Many crops two weeks late | Long winter delaying crops in France, Germany and Britain
HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) — Recent warm weather has helped European wheat crops catch up after a cold spring, but a late harvest is still expected.
Many crops are two weeks late.
“Better weather in the past four weeks has improved the picture with wheat in the west EU, but the wheat supply balance is tight because of old low European stocks, and the EU will face problems if there is a small crop this year,” said Claus Keller, grains specialist with German commodity analysts F.O. Licht.
Read Also
China’s grain imports have slumped big-time
China purchased just over 20 million tonnes of wheat, corn, barley and sorghum last year, that is well below the 60 million tonnes purchased in 2021-22.
“Concern remains in some areas such as about the British crop.”
Exceptionally cold weather and frosts up to early April sparked concerns that wheat growth could be seriously delayed.
“Generally, wheat plants are about two weeks behind normal growth in much of north Europe against up to three weeks a month ago,” one trader said.
The two week delay could make for a squeeze this summer as millers and feedlots await the harvest.
In France, the European Union’s largest wheat producer, wheat crops are still about two weeks behind normal growth in key northern grain belts despite recent warmer weather.
“We are heading towards a late harvest with yield potential that is not at its maximum,” said Jean-Paul Bordes of French crop institute Arvalis.
Wheat in southern France is developing at a normal pace, which should allow the usual flow of early season exports.
It is a similar situation in the EU’s second largest wheat producer, Germany.
“We are no longer facing very serious problems, but a delayed harvest start is still on the horizon,” one German analyst said.
Sunny, dry weather has helped wheat in Britain, the third largest producer, but the harvest this summer is still expected to be significantly below normal.
Jack Watts, senior analyst with the Home-Grown Cereals Authority, said it would take near-perfect conditions to achieve even average crop yields in Britain. There were significant delays to British wheat plantings and almost continually wet soil over winter.
“It is an improving picture but still below average,” Watts said.
Britain had its second wettest year on record last year.
