# Dry west, wet east: Europe's winter sowing is a split map

> The European Commission’s crop monitors report that the 2026 harvest is nearing completion, with yields below the five-year average for most crops. Low soil moisture is hindering rapeseed emergence and winter-cereal establishment in parts of western, central, and southeastern Europe, while excessive rain is delaying sowing and some harvest work in the Baltic states and Finland; some winter acreage may shift to spring crops.

- Date: 2026-11-06 · published 2026-11-07T03:21:09.342Z
- Category: weather · region Europe · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/85477-dry-west-wet-east-europe-s-winter-sowing-is-a-split-map
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Barley](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARLEY.md), [Sunflower Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SUNMEAL.md)

## Why it matters

Poor establishment or reduced winter-crop area could tighten future European rapeseed and grain supplies, lending support to prices if conditions persist. The impact is uncertain because forecast rain may improve soil moisture in dry areas and drier spells could help the wet north.

## Read by commodity

- WHEAT: bullish ▲
- BARLEY: bullish ▲
- SUNMEAL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2022-02-21 | [Dry winter in much of Europe and North Africa](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42650-dry-winter-in-much-of-europe-and-north-africa.md) | +2.8% | +11.9% |
| WHEAT | 2019-12-31 | [Contrasting soil moisture picture between East and Western Europe: Grain Market Daily \| AHDB](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55526-contrasting-soil-moisture-picture-between-east-and-western-europe-grain-market.md) | +0.6% | -2.3% |
| WHEAT | 2023-12-05 | [Wet delays European winter-crop planting - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32655-wet-delays-european-winter-crop-planting-grain-central.md) | -3.3% | +2.4% |
| WHEAT | 2025-03-04 | [European winter crops in reasonable shape as spring approaches - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25502-european-winter-crops-in-reasonable-shape-as-spring-approaches-grain-central.md) | +0.1% | +2.8% |
| WHEAT | 2024-11-09 | [West Europe sowings resume but delays dent wheat crop potential - Markets - Business Recorder](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27354-west-europe-sowings-resume-but-delays-dent-wheat-crop-potential-markets.md) | -1.4% | -1.0% |

## Sources

- benjaminkoch.info: https://benjaminkoch.info/insidedesk/2026/11/06/dry-soils-in-france-and-the-benelux-waterlogging.html

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.