MARS: Sowing and growing conditions for EU winter sowing very different In its most recent monthly issue, the Agricultural Meteorological Institute at the EU Commission ( MARS) has the weather conditions in the period from 1 Oct to the end of Nov. 2017 in terms of sowing and growing conditions for evaluated the winter crops. In many parts of the EU, the conditions were quite favorable , so that the planned areas could be ordered with rapeseed, barley and wheat. The crops in these areas have accumulated quickly and are in good condition.But there are a number of problem areas . In Spain it is too dry again. The precipitation was so scarce that the sowing areas have decreased significantly . However, there is still time to nachzusäen until mid-December, provided that there is enough rain. In large parts of western and central France , rainfall fell behind the average , but so far without any significant adverse effects on sowing and ascent.The rapeseed and wheat areas were slightly expanded . Lack of precipitation without serious effects also occurred in the south-east of England by the end of November. A rain deficit is also found in Italy and Hungary . An area strip from northern Germany, northern Poland and the Baltic States to Russia has received heavy rainfall , especially in October. The areas were and are partially not passable until today. The cultivation volume of rapeseed and wheat remains clearly behind the previous years.Local extreme weather events have occurred in southern Italy and Greece . The damage is kept to manageable dimensions. In the so-called Maghreb states on the North African Mediterranean coast falls precipitated for weeks too little. These countries rely heavily on grain imports . For the coming year, there is already a growing demand for imports. These countries usually source EU grain with a focus on France .However, there are a number of deliveries for price reasons this year sourced from Russia . All in all, it is still too early to assume that the harvest expectations for 2018 will be much lower . The winter and the subsequent vegetation and harvesting phase can still exert a strong influence.
