Paris | Reuters — France’s farm ministry on Tuesday increased slightly its estimates for sowings of winter soft wheat and winter rapeseed for the 2026 harvest, confirming its expectation of an expanded area for both crops this year.
For winter soft wheat, France’s main cereal crop, the ministry now expects the 2026 area to reach 4.59 million hectares (11.3 million acres), up slightly from its initial projection of 4.56 million in December, it said on Tuesday.
The revised estimate was up 2.8 per cent from the area harvested in 2025, though 0.3 per cent below the average of the past five years, the ministry said in a report.
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For winter rapeseed, the country’s largest oilseed crop, it raised its estimate for this year’s area to 1.37 million hectares (3.39 million acres) from 1.34 million projected in December.
That was now eight per cent above the 2025 area and 11.6 per cent above the five-year average.
Analysts have anticipated an increase in rapeseed planting in France and across Europe given more favourable prices than for cereals, as well as strong yields in last summer’s harvest.
Favourable autumn weather had also raised expectations that the soft wheat area would hold steady, despite falling prices.
Among other winter crops, the ministry pegged the 2026 winter barley area at 1.26 million hectares (3.11 million acres), compared to 1.23 million previously and up 5.3 per cent on the year.
For winter durum wheat, however, the estimated 2026 area was reduced slightly, to 196,000 hectares (484,327 acres) from 199,000 forecast in December. That left the projected area marginally below last year’s level and nearly 16 per cent below the five-year average.
Wheat and rapeseed are almost entirely sown as winter crops in France, whereas barley production includes a significant portion of spring-grown crop.
Winter crops were generally in good condition so far, the ministry added.
