UPDATE 1-French wheat, barley crops still ahead of usual growth pace

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PARIS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - French soft wheat and winterbarley crops are still about a week ahead of their usual rate ofdevelopment following a mild autumn, data from farm officeFranceAgriMer showed on Friday.

Soft wheat in France, the European Union's biggest grainproducer, had emerged from the ground on about 93% of theexpected crop area by Nov. 21, with the median date of emergencesix days earlier than the average of the past five years,FranceAgriMer said in a weekly cereal report.

Soft wheat crops on 38% of the area had also reached thesubsequent tillering stage, when shoots start to form from thestem, compared with just 7% a year ago, the office said.

For winter barley, crops had emerged on 97% of the area anddevelopment pace was seven days ahead of the five-year average.

Crops had started tillering on 59% of the area versus 21% ayear ago.

Early development of cereals crop has been boosted by anexceptionally warm October and regular rain that has eased theeffects of summer drought.

The fast initial growth has raised concern about crops beingvulnerable to frost, although a progressive cooling intemperatures expected in the week ahead may slow development andimprove plants' hardiness.

Nearly all soft wheat and winter barley remained in goodshape, with 98% of crops for both varieties rated as being ingood or excellent condition, according to FranceAgriMer.

Farmers had almost finished sowing soft wheat and winterbarley, with 98% and 99% of the expected areas, respectively,planted by Nov. 21, the office said.

For durum wheat, the variety used in pasta, sowing was 84%complete and crops had emerged on 58% of the area.(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Toby Chopra and MarkPotter)

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