Crop monitoring in Europe – August 2019

Summary:

The overall yield outlook for grain maize has fallen by almost 2%, mainly due to substantial downward revisions for France, Italy and Poland. The grain maize yield forecasts were now distinctly below the 5-year average for most western and northern-central European countries. In contrast, well above-average yields were expected for southern-central and south-eastern Europe, particularly for Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

Further information:

The weak maize yield outlook in western and northern-central Europe was due to a combination of heatwaves (partly during flowering) and below-average rainfall since June or earlier. For the same reasons, yield forecasts for sugar beet, potatoes and green maize, which had already been below the 5-year average at EU level, were revised further downwards.

The yield outlook for sunflowers remained firmly above the 5-year average. Forecasts for winter crops and spring cereals were only slightly adjusted. The season closed in most regions, and crops were harvested under adequate weather conditions.