European crop report: wheat protein levels on par with 2015

By Jane Byrne

- Last updated on GMT

Evonik also reviewed nutrient values of soybean meal from Germany, Italy, Ukraine and Russia © istock/Veresovich
Evonik also reviewed nutrient values of soybean meal from Germany, Italy, Ukraine and Russia © istock/Veresovich
The average protein content of wheat - 11.52% - in Europe this year is about half a percent above that of 2015, found the latest crop report from Evonik.

The German chemical group’s analysis shows the variation in protein content among the main European wheat producing countries amounted to about 2%, ranging from 10.39% in wheat in the UK to 12.38% in Russian wheat. 

Evonik said its annual publication aims to keep industry up to speed on the nutrient content of major feed ingredients as well as regional variation for the 2016 harvest as soil conditions, plant genetics, and in particular, climate and weather affect the nutritional value of the crop from harvest to harvest. 

The fifth issue of the report includes analyses of 4,364 samples of common European crops such as barley, rapeseed, corn, sunflower and wheat, collected in 14 countries across the continent. 

The average protein content of sunflower meal collected across Europe was 33.06% this year, slightly down from the average level recorded last year - 33.15%. 

Protein levels in soy grown in Europe  

Evonik said 317 samples of soybeans processed into soybean meal, soybean expeller, or full-fat soybean meal from Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Italy also contributed to the 2016 release: “This development reflects the efforts in our region undertaken in order to reduce soybean meal imports, and to cope with GMO issues.”

It found the average protein content of those soybean meal samples was 45.99%.

Climatic conditions also influence the yield and quality of grains - the review noted wheat yield, for example, decreased by 12% compared to the previous season due to an extraordinarily wet spring in parts of Western and Central Europe.

Southern and Southeastern Europe countries benefitted from sufficient water availability, and could increase grain yields, reported Evonik.

At around 115 million tons, the Russian grain harvest for 2016 looks like a record one, and Ukraine saw high grain yields too -  grain harvested is pegged at about 64 million tons for 2016, concluded the report.

It found climatic conditions hit the European oilseed harvest, at 30 million tons, it is down 5% on 2015: “A very high sunflower yield could not compensate the losses occurring within rapeseed.”

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