United States
Department of
Agriculture
Foreign
Agricultural
Service
Circular Series
W
August 2007
AP 08-07
World Agricultural
Production
European Union: Estimated Corn Yield Lowest Since 2003 Drought
The USDA forecasts 2007/08 European Union (EU-27) corn production at 48.4 million tons,
6.8 million below last
month’s estimate and
9.2 million below the
five-year average.
Harvested area is
forecast at 8.4 million
hectares, 0.2 million
below last month and
0.3 million below last
year. Yield is
estimated at 5.76 tons
per hectare, the
lowest projection
since the damaging
heat and dryness of
the 2003/04 season.
Severe drought and
extremely high temperatures prevailed in southern and central areas of the European continent
during spring and summer, resulting in large significant soil-moisture deficits. Europe recorded
one of its warmest springs in history, followed by record-setting heat during June and July. The
dryness hampered corn planting, and the heat greatly accelerated plant development.
Analysts from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service observed evidence of stress to corn in
southeastern Europe during July crop travel. The excessive July heat resulted in poor or variable
pollination, which will result in fewer kernels and lower yields.
Although the non-irrigated corn crop in southeastern European has been devastated by drought
– with output in Bulgaria and Romania forecast to drop by as much as 50 percent – the two
leading corn-producing countries in the EU largely escaped the heat and dryness. France, the
leading corn producer, experienced favorable weather with frequent rainfall and moderate
temperatures throughout the season. In Italy, the second-highest producer, corn is largely
irrigated and less dependent on seasonal precipitation. (For additional information, contact
Bryan Purcell at 202-690-0138.)