Autumn colours in the EU remain in relatively good condition

The European Union’s autumn-sown crops are in relatively good condition, but more rainfall is needed in central and eastern Europe to realise their good yield potential, according to the regular monthly report for March from the European Agricultural Resources Monitoring Agency (MARS). Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of areas in the EU where crops have suffered from adverse weather conditions has decreased, while the number of areas where the weather in the coming months will be crucial for yields has remained at last year’s level. A significant shortage of rainfall is being reported in much of central and eastern Europe, with autumn crops in western Romania and Bulgaria suffering from insufficient moisture since the start of the season. In eastern and central Ukraine, limited rainfall has hampered the recovery of crops from poor conditions during the plant emergence period. The lack of snow cover and the expected colder than usual weather raise additional ...