EU: Barley harvest almost finished in France, focus now shifting to the UK and Scandinavia

In France, the spring barley harvest has almost finished. Results are generally satisfying in terms of quality except protein content in the eastern part of the country, but nothing really shocking as this had been expected. Yields are overall slightly below average. All in all it should be in line, GrainCom reported on July 28.

The focus now is more on the harvests to be done in the UK and Scandinavia where the markets start to get worried about the quality. There has been a lot of rain and as per weather forecasts there is more to come. Even with a good malting barley crop over there the EU S&D does not look very comfortable, but in case of an “accident” in UK and/or Denmark and Sweden the supply could become very tight.

In Germany in some regions, especially in lower Saxony there are fields that are completely under water which may cause pre-germination and fusarium problems (on malting barley, but on wheat and other crops as well). On the heavier soils it is impossible for the combines to get on the fields and consequently the harvest has stopped for the moment, industry sources report.