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This year total cereal production in the EU-271 is forecast to be well above 2012 levels and above the average of the past five years. This agricultural year has so far been marked by an unusually prolonged winter for western and central Europe and heavy rainfall in May and June. However, the impact of poor weather on crops in some areas of the EU has been offset in other areas; for example, the Iberian Peninsula is expecting an excellent season.
The yield forecast for cereals (wheat, barley, maize, other cereals) is 5.2 tonnes per hectare across the EU, clearly above last year (by more than 5%) and above the five-year average The total area used in the European Union for cereals in 2013 is slightly higher (+1.3%) compared to 2012.
For individual crops across the EU-27 compared to last year (updated with latest data), the latest yield forecasts show the following trends:
Cereals:
- soft wheat: 5.5 t/ha (+2.1%)
- durum wheat: 3.3 t/ha (+6.4%)
- barley: 4.7 t/ha (+6.3%)
- grain maize: 7.1 t/ha (+16.3%)
Oilseeds and tuber crops:
- rape seed: 3.0 t/ha (-4.1%)
- sunflower: 1.9 t/ha (+14.0%)
- potato: 30.1 t/ha (+1%)
- sugar beet: 65.65 t/ha (+0.2%)
Soft wheat yield as a total is currently forecast to be above last year's. Forecasts for France as the biggest producer show lower yields compared to last year, whereas higher yield levels are foreseen in Spain, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.
Barley at EU level is pushed above last year’s values by the excellent outlook for Spain, Romania and Bulgaria. Spain, which accounts for one quarter of spring barley production, is forecast to have a yield 40% above the five-year average and is experiencing an excellent season with record-high yields.
Grain maize is forecast to have a yield clearly above last year’s yield, but it should be noted that this is a forecast at an early stage of the season for maize. Wet conditions have delayed or hampered sowing in two maize growing regions; Aquitaine (France) and Lombardy (Italy).
Thursday July 4, 2013/ EC/ European Union.
http://europa.eu/rapid
