France is facing one of the worst wheat harvests of the past 40 years after a winter of rain and storms, according to a forecast released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday. Losses of nearly 25% compared to the past five-year average are expected for soft wheat, which accounts for nearly half of the grain production in France, the EU’s largest agricultural producer. France’s total grain production for 2024 is estimated at 54.8 million tons, compared to 64.9 million tons in 2023 and 64.4 million tons in the past five-year average. Losses are also expected for barley, down 12.2% compared t…