France cuts soft wheat crop estimate, raises maize forecast

Published Sep 18, 2024

Tridge summary

France's farm ministry has lowered its 2024 soft wheat output estimate by 2.54 million metric tons, bringing the total reduction to 27% below last year's volume, marking one of the worst harvests in 40 years. This is due to wet weather that has delayed plantings, damaged plants, and increased crop disease. The ministry also reduced its barley output estimate by 3.35 million tons, a 18% decrease compared to last year. However, grain maize projections have been raised by 380,000 tons, an 11% increase from last year, as farmers have shifted to this crop due to soggy fields. The sugar beet crop production forecast has also been increased by 2.65 million tons, a 8.4% rise from 2023, while the 2024 rapeseed production is expected to be nearly 8% lower than last year.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

France’s farm ministry on Tuesday again lowered its estimate of the country’s 2024 soft wheat output, now expected 27% below last year’s volume, making it one of the worst harvests in the past 40 years in the European Union’s largest grain grower. Wet weather since last autumn in France has delayed plantings, hurt plant development and increased crop disease, prompting observers to regularly cut their grain crop estimates. The ministry lowered its estimate of the 2024 soft wheat crop to 25.78 million metric tons from 26.32 million last month and the lowest volume since 1986. The estimate is now in line with French analysts which have pegged the harvest between 25-26 million tons. For barley, the ministry cut this year’s output to 10.05 million tons versus 10.40 million estimated last month, now 18% below last year. Of this, winter barley output was expected to fall 28% to 7.0 million tons while spring barley would rise 18% to 3.05 million. For grain maize, harvesting of which is ...

Source: Hellenic Shipping News