November 11, 2005

EU 2006 harvest sowings progressing rapidly

Weather conditions for sowing the 2006 harvest have been "good to very good" in all EU countries so far this autumn, with dry weather allowing plantings to progress rapidly, according to Strategie Grains, a monthly analytical report published Thursday.

"The newly sown crops now require good rainfall levels to guarantee a good emergence phase and satisfactory development before the arrival of winter," the report said.

"Also the corn harvest is not yet finished in some places, particularly Hungary, and this is delaying winter wheat sowings," Strategie Grains said.

The report identified the main trends for the soft wheat area for 2005-06 as being an increase in Spain, Greece and Italy; a decrease in Hungary and the UK; a small rise or stability in France and Denmark, and no change to the sown area in Germany, Austria and Finland.

The winter barley area is set to remain stable in Austria, Denmark, France, Italy and the UK, Strategie Grains said, and to increase in Germany and Hungary.