18/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 April, the French analysis firm, Stratégie grains, reviewed its forecast of the European cereal harvest for the marketing year 2008/2009 downward by 2 million tonnes. Cereal production within the EU is now expected to be 289 million tonnes, up 13% compared to the current 2007/2008 season. The European soft wheat harvest is forecast to be 128.5 million tonnes (+15% compared to last year. Stratégie grains is reckoning on barley production (for feeding and brewing) and maize production being 61.5 and 57.3 million tonnes respectively. (L.C.)