As of June 19, wheat harvest in France was 2% complete, versus 2% a year ago. With rainfall still lacking, plant condition is deteriorating, with the proportion of the crop in good and excellent condition down 2% to 83%, still much better than 64% a year ago.
Durum wheat deteriorated 4% to 77%, versus 60% a year ago. Its harvest is 2% complete, vs. 4% a year ago
Corn in France is also deteriorating. Somewhat strangely, given the early sowing and warm weather so far, corn vegetation is lagging, with plants in 6-8 leaf at 89%, vs. 92% average over the last 5 years.
The winter barley harvest is 10% done, vs. 23% a year ago and 6% average for the previous 5 years. Condition is deteriorating, with the crop down 1% to 84%, vs. 63% a year ago. Spring barley is deteriorating most markedly, by 5% to 78%, against 53% a year ago
Despite less than favorable conditions in many European countries over the past few weeks, estimates for grain and oilseed production in the new season remain optimistic and substantially above last year. Rapeseed crop forecasts are hovering around and just above 20Mmt (+2.6%), against 19.5Mmt harvested last year. Even more optimistic are sunflower crop forecasts, hovering around and above 11Mmt (+18%), vs. 9.3Mmt harvested last year. Soybean crop forecasts are also optimistic, with expectations of over 3Mmt (+20%), vs. 2.5Mmt harvested in 2022.