July 4, 2011

Bulgaria sees 2011 wheat crop up to 4.1 million tonnes

Bulgaria expects a 2011 wheat crop of up to 4.1 million tonnes following favourable weather, up from 4.0 million tonnes harvested last year, the agriculture ministry said on Friday (Jul 1).

"The relatively favourable weather conditions gives us a reason to forecast that grain production will be in the range of 3.9-4.1 million tonnes," it said in a statement.

The Balkan country, which officially launched the grain harvest season on Friday, said it expected its barley crop to fall to around 600,000-700,000 tonnes, as farmers have planted less of the grain. Last year, Bulgaria harvested 830,000 tonnes of barley.

The ministry said over 89% of the wheat fields and 86% of the barley fields were in very good and good condition, with damaged areas less than 1%.
 

It said the mild winter and the ample rains in the spring have had a good impact on the sowings and are likely to bring the average yields for wheat and barley up to 3.9 tonnes per hectare and 3.8 tonnes per hectare, respectively.

The prospects for a good crop have put pressure on the wheat price on the local market, with prices dropping to BGN350 (US$260.2) per tonne of milling wheat at the end of June from over BGN450 (US$334) in the beginning of the month, the ministry said.

Good grain crops are expected in most of east Europe and Black Sea region, in contrast to drought-hit western Europe.