France: 97% of winter barley crop harvested by July 15

French farmers had harvested 33% of this year's soft wheat crop by July 15, up from 9% a week earlier, farm office FranceAgriMer said on July 19.

Harvest progress however remained below the pace seen last year, when 64% of the crop had been gathered by the same stage, FranceAgriMer said in a weekly report.

Conditions for soft wheat, France's main cereal crop, were stable with 73% of crops rated good or excellent, unchanged from a week earlier. That compared with 71% a year ago.

Traders and analysts are expecting a large soft wheat harvest in France, with crops seen escaping significant damage from a record-breaking heatwave in late June.

For winter barley, usually the first major cereal crop to be harvested in France, field work was winding down with 97% of the crop cut by July 15, compared with 80% a week earlier and slightly below 99% a year ago, FranceAgriMer said.

An estimated 30% of the spring barley crop had been harvested, against 12% a week earlier and 31% at the same stage last year.

Spring barley ratings, which had fallen sharply since the late-June heatwave, stabilised at 72% good or excellent, unchanged from a week earlier.

However, conditions for grain maize, which is not harvested until late summer or autumn and is going through crucial growth stages, worsened again last week.

An estimated 74% of grain maize was rated good/excellent against 78%, although that was still above 71% at the same point last year when crops also endured drought.

Deepening drought in parts of France is straining summer crops like maize and sugar beet, and a hot spell forecast for next week could add to stress on plants.

Widespread water restrictions, including for farms, are also affecting conditions for French maize, which is often irrigated.