Harvest is back underway across France, and with drier weather forecast this week combines should make rapid progress in the coming days.

“Although it is still early to draw conclusions about the 2011 harvest, it seems that the latest rains haven’t really degraded the quality,” said a report by analyst Agritel.

“Attention needs to be focussed on specific weights but for now they remain quite correct.”

Although later yields were better, they would not compensate for the significant drops seen in areas most affected by the drought and already harvested, it added.

However, oilseed rape yields were well above last year.

In America, welcome rain in the corn belt would prove very beneficial to the developing soybean crop.

“But corn yields have already been affected and are less impacted by lower temperatures.”

Rain was also expected in Ukraine and Russia this week, but Ukraine’s ministry of agriculture had again increased its estimate of grain production, from 47m tonnes to 48-51m tonnes.