Winterkill

12/03/12 -- French analysts Agritel estimate that 1.9 MMT may have been wiped off this year's wheat harvest there due to winterkill losses in the recent deep freeze (although with the sun blazing in you could be forgiven for thinking it was months ago).

This information is based on a survey of over two thousand French farmers, so it's bound to be kosher. Spring barley is likely to be the main beneficiary, they say.

In other news from across the Channel the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels are "Collaborate" and "Surrender."