France cuts maize, sugar beet forecasts to new lows

PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) — France's farm ministry sharply cut its forecast for this year's grain maize crop to 7.3 million metric tons, from 8.1 million last month, confirming expectations of the lowest output in decades after heatwaves and drought damaged crops. For sugar beet, which has also suffered badly from this summer's severe weather, the ministry reduced its production outlook to 25.3 million tons from 25.4 million last month. The forecasts for both grain maize and sugar beet were the lowest in ministry records dating back to 1980. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) ((mailto:Sybille.deLaHamaide@thomsonreuters.com; +336 8774 4148;)