Weakened yield outlook for EU summer crops
The yield forecast for grain maize in Europe has fallen by almost 2%, but this is still above the 5-year average for the EU, according to the EU’s Joint Research Centre’s Monitoring Agricultural Resources crop report.
Forecasts among the different regions vary considerably – forecasts are distinctly below the 5-year average for most western and northern-central European countries, while well above-average yields are expected for southern-central and south-eastern Europe, particularly for Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
The weak maize yield outlook in western and northern-central Europe is due to a combination of heatwaves and below-average rainfall since June or earlier. Similarly, yield forecasts for sugar beet, potatoes and green maize, which were already below the 5-year average at EU level, have been revised further downwards. The productivity of pastures in northern, central and western Europe has also been negatively impacted.
The yield outlook for sunflowers remains firmly above the 5-year average.
Forecasts for winter crops and spring cereals essentially remained the same. The season has closed in most regions, and crops have been harvested under adequate weather conditions.
