Poland's grains planting area shows decrease

This year, Poland has sown 8.1 million hectares to grains (excluding corn), a 2% decline from 2009, according to the statistics office.

The statistics office said winter grains were in a worse condition and spring sowings were performing better in the first half of May than in the same period last year.

"The condition and progress of plantings have been influenced mainly by weather conditions in April and at the beginning of May," it said in a statement. "Abundant rainfall caused too much humidity in the soil, hampering agricultural work, as well as growth and development of plantings."

Winter grains, excluding corn, had been sown to 3.3 million hectares while spring grains had been sown to 4.8 million hectares, representing annual falls of 3.3% and 6.1% respectively.

The area sown to rapeseed decreased by 5.5% to 0.77 million hectares. Statistics office data shows in 2009 the area sown to grains, excluding corn, came in at 8.2 million hectares. Rapeseed was sown on 0.81 million hectares.

The spring estimate was carried out in the first half of May, before severe floods hit Poland, and did not include damage incurred which was impossible to evaluate at the time of publication, the statistics office said.

Eighteen people died in the May floods, which devastated farmland and property across central and southern Poland.