French crops are in good shape entering the winter with an estimated 98 per cent of soft wheat in good or excellent condition as of Nov. 28, data from farm office FranceAgriMer showed on Dec. 2.
The rating suggests strong potential for next year’s harvest, but crops tend to be more affected from spring onwards, like this year when hot and dry weather hurt yields in many parts of the country.
At this point last year, French soft wheat ratings stood at 99 per cent in good or excellent condition. They had fallen to 64 per cent by harvest time in July.
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For winter barley, crop condition dipped to 97 per cent in good/excellent condition by Nov. 28, from 98 per cent the previous week.
Sowing of major winter cereals was almost over, with 99 per cent of the expected soft wheat area and 89 per cent of the expected durum area drilled, while winter barley sowings were over, FranceAgriMer said.
Crop development was between six and seven days ahead of the five-year average, it said, and crops benefitted from mild autumn weather.
