August 12, 2008

France sees 2008-09 rapeseed crop at 5 million tonnes

French 2008-09 rapeseed production will reach a record high of 5 million tonnes, a rise of 6 percent on-year, said France's Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries on Monday (August 11).

The crop is also projected to be up 20 percent from the previous five-year-average.

A 6-percent decline in France's rapeseed acreage to 1.5 million hectares, was more than offset by a 13-percent rise in yield to 3.27 tonnes a hectare, the Ministry said.

Sunflower output is also up 6 percent on-year at 1.4 million tonnes, but down 3.7 percent from the five-year average.