HAMBURG (Reuters) – Western European Union wheat plantings have emerged without major damage from the Arctic-style temperatures seen this winter and hopes of a good harvest are increasing, traders and analysts said last week.
Wheat in France, Germany and Britain survived deep frosts under snow cover, they said.
In its first forecast for the 2010 season, Coceral said the 27-nation bloc’s soft wheat harvest should increase by 3.6 percent in 2010 to 135.48 million tonnes, compared to 130.69 million in 2009.
For barley, Coceral expects a 56.58 million tonne crop, down from 62.07 in 2009, while corn output would increase to 57.52 million tonnes from 57.07 million.
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The canola crop was set at 20.77 million tonnes, down from 21.32 million in 2009. Sunflower production was seen reaching 6.72 million tonnes, compared to 6.89 million.
In Spain, farmers are waiting for critical rain, which can cause massive swings in the country’s crop size.
“The picture is looking good at this stage but there are still several more weeks in which deep frosts are possible, which could cause damage to plantings now without snow cover,” one trader said.
In the EU’s top producer, France, plantings appear to have come through the winter well.
“Although winter was cold and long, there is no visible damage,” said Philippe Gate of the French crop institute, Arvalis.
Gate said conditions were set for good, average yields.
In the EU’s second largest producer, Germany, plantings also emerged from the exceptionally cold winter without major frost damage.
“At this stage, things are looking good, no significant damage has been reported,” a German trader said.
Germany was on course for a good average crop but wet weather meant farmers were unable to spread fertilizers, which could cut yields.
Britain’s wheat crop has emerged from the winter in good condition although development has been slowed by the coldest winter in more than 30 years.
