MARS has lowered its yield forecasts for corn, soybean and sunseed in the EU due to the heatwave

The EU’s crop monitoring service MARS has significantly downgraded its yield forecasts for spring crops in the European Union in its August report. Prolonged heat and moisture shortages across western and central Europe have reduced grain filling and accelerated crop maturity.

The largest revision from July was made for soybeans, with the yield forecast cut by 12% to 2.31 t/ha, which is 14% below the five-year average. The corn yield forecast was reduced by 5% to 6.61 t/ha, or 7% below the five-year average.

MARS lowered its sunflower yield estimate by 1% to 1.92 t/ha, 3% below the five-year average. The rapeseed yield forecast was cut by 2% to 3.09 t/ha, or 4% below average. In the regions most severely affected by the heat, MARS does not rule out complete crop failure for spring crops.

Meanwhile, winter grain yields in the EU are expected to remain close to their five-year averages. The soft wheat yield is forecast at 5.88 t/ha, down 7% from 2025, while the barley yield is projected at 5.02 t/ha, 11% below last year.

Unlike the EU, MARS forecasts for Ukraine remain above five-year averages. Wheat yield is expected at 4.74 t/ha (+10%), barley at 4.1 t/ha (+14%), corn at 8 t/ha (+13%), and soybeans at 2.69 t/ha (+9%). Yields for all these crops are also forecast to exceed 2025 levels.

Tags: heatwave, MARS, corn, EU, soybean, sunseed