France: Barley condition estimate improved this week

The amount of French winter barley rated “good” advanced 1 percentage point to 47 percent, while “excellent” was stable at 9 percent, based on conditions in seven regions that represent 56 percent of average national output, crop office FranceAgriMer reported this week.

For spring barley, the “good” rating remained in place for 62 percent of the crop, while grain rated “excellent” climbed to 15 percent from 14 percent, based on data from five regions that on average grow 47 percent of the French crop, according to FranceAgriMer.

The French soft-wheat crop rated “excellent” increased in the latest week, while the conditions of durum wheat, FranceAgriMer said.

Twelve percent of France’s soft wheat was rated “excellent” in the week ended April 16, up from 11 percent a week earlier, while 50 percent was rated “good,” compared with 51 percent the previous week, FranceAgriMer reported. The crop rated “fair” was unchanged at 26 percent.

The ratings are the average for eight regions that represent 54 percent of French soft-wheat production, according to the Montreuil-sous-Bois, France-based office.

Durum wheat was 41 percent rated “good” and 4 percent “excellent,” compared with 39 percent and 3 percent the previous week, based on three regions making up 58 percent of French production of the grain.

25 April, 2012