Winter crop conditions in France continue to deteriorate due to persistent heavy rains affecting most of the country and causing localized flooding in western regions. According to FranceAgriMer, last week’s weather significantly impacted crop development, reducing the share of fields rated in good or excellent condition.
Meteo France reports that February could become the wettest month in the country since 1959, adding further challenges for farmers. As of February 23, 84% of soft wheat fields were rated good or excellent, down from 88% the previous week but still above last year’s figure of 72%.
Similar trends were observed for winter barley, with 81% of fields in good or excellent condition, compared to 84% the previous week and 69% in 2025. Hard wheat also saw a slight decline, with 81% of fields rated good or very good, roughly matching last year’s level.
Heavy rainfall has also nearly halted spring crop planting across most regions. Barley sowing, for example, has reached only 32% of the planned area, well below the five-year average of 44%, raising concerns about the timing and scale of the spring planting campaign.
