July 16, 2009
German grain harvest begins; winter barley yields down
Germany's grain harvest has begun in all parts of the country, up two weeks earlier than usual in some areas, the German farmers' association, DBV, said Wednesday (Jul 15) in its first harvest report of the season.
Heavy rains have hindered harvesting in northern Germany and precipitation could periodically interrupt the harvest over the next two weeks, the association said.
Winter barley yields in southwest Germany are up to five-percent lower than the previous year's level and up to 10-percent lower in the eastern part of the country, DBV said.
The winter rapeseed harvest has begun in southern Germany, but with less than five percent of cultivated land harvested, DBV said it isn't yet commenting on yields.
