Germany’s 2024 wheat crop is expected to fall 5.5% from the previous year to 20.34 million metric tons, according to the latest harvest estimate from the country’s association of farm cooperatives. The association also forecasts a 8.0% decline in Germany’s 2024 winter rapeseed crop, which is projected to reach 3.89 million metric tons.
The reductions in both wheat and rapeseed production had been anticipated due to decreased planted areas. In its previous forecast on May 23, the association had projected Germany’s 2024 wheat crop at 20.31 million tons and the 2024 winter rapeseed crop at 3.87 million tons.
Despite the heavy rain that has fallen in Germany and other parts of Western Europe in recent weeks, the association said it was taking a relaxed view of the situation, stating that it expects “no significant impact on national grain harvest volumes.” The association noted that while the heavy rainfall has led to some localized damage, the moisture and mild temperatures have actually benefited crop development in certain areas.
The association did acknowledge that the lack of sunshine could make the grains more vulnerable to fungal infections, but it still decided to slightly increase its crop forecast this month.
Germany is the second-largest wheat producer in the European Union after France, and it is often the largest producer of rapeseed, which is used for both edible oil and biodiesel production.
The association also provided its forecast for other German crops, including a 2.3% decline in the winter barley crop to 9.36 million tons and a 2.0% increase in the grain maize (corn) crop to 4.58 million tons.