Welcome rain in the four largest European Union wheat producers raised hopes for a good harvest this summer after a dry spring sparked fears of a repeat of last year’s drought-damaged crop, experts said on Friday. Welcome rain in the four largest European Union wheat producers raised hopes for a good harvest this summer after a dry spring sparked fears of a repeat of last year’s drought-damaged crop, experts said on Friday. “Some EU wheat was on a knife-edge as spring weather suddenly turned very dry and soil is still unusually parched after last summer’s historic drought and heatwave,” one German analyst said. “The rain caused sighs of relief.”In the EU’s largest producer France, wheat is mostly in good shape after widespread rain this month reduced dryness and maintained decent yield potential for this summer’s harvest. Subsoil reserves remain depleted after last summer’s drought, leaving wheat vulnerable to damage from dry weather.

Source: Irish Independent May 20, 2019 08:15 UTC