April 13, 2006

Drier conditions forecast for EU wheat areas

Long-range forecasts calling for limited rains in France, Romania and Bulgaria and have been expanded into parts of Germany and Spain, according to a three-month forecast by Earth Satellite's Cropcast released Wednesday (Apr 12).

"Dryness in those areas could hamper the wheat heading in May and reduce yields," said Cropcast. "Corn production could be in for problems as well."

The dryness will be more pronounced across most of the main producing areas of the continent, which Cropcast said could combine with warmer-than-normal temperatures to compound the problem.

Meanwhile, in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Cropcast looks for near-normal spring rains to favour grain production potential. Moisture supplies are also forecast to be adequate for the summer crops.