France: French farmers begin sowing spring barley

French farmers have begun sowing spring barley for this year's harvest, with 6 percent of the expected area sown by February 19, farm office FranceAgriMer said on February 23.

The sowing pace was slower than last year, when 14 percent of the area had been sown by the same date, FranceAgriMer said, suggesting field work this year has been slowed by heavy rain followed by cold spells.

Spring barley is sown earlier than other spring crops like maize (corn) and sugar beet. In its weekly cereal crop report, FranceAgriMer estimated that 85 percent of soft wheat crops were in good or excellent condition by February 19, up from 84 percent a week earlier but below a year-ago score of 93 percent.

Some 94 percent of soft wheat crops had reached the tillering phase, compared with 90 percent a year earlier, and 1 percent was now in the subsequent 1-cm ear growth stage versus zero a year ago, FranceAgriMer said. Grain markets are monitoring a cold spell that is expected to intensify next week, with more advanced crops and those lacking snow cover more vulnerable to frost damage.

France is the European Union's largest cereal producer. For other winter cereals, FranceAgriMer rated 82 percent of winter barley as good/excellent as of February 19 versus 83 pct a week earlier and 90 percent a year ago.

For durum wheat, 79 pct of crops were rated to be in good or excellent condition, down from 81 pct the previous week and 85 percent a year earlier. Durum, the wheat variety used in pasta, endured a mixed start to the growing season due to drought in southern France where some of the crop is grown.

27 February, 2018