In its latest report, the European Commission's agricultural meteorology service detailed the impacts of the slow start to spring this year on European grain crops.

On Monday, MARS reported that below average temperatures across Northern and Central Europe, which lasted throughout March and into April, would have a marked effect for the rest of the growing season. This year Germany faced its coldest March on record and across Europe, the month was one of the coldest observed so far, MARS said; this contrasts starkly with last year, when some of the hottest March temperatures were recorded.

MARS said, "As a consequence [of the bad weather and low temperatures], a significant delay in winter crop development and spring sowing was observed in most of Europe, with the exception of the Mediterranean regions and around the Black Sea."

Temperatures recorded at the start of March were 6°C below average in Germany, Poland, and North-Eastern Europe, and around 4°C below in northern France, the UK, northern Italy, and much of Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Mid-March was the coldest period observed, when temperatures in Central Europe reached -14°C. As crops were protected by snow, little damage resulted from the cold snap.

Above average rainfall was also seen across much of Europe, with the Mediterranean and parts of Eastern Europe particularly affected. However, Southern Scandinavia, Northern Germany and the north-western part of the British Isles recorded below-average rain for the time of year.

Although across the bloc prospects for EU winter cereal yields remain average, MARS acknowledged that in a number of regions, including the UK and some parts of Northern Europe, "the likelihood of realizing full crop potentials is somewhat compromised by the long delays." Even so, MARS did not make any changes to current forecasts, stating that it remains too early to assume crops will not recover from the slow start to the season.

Although warmer temperatures were recorded across Europe as April drew on, colder than average temperatures are expected to persist in Northern Europe, possibly until the end of the month.

The after-effects of the languid start to the season are expected to be felt throughout Western Europe, where the cold spell led to a delayed growth for winter and spring crops by a month in France and Germany, and potentially longer in the UK and Ireland, according to MARS.

However, the agency report did provide some cause for optimism; in its UK analysis MARS revealed that since temperatures returned to normal crops have resumed growth at a "rapid rate". The agency said no damage has been reported as a result of the cold weather, only delays to crop cycle. These delays are expected to affect the spring crop cycle, which will be shifted along later into the year, due to late sowing and emergence.