French maize crop ratings hit record low after hottest summer on record

French maize crop conditions have fallen to their lowest level on record, according to data released by farm office FranceAgriMer on Friday. As of September 7, only 26% of grain maize was rated good or excellent, down from 27% a week earlier and far below the 62% recorded a year ago. The figure is the weakest since the office began keeping records in 2011.

Maize has been the cereal hardest hit by this summer's extreme weather, which coincided with the peak of its growing season. France's agriculture ministry has forecast a 35% decline in grain maize production from last year, while analysts expect output to fall by around half, which would be the lowest level since 1976.

The country experienced its hottest June-to-August period since records began in 1900, and its second-driest summer since 1959, according to the national weather service Meteo-France. Southern regions were struck by another heatwave last week, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. Although temperatures have eased this week, rainfall has remained limited apart from isolated showers.

Harvesting has begun unusually early. By Monday, 9% of the grain maize crop had been cut, compared with a five-year average of 2% for the same period.