COCERAL: EU cereal harvest in 2017 only slightly higher than in previous year In its May edition, the umbrella organization of the European grain and oil seed traders remains in its assessment of a little increased EU grain harvest in 2017 of 297.6 million tonnes . This means that the forecast is far below other estimation institutions whose previous results range from 303 to 312 million tonnes.The result is calculated as a -1.1% lower cultivating area and a gain expectancy of almost +1.5% . The EU average for 2017 is 52.9 dt / ha. The only two countries that perform better against the weak previous year are Germany with 45.85 million tonnes and France with 67 million tonnes. The increase is 2 dt / ha higher, with average 73 and 72 dt / ha, respectively. However, this results in average yields only.The Spanish harvest is strongly affected by persistant drought with 17.3 million tonnes , while 23 million tonnes were harvested in the previous year. The COCERAL estimate of land yields is -10 dt / ha lower to an average of 28.7 dt / ha . COCERAL estimates the total wheat harvest to approx. 150 million tonnes compared to the weak previous year with 145 million tonnes. Of these, the two largest wheat producers reach France with 39.6 million tonnes and Germany with approx. 25 million t a share of approx. 43%. COCERAL's total EU crop harvested to 57.2 million tonnes compared to the previous year with 59.7 million tonnes. The reductions in summer barriers are particularly severe with -8.3%.It has particularly affected Spain with a decline of more than -33%. The EU corn harvest is estimated to be approx. 60 million tonnes was similarly low compared to the previous year. In this case, Hungary experienced a sharp decline of almost -20% compared to a good year before. With the exception of Triticale , the remaining cereals remain behind the previous year's results. The estimates are still subject to the ongoing decisive phase of the crop and the uncertain harvesting conditions.
