The condition of French soft wheat continued to deteriorate last week as wet weather persisted in crop belts, with the share of the crop in good or excellent condition falling to the lowest level this growing season and remaining at a four-year low.
Grain crops in France, the European Union’s largest producer, have suffered from particularly wet weather since plantings, with heavy rain delaying sowings and flooding fields. Some 61% of French soft wheat was rated in good or excellent condition by May 27, down from 63% a week earlier and 91% at the same time last year, according to farm office FranceAgriMer.
The rating was the lowest for the time of year since 2020, when French wheat crops were also affected by heavy rain during planting. The good/excellent score for winter barley also fell on the week to 64% from 66% a week earlier and 88% last year. Durum wheat, used in pasta, was unchanged at 64%, against 86% in 2023, while the spring barley score stayed at 73%, down from 93% last year.
Rain has also continued to hamper maize plantings, with farmers having sown only 85% of the expected maize area by May 27, well behind year-earlier progress of 97% and a five-year average of 98% for the time of year. Three weeks ago, maize planting had progressed by 18 percentage points.
The deteriorating crop conditions and planting delays raise concerns about the impact on France’s wheat and maize production, which are crucial for supplies in the European Union and global markets.