Rains revive EU grain crops after drought in April

May rains brought long-awaited moisture to grain crops in Western and Central Europe, reducing the risk of widespread harvest losses, Reuters reports.

A dry April in countries including France, Germany, and Poland has heightened concerns on the global wheat market. Global grain supplies could be reduced this season due to the severe drought currently observed in the US plains and the potential emergence of an El Niño climate phenomenon, which could damage crops in Australia.

Rains in early May improved grain harvest prospects in the EU, although analysts warn that regular rainfall will be needed to maintain soil moisture during the active grain growth period.

“This is very good news, exactly what we needed,” said Guillaume Lefort, a grain farmer southeast of Paris, regarding the return of rain in France.

April was one of the driest and warmest on record in France. Fields dried out quickly, especially in areas with shallow soils. Grain crop conditions have been steadily deteriorating since last month, although they remain better than last year.

“The situation hasn’t become alarming thanks to the rains at the beginning of May,” said Abeer Mahajba of the French state agency FranceAgriMer, adding that conditions vary by region.

In Germany, rains in May also improved field conditions.

“We saw very welcome rains, especially in the east, which arrived just in time. Both wheat and rapeseed appear to be recovering well,” said an unnamed German grain analyst. “I’m no longer worried about drought damage in the short term.”

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