Corn suffers from drought. According to the first forecasts of the Ministry of Agriculture published on Friday, the corn harvest in France should decrease: with an estimated production of 12.7 million tons, or -18.5% compared to 2021.
At the European level, Brussels had already revised down its 2022 production estimates on Tuesday, forecasting 65.8m tonnes from 71.71m tonnes at the end of June.
Significant damage above 35°C
Sowing in spring, the cereal is in the flowering phase in summer, a crucial period in the formation of the cob. However, corn fears high temperatures. Plant growth slows above 31°C and damage is significant above 35°C, due to reduced fertilization leading to grain abortions and therefore less full ears. Temperatures largely reached on several occasions in Alsace and in the west of France, the main regions where corn is grown.
Added to the heat is water stress: there is little water available due to the lack of rain, already in spring during planting, and the succession of three heat waves in summer, forcing the irrigation of corn crops to be restricted. .. that require a lot of water. The drought particularly affects Alsace and western France, the main corn-growing areas in the country. The plant, insufficiently watered, forms smaller spikes.
smaller spikes
According to FranceAgriMer, 63% of grain corn acreages reported “good to very good” growing conditions for grain corn during the last week of July, compared to 68% the previous week and 75% of the previous week. While yields will be lower this year, so will areas: More and more growers are forgoing corn due to vagaries of weather and rising costs.
Farmers are worried: maize is mainly used for animal feed. Because, in addition to the lower production expected for grain corn, we must also take into account forage corn, that is, corn whose entire plant is used and stored as silage to feed livestock during the winter. Although the harvests have just started (they are earlier for feed corn), they are already looking bad.
Bad news, especially as with sun-baked pastures some may be forced to start their winter stock now to feed their animals.
Fewer exports, higher prices
However, there is no shortage to fear: France, a major producing country, is a net exporter. It is exports that should suffer, and the countries that depend on them.
Other major corn-producing countries, such as Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, are also expected to reduce their exports, depleting other sources of supply. The strong supply and demand tension could boost corn prices, when they are already abnormally high. For breeders who run out of food for their animals, the bill will likely be high.
Source: BFM TV
