Press Release: Commission publishes crop yield forecast: drought hits again but European cereal production remains stable

Detailed scientific analysis by the European Commission, through its advanced crop yield forecasting system, shows that, despite the drought-affected areas around the Mediterranean, this year’s total EU cereal harvest remains in line with the average of the last five years (-0.5%). Once again, a drought is keeping crop yields at low levels in southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece). The forecast published on 14 July 2006 by the Commission provides yield estimates for the main crops throughout the European Union, comparing these with last year’s production and the average harvests over the last five years. It also identifies the areas most affected by drought this year and compares the situation with past extreme drought events.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/06/284 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/284&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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