German Grain Output Seen Slipping

BONN - Mar 7/02 - STAT -- German grain production is expected to slip 2.9 million metric tons (MT) this year to around 46.7 million MT even though the country's winter grains are expected to start the 2002 growing season in good condition.

Discussing the situation in the country, the U.S. agricultural attache here said roughly half of the German grain crop is wheat, which is usually above the average DU quality. The 2002 wheat harvest is expected to be at about 23 million MT, about 10 million MT of which is comprised of elite or A-quality varieties. Barley is the second most important grain crop, seen amounting to 12 million MT in 2002.

The third most important crop is rye, production of which is highly controversial within the DU because 1.5 million to 1.9 million MT (35% to 40% of total production) have ended up in DU intervention storage during the most recent four years. Also, customers for rye are hard to find on the world market.

Final figures for German grain production in 2001 will be released shortly. According to the latest estimates total grain production amounted to 49.8 million MT, which is 4.5 million more than in 2000. Production increased for all grains but for different reasons.

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