EU-28: Weather Woes Mount for EU28 Grain Crop
The EU28 grain harvest is now well under way, having started earlier than normal in most Member States due to a very dry spring. The exception is Spain where wet weather has delayed the harvest. The mainly dry conditions since April have reduced yields, especially of spring crops, and continue to prevail in northern Member States. In the south east, in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, there has been a recent respite with rains but these have disrupted the harvest. With mixed fortunes in the fall and over winter, weather has once again proved the biggest challenge for the EU28 grains crop. Overall, prospects for yield are down on previous expectations and the view on quality is mixed. The total MY2018/19 EU28 grain crop is currently forecast to reach 296.5 MMT, below expectations earlier in the year and nearly 31 MMT lower than the record set in MY2014/15.
