French farmers have made significant progress in sowing winter grains, with 78% of the expected soft wheat area for the upcoming harvest planted by last Monday. This marks an improvement compared to the same stage last year, according to FranceAgriMer. The favorable dry weather this month has accelerated fieldwork.
Sowing Statistics:
The soft wheat area sown increased from 62% a week earlier and 70% a year ago, though it remains below the five-year average of 83%.
In winter barley, 89% of the expected area had been sown by Monday, up from 78% the previous week and 83% at the same time last year, yet still trailing the 91% average from 2019-2023.
Maize Harvest Progress:
The maize harvest is 71% complete as of November 11, a rise from 58% the week prior but down from 96% last year and below the five-year average of 93%.
Impact of Weather:
This year’s sowings and maize harvesting faced challenges due to heavy rainfall during the wettest September in 25 years and continued wet conditions in October. These delays evoke concerns from last year’s harvest, which was adversely affected by similar weather patterns.
Current Conditions and Outlook:
Franck Laborde, head of the French maize growers group AGPM, noted that growers are working quickly to complete harvesting before more rain is expected next week.
Regions in the west and south-west are particularly behind but are forecasted to have favorable conditions for harvesting until mid-week, providing a crucial opportunity to improve harvest progress.
Laborde emphasized the urgency for farmers to gather their crops swiftly to maintain quality, as delays could lead to deterioration.