PARIS (Reuters) -Dry weather in France will have a negative impact on this year’s production of winter cereals by reducing yield potential for some crops, the French agriculture ministry said on Monday.
Low rainfall in France, the European Union’s biggest grain producer, has added to market worries about global supply given war disruption to Ukrainian exports, keeping European prices near record highs. [GRA/EU]
“Due to the absence of rain and particularly dry conditions, we know now that there will be an impact – still to be determined – on cereal production,” a ministry official told reporters.
While winter crops like wheat can use their roots to draw on moisture, crops in shallow soils were expected to suffer yield losses from dryness, the official said.
The comments echoed those made to Reuters last week by crop institute Arvalis, which said warm, dry weather forecast for the coming days would cause irreversible damage to French grain crops.
For recently sown spring crops like maize, sugar beet and sunflower seed, the ministry was monitoring field conditions, with rain seen as crucial in the next two weeks to avoid yield losses in newly established plants, the official added.
Below average rainfall during winter and early spring has already led to local water restrictions in some parts of France, although the ministry said agriculture was given priority status like electricity plants.
The government last month announced 100 million euros ($105.57 million) in additional funding for water agencies to help mitigate drought effects.
($1 = 0.9472 euros)
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Sybille de La Hamaide, editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)
