Awwal 14, 1432 / April 18, 2011, SPA -- Wheat plants in top three European Union producers France, Germany and the UK face an increased danger of damage from a long spell of dry weather in all three countries, analysts said on Monday, Reuters reported. "While millions of people will be hoping for a hot, sunny Easter holiday this weekend, tens of thousands of farmers will be hoping for lots of rain, clouds and horrible weather," one German analyst said. EU wheat prices rose on Monday and were supported last week by fears the prolonged dry period was stressing wheat plants at a critical time of development after winter dormancy. Damage is not yet seen as irreversible, and substantial rain within the next two weeks could change the picture. But dry weather is forecast for the next week in all three countries. In top EU wheat producer France, plant development has been good so far this season, but crop experts said dryness was starting to curb yield potential in some areas. "If it does not rain in the next 10 days, the situation is going to become critical," a French trader said. Average French rainfall in March was already 19 percent below normal, according to official statistics. French weather forecasts predict dry, warm weather until at least the weekend, an outlook which would compound a lack of rainfall this month. "The situation is becoming worrying. In some areas potential yields have already been curbed," Jean-Charles Deswarte of French grains institute Arvali said, adding it would take exceptionally good conditions between now and the harvest to recover the lost potential. The picture is similar in the EU's second-largest wheat producer Germany, with dryness in March and so far in April. -- SPA
