France Anticipates Strong Wheat Harvest in 2025
France's wheat harvest for 2025 is projected at 32.6 million tonnes, marking a significant recovery from last year's lows.
Key Points
- • Production forecast at 32.6 million tonnes for 2025, up 27% from 2024.
- • Estimated yields of 72.6 quintals per hectare, a 19% increase.
- • Harvest started about ten days earlier than usual.
- • Cultivated area remains below the average from 2020-2024.
France is set to experience a notable wheat harvest this summer, with forecasts predicting production to reach 32.6 million tonnes in 2025. This figure reflects a remarkable 27% increase from the previous year's yield, which was the lowest in four decades at merely 25.5 million tonnes, primarily due to adverse weather conditions in 2024.
The harvest commenced with approximately a ten-day advance and is anticipated to conclude around July 20, 2025. Benoît Piétrement, the president of the crop council at FranceAgriMer, expressed optimism about the yields, estimating them at 72.6 quintals per hectare, an increase of 19% compared to the past year. He stated that recent heat waves had not adversely affected production outcomes, crediting the early planting as a beneficial strategy for farmers.
Despite the encouraging projections for yield and production, the area planted with wheat remains below the average of the years 2020-2024. This year’s harvest represents a much-needed rebound for French agriculture, indicating resilience and adaptation amidst fluctuating climate conditions. The positive outlook is crucial for the agricultural sector's recovery following last year's significant downturn.