MARS: EU agricultural weather 2017 little profit-making - Reduction of maize estimates The development of the weather in this cereal year was generally not favorable for an average grain harvest. The evaluations of the climatic data of the EU's agricultural meteorological institute (MARS) confirm a mild winter , but then a too dry and cold spring, and inadequate precipitation for large areas in the spring .In Spain , a pronounced drought has reduced wheat yields by -25% , barley yields by -30% and summer barriers by -40% compared to the previous year. Compared to the 5-year average, the Spanish results are still 20% lower. While grain yields in France are 25% better than in the catastrophic year, they are at least -3% below the multi-annual average.In many other EU Member States similarly similar average results are expected. The EU Commission estimates the EU harvest at the level of 300 million tonnes. An exception to this is maize as a late-maturing fruit . According to recent assessments, climatic data in the South-East European countries are expected to lead to further harvest losses due to a heat period with extended temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius.MARS estimates maize yields in the Czech Republic by -25% , in Slovakia by -26% and in Hungary by -33% lower than in the above-average prior year. However, even in comparison to the multi-annual average, the results are significantly lower. In the largest EU maize cultivation area France is currently expected with a crop just below the 5-year mean. Overall, an under-average corn harvest in the EU of 62 million tonnes is expected. However, the yield-determining period of pollination and grain formation is not yet over.Changes in both Directions are thus not be ruled out.
