French wheat yields down 8%
Harvest in France is now complete, with wheat yields 8% down on last year, according to analyst ODA.
It estimated average yields to be 6.66t/ha (2.7t/acre), putting total production at 33.6m tonnes.
Barley yields were down by 11%, at 5.7t/ha (2.3t/acre), with production pegged at 8.9m tonnes.
But oilseed rape yields had improved by 3% on last year, at 3.38t/ha (1.4t/acre), boosting production to 5.23m tonnes.
In Germany, 20% of wheat was yet to be harvested, mostly in the important exporting North, said a report by Agritel.
“New rains stopped harvest yesterday (23 August). Rains should last until the end of the week. Quality will therefore be damaged.”
The Russian cereal harvest was halfway through, and expected to reach 85-90m tonnes, compared to 61m tonnes in 2010 and 97m tonnes in 2009.
In America, farmers were still concerned over the spring wheat and maize crop, it added.
“According to Oil World, first expectations for the 2012 soya harvest should reach 73.3m tonnes in Brazil and 53m tonnes in Argentina, versus 75m tonnes and 49.2m tonnes this year, respectively.”
