France: ONIC estimate of March 3 puts the winter barley acreage at 1,096 Mill. tons, 5,9 % below last year. This already includes some or all losses due to winterkill. Estimates are that 100,000 ha of Esterel barley are lost and must be reseeded. Spring barley has been planted; the acreage is around 600.000 ha versus 480,000 ha last year. Light rains by the end of March ended a month’s long dryness.

04 April, 2003