(Dow Jones) -- Strategie Grains Thursday trimmed its forecast for 2016-17 soft wheat production in the European Union due to bad weather in France.
The research firm cut its crop forecast by 1.2 million metric tons to 145.5 million tons after heavy rains diminished yields.
A cut of 2.7 million tons cut in expected production in France, Scandinavia, Spain and elsewhere outweighed a 1.5 million-ton upgrade in other countries including Romania and Bulgaria.
"Winter cereal yields in France have been very badly affected by poor conditions at the end of the growth cycle," Strategie Grains said, adding that early tests of the barley crop have shown French grain has been "very badly damaged."
As a result of the quality issues, Strategie cut its forecast for EU wheat exports in 2016-17 by nearly 1 million tons to 29 million tons.
It cut its forecast for EU barley production by 0.6 million tons to 62.1 million tons and for corn by 0.5 tons to 61.7 million tons.