Winter cereals and oilseeds in Europe.

[Wolds Beef]

We know this country has taken a hit in winter production but what about European countries? Can our friends and contributors from Europe enlighten us? Will it affect markets as we go forward? Also vegetables and fruit, how have they faired?
WB

 

[czechmate]

I was taking a big drive around western uk in late november (rally), and I would say here (central France) is worse. I have nothing at all drilled, fortunately as a mixed farm we are 75% grass. On the other hand, it’s slightly difficult to say for sure here, just driving around, as it’s the norm for a lot of spring crops - maize, sunflowers, soya, sorghum….

 

[Wolds Beef]

@czechmate Thanks, That's a start!!
WB

 

[nxy]

I am not far from czechmate but we have at least got about half our normal cereal area drilled. No beans though.
The OSR is suffering from being constantly under water and I am expecting large areas not to make it till the spring.
We have not driven a tractor on the land since mid October so we have no autumn fert or spraying done except a pre-emergence on the rape and cereals.
Lots of big rampant ryegrass everywhere which is often the only green thing in the field.
Looking at the two week forecast one day is forecast to be dry with a two week total of 70mm of rain.

 

[czechmate]

I am not far from czechmate but we have at least got about half our normal cereal area drilled. No beans though.
The OSR is suffering from being constantly under water and I am expecting large areas not to make it till the spring.
We have not driven a tractor on the land since mid October so we have no autumn fert or spraying done except a pre-emergence on the rape and cereals.
Lots of big rampant ryegrass everywhere which is often the only green thing in the field.
Looking at the two week forecast one day is forecast to be dry with a two week total of 70mm of rain.

with next week’s forcast I’m certainly glad I haven’t been rushing about this last week doing the bits and bobs I could of done

 

[nxy]

with next week’s forcast I’m certainly glad I haven’t been rushing about this last week doing the bits and bobs I could of done

I have a near neighbour who ploughed some maize silage stubble in late November. He struggled to move with a three furrow plough and power harrow drilled the centre, he couldn't put it down on the headland and move. Its not come up yet.

 

[Matthew Britton]

I was taking a big drive around western uk in late november (rally), and I would say here (central France) is worse. I have nothing at all drilled, fortunately as a mixed farm we are 75% grass. On the other hand, it’s slightly difficult to say for sure here, just driving around, as it’s the norm for a lot of spring crops - maize, sunflowers, soya, sorghum….

Straw man came here the other week and is quite concerned about next years straw crop. Between @czechmate and I there is mainly cereal ground ( we are about 3hrs east of him) which is where my straw comes from, Straw man thinks that maybe 30% of what is normal is drilled. It’s going to be a tough year for the arable boys here. Spring cereals don’t add up and especially so with the climate.

 

[czechmate]

Straw man came here the other week and is quite concerned about next years straw crop. Between @czechmate and I there is mainly cereal ground ( we are about 3hrs east of him) which is where my straw comes from, Straw man thinks that maybe 30% of what is normal is drilled. It’s going to be a tough year for the arable boys here. Spring cereals don’t add up and especially so with the climate.

millet?

 

[czechmate]

I was taking a big drive around western uk in late november (rally), and I would say here (central France) is worse. I have nothing at all drilled, fortunately as a mixed farm we are 75% grass. On the other hand, it’s slightly difficult to say for sure here, just driving around, as it’s the norm for a lot of spring crops - maize, sunflowers, soya, sorghum….

this year 82%. Phew

 

[Two Tone]

Got a very good friend of mine in Düsseldorf who is not farmer himself, but from a farming background and he says the weather and conditions have been as bad there as it has here.

 

[czechmate]

Got a very good friend of mine in Düsseldorf who is not farmer himself, but from a farming background and he says the weather and conditions have been as bad there as it has here.

son is an agronomist so we compare notes a lot. I would say it has been worse here… but started later

 

[nick...]

Spoke to a friend couple days ago who only got 140 acres of wheat in and 300 still to go.not far from me either and I thought norfolk escaped the worst of the wet.
nick…

 

[le bon paysan]

Would try and plant about 15hcs only four planted ' on time ' end of September. 2hcs ploughed and planted with the grassland farmer drill and 2 DDed 3hcs will make it but that's oats and beans for baled silage. That was planted a month ago. Wheat still got 6/7 weeks to plant, but after that either maize or forage crops. Over 630 mm of rain since 18 October. Annual rainfall 1000mm ish.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Will some parts of Europe that are usually too dry Spain, Portugal, Italy etc Have gained from extra moisture?

@Spanish

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Surley dry land farmers will benefit

 

[Farma Parma]

anyone any idea when were likely too see french mustard back in shops? must be all connected to ukraine carryon as it vanished not long after that all started?

 

[robs1]

Why aren't wheat futures through the roof if the weather is as bad as it seems to be ?

 

[nxy]

anyone any idea when were likely too see french mustard back in shops? must be all connected to ukraine carryon as it vanished not long after that all started?

Don't tell the French but French mustard is made with 80% Canadian grains. There was a catastrophic harvest there in 2021 and it almost vanished from the shelves here for a while. It should be back now though as the area grown and production doubled as a result in 2022 and we have no visible shortage here.

 

[nxy]

Why aren't wheat futures through the roof if the weather is as bad as it seems to be ?

Speaking for my area, a lot of the area that should now be in cereals will go into grain maize which might (and its a big might depending on the climate) actually produce more tonnage than the cereals planned for the land.

Logically this should actually be pulling down the feed grain price. The premium for milling wheat is a different matter.

 

[4course]

Why aren't wheat futures through the roof if the weather is as bad as it seems to be ?

More than likely due to to the international grain traders playing the system,.However im going on an independent study tour of holland and germany in a few weeks to the snow covered meadows of the austrian alps so thinking I will return via the southern route across northern france ,whilst my secretary takes notes of the state of the autumn sown crops in order to source my own reliable reports as an aid to marketing and further planting decisions. ( All reasonable costs will be for the farm account !! )