EU keeps Portugal's summer crop forecasts despite heat and drought

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre reports that weeks of hot, dry weather have stressed Portugal's rain-fed maize and sunflower crops, accelerating ageing and limiting biomass accumulation. Because crops are already at an advanced growth stage, the impact on final yields is expected to be limited, so productivity forecasts remain unchanged. Irrigated crops such as maize, potatoes and sugar beet are performing well thanks to adequate water availability. Sunflower harvesting has begun and potato harvesting is nearly finished in the south, while similar heat and drought stress is affecting crops across Western and Central Europe.