Farmers in France, the largest grain producer in the European Union, had harvested 91% of the corn by November 15, up from 82% a week earlier. A late harvest was nearing its end, the FranceAgriMer agricultural office announced this morning.
This year's harvest shows a delay of 11 days compared to the average for the past five years, the weekly report said.
The growth of maize was slowed down by a cool spring and a cloudy summer. Rising post-harvest drying costs - due to a surge in gas prices - have also led farmers to leave crops in the field longer.
Dry weather this month has favored field work, although cold weather, including the first widespread frosts of the season, hindered the natural drying of the mature corn crops.
Bringing in the large amount of harvest also required more time. Record yields were harvested in some regions.
The sowing of common wheat and winter barley for the harvest next year was also nearing the end, with FranceAgriMer pointing to very good growing conditions.
For common wheat, France's most important grain harvest, 93% of the expected area had been sown by Monday, compared with 87% a week earlier, the office said.
In an initial assessment for newly sown common wheat, she estimated that 99% of the harvests were in good or excellent condition, compared to 95% the previous year.
For winter barley, 97% of the expected area was sown compared to 94% a week earlier and 99% of the harvests were rated as good or excellent, as in the previous week.
The sowing of durum wheat was 56% complete, compared to 38% in the previous week, but 72% compared to the previous year.
Source
Hansa Terminhandel GmbH