According to FranceAgriMer, ongoing drought conditions have led to a decline in French corn crop conditions over the past week. As of August 11, only 65% of corn crops were rated in good to excellent condition, down 2% from the previous week, marking the lowest level for this period in three years. In comparison, 76% of corn crops were in good condition last year, Reuters reports. The persistent heat and lack of rainfall in August are posing significant challenges to corn yields.
While rainfall in late July temporarily stabilized growing conditions for corn, August has brought hot and dry weather, with temperatures reaching around 40°C across much of southern France last week. Forecasts indicate the heatwave will continue this week. France’s Ministry of Agriculture projects a 5% reduction in corn production compared to last year, as the heat and drought are expected to lower crop yields.
However, the high temperatures have aided farmers in completing the harvest of wheat and barley, which was delayed by late July rains. FranceAgriMer reports that as of August 11, 99% of soft wheat was harvested, surpassing the five-year average of 93%. This has allowed farmers to finalize the harvest efficiently despite the challenging weather conditions.
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