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FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
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FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
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Home | A-Z Index | Mission | Staff | FAS Offices in the EU | Euro Exchange Rates |
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Finding EU Legislation | Links to EU & US Websites | Tips for Travelers |
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Annual Grain Report (April 2009) - Following the record grains crop in MY 2008/9, this year’s total EU grain crop is currently forecast to decline 23 MMT to 290 MMT. A combination of the late 2008 harvest and the early onset of winter narrowed the window for the planting of winter crops. Also, the tighter economic conditions and reduced commodity prices in the latter part of last year reduced EU farmer’s incentives to plant grains. While wet weather in the east of the EU in March delayed some of the spring plantings, these are generally reported to be proceeding well across the EU but, when combined with the winter crop, the total grain area is forecast to decline over 3 per cent. Yields are also expected to be down; some farmers – particularly in the New Member States – are reported to have used cheaper, less elite and lower yielding, seed and more heavily utilized farm-saved seed. With winterkill limited though, early hopes are high for a good quality crop in MY 2009/10. Feed grain consumption, up in MY 2008/09 when the plentiful availability of affordable grain supplies saw it being substituted for an increasing proportion of non-grain feed ingredients, is forecast to fall in MY 2009/10 as the reduction in animal numbers seen this season continues into next. Industrial usage in the bioethanol sector is forecast, as it did in MY 2008/09, to lead to a further rise in Food, Seed & Industrial usage in MY 2009/10. Finally, the very large rise in grain stocks expected in MY 2008/09 despite good export progress, combined with an expectation of increased export competition in third country markets next season, means the EU is forecast to continue to carry large ending stocks at the close of MY 2009/10.
2008 REPORTS
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