March 28, 2011
 

UK heads increase in EU wheat

 

 

UK farmers are to head an increase in European wheat production this year, and hold up the region's rapeseed production after Germany winter crop was damaged by frost.

 

The total EU soft wheat crop, the world's biggest as a bloc, will rise 3.5% to 131.4 million tonnes, according to Brussels-based industry group, Coceral, in its first forecast for the harvest.

 

The estimate, while less optimistic than the 7% rise to 135.2 million tonnes forecast by influential analysis group, Strategie Grains, reflected better hopes for many producers, including Denmark, Ireland and Spain.

 

However, among the major growers, Coceral was particularly upbeat for the harvest in the UK, which it forecast jumping 7.6% to nearly 15,500 tonnes.

 

That will outpace France, the EU's top wheat producer, which will see output rise by 2% to 36.4 million tonnes, with the harvest in second-ranked Germany expected to increase by 4.7% to 24.4 million tonnes.

 

The forecasts predict a greater rise in yields in the UK, with crop concerns growing in some parts of the continent because of a dearth of rain.

 

Weather charts show clearly the issues of dryness around northern Germany and south eastern France. The UK is also seeing some level of dryness but it is not a real concern at this point.

 

Paris-based Agritel said, "Market operators still hope rains will arrive soon in French regions located north from the Loire river but no rainfalls are forecast for the next 10 days".

 

UK farmers look set to be favoured in rapeseed too, on track to raise output by 5.8% to 2.33 million tonnes due to a rise in sowings, according to Coceral.

 

The German crop, Europe's biggest, was pegged 10.5% lower at 5.15 million tonnes, following winter in which some major growing regions left crop exposed to freezing temperatures without snow cover.

 

The total rapeseed crop in the EU, the top producer, consumer and importer of the oilseed, was estimated at 20.2 million tonnes, down 1%.