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French wheat conditions stabilise but collect worries continue

Crop conditions for soft wheat in France were stable recently, information from farm workplace FranceAgriMer showed on Friday, however harvest prospects in the European Union's biggest producer remained bad after a damp growing season.

Some 62% of soft wheat was estimated to be in excellent or exceptional condition by June 10, the same from a week earlier but below 85% a year earlier, FranceAgriMer said in a cereal report.

Ball game remained the lowest for the time of year because 2020, when French wheat crops were also impacted by heavy rain, the report revealed.

France had warm, warm weather condition last week however rain has returned today and observers say the cumulative impacts of months of wet weather condition will likely result in a double-digit percentage drop in soft wheat production this year.

The agriculture ministry approximates that rain already cut soft wheat sowing by more than 7%.

FranceAgriMer does not talk about crop conditions in its weekly reports but Benoit Pietrement, a farmer who heads its grain committee, told press reporters today that weeds were a. major concern since growers have actually struggled to operate in. waterlogged fields.

The increase presence of weeds and crop disease this year. has added to collect concerns, though yields were not anticipated to. be as bad as in 2016 when France gathered its worst wheat crop. in 3 decades following a wet, overcast spring, Francois. Laurent of crop institute Arvalis stated.

It's going to be a disappointing year however not a devastating. one, he stated, including it was difficult to forecast yields after. planting extracted by rain made crops conditions very varied.

For winter barley, the very first significant cereal to be collected in. summertime, the good/excellent ranking gained 2 points recently to. 65%, however remained well listed below a year-earlier rating of 85%.

In its first production projection for this year's harvest,. France's farm ministry forecasted the winter barley crop would be. almost 11% listed below last year's volume.

For maize, 97% of the expected location had actually been planted,. progressing from 90% a week earlier, FranceAgriMer stated.

The state of emerged maize crops was stable, with 80% rated. good/excellent.

(source: Reuters)