The French are in trouble, the grain sowing area may be smaller

France's agriculture ministry cut its estimates for winter cereal acreage, with wheat acreage at its second lowest level in 30 years, after heavy rain disrupted fieldwork in the European Union's biggest grower. Difficult sowing conditions in France and other parts of Western Europe cast early doubt on this year's crop, although large stocks in Europe and Russia kept grain prices under pressure. The Paris-based agriculture ministry said the area planted to winter wheat, France's main cereal crop, for the 2024 harvest was set at 4.36 million hectares, down from an initial forecast of 4.49 million in December and down 7.7 percent from last year. . The revised estimate was the second lowest since 1994, after 2020, when planting was hampered by torrential rains, the crop report said. "Due to excessive moisture, some fields will be plowed and some sowings will be postponed and spring crops will be planted in the area," the ministry said about the autumn grain sowing. The production ...