The condition of French grain maize crops fell sharply last week, farm office FranceAgriMer said on Friday, as hot and dry weather took its toll on the European Union's biggest cereal producer.
Scorching temperatures in France and northern Europe are raising concern about the final size of EU grain harvests.
In its weekly crop report, FranceAgriMer estimated that 66% of grain maize crops were in good or excellent condition as of July 29, compared with 71% a week earlier and 79% by the same time last year.
Some 96% of maize crops were at the critical female flowering stage at the end of last week against 89% a week earlier, FranceAgriMer said.
The wheat harvest was virtually over by July 29, 10 days ahead of the five-year average, with 71% of the crops in good or excellent condition, up from 67% a year earlier.
The French spring barley harvest was 98% complete by July 29 compared to 70% the previous week.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
