The average EU corn yield for the 2025/26 season is expected to be 6.82 tons per hectare, down from the 6.88 tons per hectare predicted in September, and 4% below the five-year average of 7.10 tons per hectare.
The average sunflower yield estimate has been reduced from last month's forecast of 1.81 tons per hectare to 1.79 tons, which is 11% below the five-year average of 2.02 tons per hectare.
Soybean yield expectations have also been lowered this month, from last month's forecast of 2.79 tons per hectare to 2.75 tons, but this is still 3 percentage points higher than the five-year average.
The report states that the 2025 EU summer crop harvest is underway, with yields expected to be mostly near or above average. In Southeastern Europe, only corn and sunflowers have been severely affected, leading to lower EU yield expectations compared to the five-year average. In contrast, most summer crops in Northern and Western Europe are expected to have yields near or above average.
Winter grain sowing progresses smoothly
The MARS report states that from France to Poland, and from the Scandinavian Peninsula to Italy, favorable weather and field conditions have facilitated timely sowing and achieved good emergence and early crop growth. In contrast, excessive moisture in parts of Bulgaria and Romania has delayed winter grain sowing, while in parts of Portugal, Spain, and eastern Croatia and Hungary, winter crop sowing has also been delayed due to persistent soil drought. For uniform emergence in these areas, rainfall is needed soon, which is likely to occur in the coming weeks.