Favorable weather for winter rapeseed sowing in Europe reduces the impact of weather factors on prices

Farmers in European countries are actively sowing winter crops for the 2026 harvest. The dry weather in October allowed them to outpace the pace of work in the two previous years, when the season began with prolonged rains.

Experts believe that the area under rapeseed may grow due to good margins, while that under spring barley and corn may, on the contrary, decrease.

According to FranceAgriMer, as of October 20, over 50% of the planned area had been sown with winter wheat in France , and almost 75% with winter barley, which is above the 5-year average. Rapeseed areas are also expected to increase.

In Germany, winter crop sowing is almost complete. Low prices on the Euronext exchange are not encouraging farmers to change their crop structure, although rapeseed remains an exception.

UK farmers are hoping to complete their winter crop planting plans, which have been hampered by rains in recent years. No significant changes in crop structure are expected, but the area under rapeseed may increase.

In Poland , unlike its neighbors, the area sown with winter wheat and rapeseed may decrease due to delayed corn harvest and low rapeseed prices.

Active sowing of winter crops in Europe reduces the speculative influence of weather factors on prices.

November rapeseed futures on the Paris exchange rose 1.5% to €469.25/t in the week amid rising oil prices, but fell 0.9% in the month under pressure from increased supply and will continue to fall as canola imports from Australia and Canada increase and supplies from Ukraine resume.

In Ukraine, thanks to the rains, farmers also managed to sow the planned areas with winter rapeseed, which improves the prospects for the 2026 harvest.