The French sugar beet harvest is threatened by drought with no sign of rain.

The head of the French sugar beet growers 'association' CGB warned that a prolonged drought threatens sugar beet production in France, EU's biggest producer.

White sugar prices hit a nine-and-a-half-month high Wednesday, fueled by concerns over European sugarbeet crops and the El Nino weather patterns in Asia. The prices of white sugar had fallen to a "more than five-year" low in the first half of this year due to heavy supplies. This hit the profits for sugar producers.

Water is essential for sugar beets. Franck Sander said that if it doesn't rain in the next two weeks, it could be catastrophic.

Meteo France predicts that the sugar beet fields around Paris and in northern France will not see rain until July 14.

Sander stated that the situation has been?uneven, with some beets showing dry leaves, while others have held up better.

After heavy aphid infestations in early season, French farmers are worried about yellows.

In 2020, the virus devastated crops after the European Union banned certain neonicotinoid insecticides that were used to protect crops. The EU cited 'evidence of bees.

France granted temporary exemptions to 2021 and 2022, after farmers and producers of sugar complained that the ban was threatening?the viability of their industry. France's Conseil de Stat ruled that the exemptions had to be revoked after a ruling by the EU's highest court.

The broader farm bill is being amended by a new amendment that the Parliament will debate this week. The minister of agriculture said that she wasn't 'against the measure, but preferred it be discussed separately in order to reduce the chance that the broader bill would be rejected.

The final decision is expected to be made later in the month. It would be too late for this year's crops, since aphids usually infect plants in the spring, and symptoms appear in the summer. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide. Mark Potter (Editing)

(source: Reuters)