The Ministry of Agriculture left its estimates of French winter cereal sowings for the 1986/87 campaign barely changed at 6.606 mln hectares compared with its previous forecast of 6.601 mln. This compared with the 6.41 mln ha of winter cereals harvested in the 1985/86 campaign. Winter soft wheat sowings were put at 4.647 mln ha compared with its previous estimate of 4.651 mln and 4.57 mln ha harvested last campaign. Winter barley plantings were forecast at 1.46 mln ha unchanged from its previous estimate and compared with 1.41 mln harvested last season. The ministry put hard winter wheat sowings at 246000 ha versus a February 1 estimate of 236000 and actual area harvested last campaign of 217000. Winter rape plantings were forecast at 627000 ha against a previous estimate of 621000 and 375000 rpt 375000 harvested in 1985/86.
FRENCH WINTER CEREAL SOWING SEEN LITTLE CHANGED