DRV estimates German rapeseed harvest at just under 3.1 million t - approx. - 40% less than 5 annual average The German Raiffeisen Association (DRV) estimates the German rapeseed harvest in its June issue at 3.071 million t . The result is 16% lower than the already weak previous year. Only a few years ago, the harvest results were on the order of 5 million t. The reasons for the decline can be seen in the reduction of acreage to just 886,700 ha or -28% below the previous year's level. The land survey was currently confirmed by the Federal Statistical Office. A second justification provides the yield estimate of the regional associations on site. In the average of the federal territory, a yield of 34.6 dt / ha is foreseen, which should be 15.5% better than the catastrophic result of the previous year. The recent rains support the assessment of a medium-term average yield level. The later Druschergebnisse will show, however, what is actually in the pods.There are huge differences in the individual federal states. Significant production losses report Saxony-Anhalt with -42.7%, Brandenburg with -41% and Hesse with -33.2%. The decline is primarily due to the reduction in acreage under the difficult conditions of the previous year. Reductions in crops in the middle range around -15% are predicted in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, NRW and Thuringia. Striking is the increase in production in Schleswig-Holstein with + 20.7%. Despite a slight reduction in area, it is possible to forget the catastrophic result of the previous year through a well average estimated yield of 38 dt / ha. The repeated low rapeseed crops mean that increased imports are necessary. In any case, rapeseed meal prices for dairy farmers will remain at a high level. The rapeseed price for growers, however, has limited prospects for improvement.The decisive factor is rapeseed oil, which is in competition with other vegetable oils (cheap soya oil, palm oil). Last but not least, the recent decline in the price of crude oil is also of decisive importance for rapeseed prices, because approx. 60% of the rapeseed oil is used for biodiesel production.
