July 2020: DRV corrects rape harvest estimate 2020 to only 3.21 million t In its latest July estimate, the German Raiffeisenverband (DRV) has cut the German rapeseed harvest to 3.21 million t. The result is around 14% better than in the previous year, but remains significantly behind a 5-year average. The stat . The area under cultivation determined by the Federal Office is 11.7% above the previous year in 2020. The DRV estimates an average yield of 33.7 dt / ha , only 1.8 % higher than in 2019. Recent rainfall has improved the yield prospects compared to the previous month, the after-effects of the drought in May on the yields are obvious. There are big differences between the individual federal states. Unusually high increases in harvest results can be seen in Sac hsen-Anhalt (55.3 %), Hesse (+59.5%) and Brandenburg (+51.8%), which are primarily caused by increased acreage compared to the previous year . In 2019, due to the drought during sowing, areas were not ordered or had to be broken. But higher earnings expectations from 15% in Saxony-Anhalt, and 25% in Brandenburg have contributed to the increase in crop s. Crop increases in the middle range between 15 to 32% are predicted in Bavaria and Thuringia.In these cases, too, in addition to manageable increases in yield, larger acreage is the main reason for the higher production. Lower rapeseed harvests are predicted in Schleswig-Holstein (-12.1 %) and Baden-Württemberg ( -5.4 %). In SH it is primarily the 10% lower yield expectations, while in Baden-Württemberg the reduced acreage is decisive. The estimates of the area yields made at the present time are still subject to uncertainties regarding the future harvest weather , which predicts continued precipitation in the next few weeks. To meet demand, significantly higher rapeseed imports will be necessary this year.However, the rapeseed prices are kept in check by the comparatively low crude, palm and soybean oil prices . An increased euro exchange rate contributes to price pressure with cheap import quantities.
