April 2022: MARS reduces estimate of EU area yields 2022 In the April 2022 issue, the EU Commission's Agrometeorological Institute (MARS) has reduced the yield estimates from the previous month. The basis is climate data up to April 22, 2022. First of all, it is noted that in most EU regions, mild weather has brought the seed heads through the winter in a favorable condition. The earnings expectations are therefore above the 5-year average values. The soil conditions and the weather expectations continue to provide good conditions for the development of yields; however, some discounts have to be made compared to the March estimate. However, some regions are exempt from this. The ongoing drought in southern France and eastern parts of Italy is a cause for concern. Insufficient rainfall is also being observed in eastern Italy and the countries on the Adriatic Sea.In contrast, southern Spain and the north-west African coastal region received above-average amounts of rain after a preceding dry period. There was repeatedly less rain in the Balkans and in central Ukraine. Above-average temperatures prevailed in large parts of Northern Europe and Turkey. MARS estimates that the average grain yield is only around 2.5% above the 5-year average. Compared to the previous month's estimate, the expected yields for the most important types of winter cereals have been reduced by 1 to 1.9%. Rye in particular is said to have suffered from the unfavorable climatic conditions because it is more often cultivated in less productive locations. The yield estimates for the summer crops are initially derived from trend calculations.
