July 12, 2013

Despite weather extremes, the European Commission has forecast that this year's cereal production will be well above 2012 levels and above the five-year average.

The European Commission has provided yield estimates for the main agricultural sectors throughout the European Union and has designated the areas most influenced by the unusual weather conditions.

At 5.2 tonnes per hectare (tonne/ha), the yield forecasts for wheat, barley, corn and other cereals are more than 5% up from 2012 and higher than the average of the last five years. In addition, compared to last year, the overall planted area for cereals in the EU is 1.3% higher.

Due to excellent harvests in Bulgaria, Spain and Romania, barley levels are forecast at 4.7 tonne/ha, more than 6% than last year's levels. Spain, which accounts for 25% of the EU's spring barley production, is experiencing an exceptional season and is expected to have a yield almost 50% above the five-year average.

Despite lower yields form the EU's biggest producer, France, soft wheat is currently expected to surpass 2012 levels by 2.1% (5.5 tonne/ha) due to excellent yields from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Spain.

Grain corn, sunflower and potatoes are all forecast to be above from last year, with increases of 16.3% (7.1 tonne/ha), 14% (1.9 tonne/ha) and 1% (30.1 tonne/ha) respectively. However, the EC expects rapeseed levels to be down 4.1% from last year, with a total yield of 3 tonne/ha.