Brussels, 31/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Despite uncertainty about the planting season for maize, cereals production for the EU is set to rise by 1.5% in 2014-015, compared to the last growing season. This was shown in the latest forecasts of COPA-COGECA, published on Friday 28 March, on cereals production for the growing year 2014-2015. The agricultural organisations of the EU anticipate wheat production of 136 million tonnes, representing an increase of 2.7%. Barley production could drop by 0.4% (58.6 million tonnes).
At the meeting of the COPA-COGECA cereals working group, many member states reported a positive situation for cereals production, thanks to the very mild winter of 2013/2014 and good winter sowings. The situation in the United Kingdom remains good despite serious flooding. However, in certain countries, such as Spain, it was still too early to say. COPA-COGECA remains circumspect about the forecasts for the EU. Freezing conditions and drought could also still have an impact on European cereals. The Baltic states are facing a huge rate of winter kill (around 80%) and are looking for available spring seed varieties.
Max Schulman, chair of the cereals working group, stressed that, in order to guarantee good availability of seeds in the future, it would be necessary to set up “a balance sheet on seeds for cereals, oilseeds and pulses”. “There is still also uncertainty if cereal producers will have sufficient cash flow to cover the increasing costs, such as fertiliser and plant protection products”, Schulman added. The unfavourable economic situation has forced producers to exploit the full potential of their production, he said.
Oilseeds. COPA-COGECA also published its forecasts for the production of oilseeds and protein crops for 2014/2015. Developments are expected to be positive, with an increase of 2.2% in area planted with oilseeds. European production of rape is expected to stay at a high level, in the region of 21 million tonnes, with a 1.7% increase in area compared to the previous year. (LC)