS report trimmed its forecasts of EU crop yields yesterday, due to both overly wet and overly dry conditions in different parts of the bloc. The report trimmed its predicted average EU soft (exc. Durum) wheat yield from 5.92 t/ha in May to 5.86 t/ha this month. This is now in line with the five-year average. Yield prospects for winter barley, rapeseed, maize and sunflowers were also reduced. The forecast for spring barley yields was edged up slightly. Continued wet weather in parts of France and Germany, plus the Benelux countries has slowed crop growth and farmers’ ability to carry out field work. Pest and disease pressure is said to be high. The weather has also greatly slowed spring crop planting and root growth is a concern. Meanwhile, dry weather had a negative impact on winter crop prospects in parts of Hungary and Romania. Heatwaves also negatively impacted Spanish winter ...