Heavy rain hits Luxembourg grain harvest

Since the start of the year, we've had one bad spell after another: lots of rain, little sunshine. While this gloomy weather affects our morale, it also has disastrous consequences for cereal crops. Excessive rain over the winter and spring has soaked the soil, causing a drop in yields for winter grains, particularly wheat and barley, down by 15%-20% compared with the five-year average. While the light soils of Oesling (in the north) fared better, the regions of Gutland (in the centre and south) and Moselle (in the east), with their heavier soils that retain moisture, were particularly hard hit.

Moulins de Kleinbettingen (which lent its premises for the meeting) reported a bread wheat yield of just 8,600 tonnes, 30% less than in a normal year. What's more, "the grains have a very low average protein content and very low weight per hectolitre", according to the company's CEO, Jean Muller.

On the other hand, spring cereals such as oats and spring wheat have had an abundant harvest. The same is true of rapeseed, where the harvest looks set to be good, despite variable yields, thanks to the plant protection treatments that have played a crucial role in sustaining these crops.

However, the market remains difficult, with high production costs 50% higher than before Russia’s war in Ukraine, even though rapeseed is being sold at fixed prices higher than last year. Oats and spelt are selling at good prices, although the weight per hectolitre is disappointing, explains Bako director Günter Mertes.

Forage is green

Half of the grand duchy's farmland is given over to meadows and pastures, making fodder crops a key component of animal feed and milk production. Although heavy rainfall in the spring slowed down the first cuts, forage yields are high and of good quality. On the other hand, the silage maize harvest has not yet started: the wet soils and cool temperatures have disrupted sowing--which is the act of putting seeds in the ground-- and thus delayed crop development.

The agriculture minister, Martine Hansen (CSV), stressed that in these times of geopolitical instability, volatile market prices and rapid weather fluctuations, it is crucial for farmers to diversify their production and take out insurance against yield losses, the premiums for which are subsidised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture to the tune of 65%.

To end on a positive note, very few grain-growing areas required compensation for heavy rain and hail. The minister's next assessment will take place on 18 September and will focus on the grape harvest.

Source: Delano