May 27, 2009
Polish 2009 winter crop condition worse than 2008
Poland's 2009 winter grain and rapeseed crops are in slightly worse shape than in 2008, as limited rainfall in April and early May failed to offset warmer-than-average weather, which dried out the soil, Poland's statistics office said Tuesday (May 26).
In its first overall assessment of 2009 crops based on field surveys conducted May 1-15, the statistics office, or GUS, said light cold snaps didn't damage the flower buds of fruit trees, which bloomed as early as the second half of April.
On a five-point scale, winter wheat plantings were rated at 3.7, down from 3.9 in 2008. Winter rye was rated at 3.5, from 3.7 last year. The rapeseed crop was assessed at 3.5, down from the 3.8 rating it received in May 2008.
Except for rapeseed, all of Poland's winter plants were rated at 2007 levels.
The condition of the spring grain crop for harvest in 2009 was also rated worse than last year, with more plantings started two weeks later than usual, and three weeks later than in 2008.
In April, lack of rainfall and nighttime drops in temperature slowed spring grain crop growth, the statistics office said.
