Drought and excessive rainfall disrupt winter crop sowing across the EU — MARS

Winter cereal and rapeseed sowing across the European Union is taking place under challenging weather conditions. In western, eastern and southeastern parts of the EU, low soil moisture is hampering crop emergence and establishment, while excessive rainfall is delaying fieldwork in the Baltic states. This was reported in the October bulletin of the EU’s crop monitoring service MARS.

Drought has particularly affected winter rapeseed in France and Germany, where insufficient soil moisture has resulted in uneven emergence. European farmers had previously been expected to expand rapeseed acreage again for the 2027 harvest, encouraged by high prices, but dry conditions disrupted sowing in late summer. Winter cereal sowing also slowed in parts of France and the Benelux countries, although recent rainfall improved conditions in southern Germany.

In eastern Germany and western Poland, winter crop sowing generally progressed well, but rainfall deficits since September have reduced soil moisture reserves. This has raised concerns about crop emergence and establishment before winter dormancy. Unfavorable conditions have also been reported in Romania and other parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, where insufficient moisture is limiting normal winter crop development.

In Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, drought has had a particularly negative impact on winter rapeseed sowing and emergence. According to MARS, uneven crop development and unfavorable weather conditions could lead to a reduction in rapeseed acreage. In Italy, low soil moisture is delaying field preparation and the start of winter crop sowing in central and southern regions, although farmers still have a relatively long sowing window.

Meanwhile, prolonged rainfall has become the main challenge in Northern Europe, causing waterlogged soils. In the Baltic states, winter crop sowing has been suspended in some areas, and MARS expects the planted area to decline. As a result, weather conditions are already creating risks for the establishment of crops for the 2027 harvest, primarily due to poor crop development in drought-affected regions and sowing delays in waterlogged fields.

Tags: weather conditions, EU, drought, winter crop