November 5, 2009
French 2009-10 soft wheat output estimates little changed on-month
The official projection for France's soft wheat output this year is little changed at the start of November compared with that of a month ago and is down around a half million tonnes from a year earlier, Agriculture Ministry Data showed Wednesday (November 4).
The country's soft wheat output is now expected to total 36.55 million tonnes this year, down from 36.6 million tonnes expected a month ago and 37.1 million tonnes produced a year ago. The numbers are rounded.
Production has been lower this year due to a contraction in the acreage under cultivation, in part caused by rains that have encouraged farmers to substitute other crops.
France is Europe's largest wheat grower.
The ministry also said wheat stocks are expected to jump this year to 3.6 million tonnes from 3.1 million tonnes in the previous harvest year. Stocks have been up in large part to previously unreported stocks held at farms, which are only being declared now.
However, compared with a year ago, the expected stocks are up 3.1 million tonnes. Stocks dropped dramatically in October from a heady 4.2 million tonnes on drawdowns related to stocks held at farms and as yet aren't reported.
