German wheat crop likely to rise

Germany is likely to harvest 24.04 million tonnes of wheat this year, up from 23.64 million in 2005, trading house Toepfer International said on Monday.
"Germany's farming industry can expect an average grain crop after generally rather good weather conditions in April and May," Toepfer said in a market report.
"Normal levels of rainfall have overall provided satisfactory water supplies."
Only in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony and isolated regions had rains been insufficient, it said.
"Conditions for maize are viewed less positively," it said. "After late sowing and below-average temperatures up to the end of May, high temperatures are required for further growth of plantings."
But crops could catch up given continuing warm weather. "For rapeseed, we expect lower yields than last year," it said. Rapeseed had suffered from pests, dry weather in some regions and a long winter that had delayed growth. Rapeseed yields might vary much more from region to region.