Intense heat could jeopardize corn and soybean crops in Europe

In the USDA's latest weekly bulletin, Europe showed a stark contrast in weather conditions, directly impacting its agricultural regions. While the south of the continent recorded some of the highest temperatures of the season, the north was hit by moderate to heavy rain. The return of intense heat to southern Europe was highlighted in regions such as Spain, with temperatures varying between 38-44°C. In the south of France, records were between 35-43°C. And in northern Italy, the marks were between 36-40°C. Strong heat accelerated the maturation of summer crops, however, reduced yield prospects for late-developing corn and soybeans. In parallel, southeastern Europe also saw advances in summer crops, with temperatures reaching averages and highs of 30°C. Rain and storms were recorded from northern and central France to western Poland and Slovakia. This rainfall, which varied from 2 to 45 mm, helped to minimize the impacts of the heat, which was between 2-7°C above normal for the ...