France: Spring barley sowing almost finished

French farmers are on the verge of finishing spring barley sowing after a brisk campaign, farming agency FranceAgriMer said on March 15, illustrating the effects of an exceptionally warm spell in Europe last month.

In a weekly cereal crop report, FranceAgriMer estimated that 93 percent of the expected spring barley area for this year's harvest had been sown by March 4, up from 73 percent a week earlier and just 28 percent a year ago.

The fast progress this year meant the median date for sowing was three weeks ahead of the average of the past five years and 27 days ahead of last year's pace, the report showed. Spring barley is the first major field crop to be sown in Western Europe at the end of winter and is mostly used to produce malt, the beer and whisky ingredient.

The early start to sowing could boost the spring barley area in the European Union and help production recover from last year's drought-hit harvest. Last month was the second-warmest February on record in France, according to the country's meteorological service, and was accompanied by sunny, dry spells that allowed an early start to field work after winter. Rain has returned to most of France this week, which traders say may have also led farmers to accelerate sowing while bringing welcome moisture for emerging plants.

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