HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) — Germany will harvest 23.5 million tonnes of wheat of all types in 2013, up 5.4 percent from 22.3 million tonnes in 2012, the giant German Farm Co-operatives Association said last week in its first harvest estimate.
The association forecast Germany’s 2013 winter rapeseed crop will rise to 5.38 million tonnes from 4.80 million tonnes in 2012.
It forecast Germany’s 2013 grain crop of all types at 45.22 million tonnes against 45.17 million tonnes in 2012.
Sowings of winter wheat, barley and rye had been expanded while plants had so far generally come through the winter well with snow cover preventing frost damage, the association said.
“Up to now there is no significant frost damage to winter plants,” it added.
Frost damage can still occur for around a month and plants must also come through Germany’s changeable spring and summer weather.
