2023-07-06 07:50:27
A combine harvester harvesting barley in Munwiller (Haut-Rhin), June 26, 2023. SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
Combine harvesters have entered the heat of the action in France. After barley, in June, they prepare to harvest wheat. The moment chosen by Intercéreales, the French cereal inter-branch, to deliver its first harvest estimates.
According to data published on Thursday July 6, French wheat production for the 2023 campaign is expected at 35.25 million tonnes with a yield of 75 quintals per hectare, up 5% compared to the average of the last ten years. Knowing that the areas planted increased by 1.8%, to 4.7 million hectares. The barley harvest was weighed by the Ministry of Agriculture at 9.1 million tonnes, up 4.4% compared to 2022.
Cereal harvests therefore promise to be well done in France this year. Even though farmers are still holding their breath and still waiting for the end of the fiscal year to rejoice. A meteorological hazard happens so quickly and can shatter the hopes of a year. “For the time being, the atmosphere is serene”observes Benoît Piétrement, chairman of the council specializing in field crops at FranceAgriMer and cereal producer in the Marne.
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He himself says he is satisfied with the yield and quality of the winter barley, despite some heterogeneity between the plots. He mowed them down the last days of June. “Three weeks ago, I thought I would harvest the barley between July 5 and July 10. With the heat and a few rainy spells, the schedule has acceleratedhe says. Since my installation in 1992, this is the third time that I mow my barley in June and the second time in two years. » Climate change impact sign.
“Wheat is beautiful”
The heat stroke also precipitated the ripening of the wheat. The prospect of a return to normal harvest dates, glimpsed in May, has faded. Mr. Piétrement hopes to start around July 10. The last days are crucial. The relative freshness and the showers are rather favourable. In June, the high temperatures and thunderstorms somewhat dented the potential and laid certain fields down. But, at the end of June, FranceAgriMer still considered the quality of 80% of wheat crops to be good, even very good.
“The wheat is beautiful. It should be a good year”, welcomes Christophe Desmis, who grows cereals, potatoes, vegetables and beets in Vrély, in the Somme. He says he is ready to launch his combine harvester in mid-July. “The wheat is okay, but you can have surprises if it’s very hot and very dry at the end of the cycle. We left with great potential, and we came back to a level closer to the average”, reacts for his part Arthur Portier, consultant at the firm Agritel.
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