30/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 30/08/2024 21:16
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has released its August 2024 MARS Bulletin on Crop Monitoring in Europe, painting a challenging picture for agriculture across the continent due to extreme weather conditions.
According to the report, yield forecasts for most EU crops have been revised downward, with projections now falling below the 5-year average. The decline in expected yields is largely attributed to the impact of severe weather.
Summer crops have been particularly hard hit, with high temperatures across southern, central, and eastern Europe severely affecting production. Grain maize and sunflowers have suffered the most, especially in areas with limited water availability.
Winter crops have also struggled, particularly in northern and western Europe. Overly wet conditions, including intense rainfall in the Baltic countries, have damaged soft wheat and winter barley, reducing grain quality and lowering yield expectations.
The bulletin highlights significant weather anomalies, including extreme heat and dryness in southern Europe, leading to depleted soil moisture and crop stress. Meanwhile, northern Europe has faced excessive rainfall, resulting in waterlogged fields and delayed harvests.
The regional impact has been severe:
Overall, the report highlights the substantial impact of these unusual weather patterns on European agriculture, leading to lower-than-expected crop yields in many regions.