Timely rain helps EU grain crops after dry start to spring

By Gus Trompiz and Michael Hogan

PARIS/HAMBURG, May 13 (Reuters) - Rain this month has brought relief to grain crops in Western and Central Europe after a ‌very dry start to spring, reducing the risk of widespread yield losses ahead ‌of this summer's harvest.

A parched April in countries including France, Germany and Poland had heightened concern in a wheat ​market already grappling with severe drought in the U.S. Plains and the risk of an El Nino cycle hurting Australian crops.

Showers in early May have improved the outlook, though analysts warn regular rain will be needed to sustain soil moisture during the peak growth period.

"It's very ‌good news, it's exactly what we ⁠needed," Guillaume Lefort, a crop farmer southeast of Paris, said of the return of rain in France.

One of France's driest and warmest Aprils ⁠on record had rapidly dried out fields, particularly in areas with shallow soils. Crop ratings from farm office FranceAgriMer have declined steadily since last month, though they remain above last year's levels.

"The ​situation ​hasn't become alarming thanks to the rain in ​early May," FranceAgriMer's Abir Mahajba said, ‌adding that conditions vary between regions.

In Germany, showers this month have boosted field conditions.

"We have seen very welcome rain especially in the east, which arrived just in time, and wheat and rapeseed look like recovering well," one German grains analyst said.

"I am no longer concerned about dryness damage in the short term."

Rain has also reached Poland, though some rapeseed has ‌been lost due to frosts and dryness.

"Recent rain across ​the country has somewhat alleviated farmers' concerns about ​the condition of crops, but much more ​rain is still needed in the days ahead," said Wojtek Sabaranski ‌of analysts Sparks Polska.

Some farmers have ploughed ​up weak rapeseed plantings ​to sow maize or soybeans instead, he said, adding he expects this year's Polish rapeseed crop to fall.

Improved moisture could help limit an expected drop in EU ​wheat output after last year's ‌bumper yields, while keeping the bloc on course for a bigger rapeseed crop ​following an increase in planted area.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and ​Michael Hogan in Hamburg. Editing by Mark Potter)