Météo-France recalled at the beginning of June, “the end of May was marked by an episode of heat without precedent at this time of the year throughout the country”. “The North West was the most affected” with “temperatures well above standards (between 10 and 15 degrees)”. This is a potentially impactful episode for crops, particularly straw cereals.
Thus, according to the latest Céré’Obs report from FranceAgriMer published on June 5, 2026, on average 76% of soft wheat areas presented good to very good growing conditions on June 1. This is 2 points less than the previous week but 7 points more than last year at the same date.
The Regions with the worst results are Nouvelle-Aquitaine (56%) and Occitanie (58%). Conversely, ÃŽle-de-France (86%), Normandy (86%) and Hauts-de-France (99%) have the best growing conditions.
Soft wheat kws perceptium milky grain
Nogent sur Seine sector (10)
🔥🔥🔥
Will he see July? #moisson2026 pic.twitter.com/X3vEnpe4WI— Thibaut Grasset (@Thib_Grasset) May 28, 2026
The heading stage was reached on average on 100% of the sole, one point more than last week. “The median date for this stage is 5 days ahead of 2025 and 9 days compared to the five-year average,” specifies FranceAgriMer. Please note, as of June 1, 2026: only Brittany (98%) had not reached 100% of heading areas.
73% of winter barley in good to very good conditions
For winter barley too, good to very good growing conditions have declined since last week, going from 76% to 73%, compared to 64% in 2025. Here again, Hauts-de-France (99%), Normandy (87%) and Ile-de-France (80%) present the best conditions. Conversely, Occitanie (53%), Brittany (54%) and New Aquitaine (59%) are the Regions where winter barley has less good growing conditions.
On average, 100% of the sole has reached the heading stage. Only Brittany had a slight delay with 95% of the sole heading by June 1st. FranceAgriMer adds that “the median date for this stage is 4 days ahead of 2025 and 7 days ahead of the 5-year average.”
Durum wheat, ripening 6 days early
As of June 1, 65% of durum wheat areas had good to very good growing conditions, i.e. 6 points less than the previous week and 8 points less at the same date in 2025. Here again, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (45%) and Occitanie (50%) presented the worst results.
As for the earing stage, it reached 100% of the surfaces, compared to 98% as of May 25 (96% in 2025 and on the average for 2021-2025). The median date of this stage is 6 days ahead of 2025 but also compared to the five-year average.
Spring barleys most affected
Good to very good growing conditions for spring barley have fallen to 68% (–15 points compared to May 25). They are also less good than in 2025 (73%). Nouvelle-Aquitaine is particularly affected with only 44% of its sole judged to be in good condition. Very good growing conditions.
The heading stage is reached by 98% of spring barleys, compared to 81% last week (95% in 2025 and 71% on the five-year average). The Céré’Obs report specifies: “The median date for this stage is identical to 2025 and is 7 days ahead of the 5-year average.â€
Grain corn, 6-8 leaf stage gallops
Sowing of grain corn was on average completed by June 1, 2026. The crop is grown on 97% of areas (96% in 2025 and 93% on the five-year average). This stage is 1 day ahead of 2025 and 6 days ahead of the 2021-2025 average. Finally, the 6-8 leaf stage reached on average 68% of the corn sole, or 18 points more than the previous week (63% in 2025 and 47% on the 5-year average). It is 1 day ahead of 2025 and 7 days ahead of the 5-year average.
Good to very good growing conditions decreased slightly, from 88% to 84% of the surface area (85% in 2025).
Contrasting effects according to Arvalis
As of June 4, Arvalis informs that “this early heat wave had contrasting effects depending on the crops and their stage of development. In certain late situations, straw cereals may suffer from a drop in the number of grains and/or the GMP, especially in the event of a water deficit. In potatoes, heat favors foliage but can slow down tuberization. For fiber flax, the high temperatures stimulated growth thanks to the good water reserves in the soil. Corn and sorghum, still in the vegetative phase, tolerated this episode well, mainly with an acceleration of development.”
However, some operators remain worried.
In the heart of #Alsace not far from the #silo
Traces of last week’s heatwave are visible on all the leaves of young #corn
But for what consequences?
No one has experienced such a configuration in the past pic.twitter.com/NwZfAlyyzu
— Nicolas Barjot (@BarjotNicolas) June 3, 2026
