EU: Barley yields affected by both the July heatwave and August rainfall

The heatwave in July affected yield potential across Europe, particularly in France and Germany, as well as in Poland, Finland, Austria and Sweden. Rainfall in August has interrupted the harvest, causing rising concerns for crop quality, Farmers Weekly Interactive said August 29. Variable weather has led to Strategie Grains reducing their EU grain production estimate for 2006/07 by 10.5 million t.

Hungary's harvest is almost complete. The Agriculture Ministry says winter barley 2% lower and spring barley down 11%.

In the Czech Republic winter barley is almost complete. The Agriculture Ministry says yields are 4t/ha for winter barley (-9%).

But both the heatwave in July and the recent rainfall have affected the crop quality.

31 August, 2006