Moisture Shortages Still A Large Concern For France
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, October 20 (World Weather Inc.) – The primary agricultural weather concern in Europe continues to be the moisture shortages in France and immediate neighboring areas in Germany and northwestern Italy. France has had problems 
with dryness stemming back to mid-summer this year and would benefit greatly from improved rainfall in the near future. Winter wheat, rapeseed, and other winter crops are in need of improved rainfall for better establishment and growth conditions. The brief periods of rain that evolve during the next seven days in France will not be enough to significantly impact long-term soil conditions. Winter crop production cuts will become a greater concern in the coming weeks if the drier biased environment continues.
France, western Germany, and northwestern Italy only reported 25% to 50% of normal precipitation with pockets receiving less than 25% of normal precipitation from August 15 – October 17. Several locations also reported drier than normal conditions at times over the summer. The lack of rain and periods of warmer than normal weather promoted significant moisture losses across France and immediate neighboring areas. Summer crop quality and production 
losses occurred in a large portion of France due to the extended period of dryness.
Germany and northwestern Italy have not hurt nearly as much with dryness as France because of some timely rain that occurred earlier in the year. Nevertheless, both regions still need greater rainfall and soil moisture.
Spain has also been drier than normal since the beginning of October, although the country does not normally receive much rain this time of year. The Iberian Peninsula normally receives most of its annual rainfall from October through April.
The moisture profile in other areas of Europe is in mostly good shape – thanks to improving rainfall over the past month. Rain so far this month in much of Eastern Europe has ranged from 2.00 to 6.00 inches with local 
amounts up to 10.50 inches in the Balkan region. Eastern Romania, eastern Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine struggled with dryness earlier this autumn, but rainfall since then has been substantially improved so that the moisture deficits have been removed and soil conditions are now saturated or nearly saturated with moisture.
Summer crop yields in the heart of Europe were favorable this year. Winter wheat, barley, rye and rapeseed planting and establishment outside of France have been mostly very good so far this autumn. Much of the recent rain in eastern Europe has come after the bulk of harvesting was complete, but some late season crop areas need dry weather for a while to get the balance of this year’s crops harvested.
France will not receive much precipitation of significance through the end of next week. An upper-level low pressure center will promote light and erratic precipitation today and Friday with more periods of light rain this weekend and the beginning of next week. Much of the rain that does fall will not be enough to impact long-term soil conditions. Winter wheat and rapeseed establishment prospects will remain poor in France until more substantial precipitation falls.
Germany and a large portion of Eastern Europe will see alternating periods of precipitation and sunshine during the next week to ten days. The frequent precipitation will slow late season harvesting and general fieldwork, but will otherwise keep soil moisture rated favorably. Winter wheat and rapeseed planting and establishment will continue to advance swiftly.
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