Polish grain producers cut crop forecast on floods

Poland's total grain production in 2010 will fall to about 27 million tonnes as some sown areas have been damaged by floods, according to a major grain producers' group.

"We lost about 150,000-200,000 hectares sown to grains and around 40,000-50,000 hectares sown to rapeseed due to floods," Maciej Tomaszewicz, the head of the Polish Grain Chamber said. "In our opinion, this should bring the total grain production down to around 27 million tonnes, and the rapeseed output down to 2.2 million tonnes."

The group's previous forecasts stood at 28 million tonnes for grains and 2.4 million tonnes for rapeseed.

At least 20 people were killed and tens of thousands forced to evacuate their homes after heavy spring rains triggered floods in southern and central Poland causing billions of zlotys worth of damage.

It is too early to judge the quality of grains, Tomaszewicz added, as the areas where crops have been damaged by the rains and floods are offset by the remaining three quarters of the country that have seen excellent weather and good yields.