Drought is putting Polish grain crops under pressure, while overwintering damage remains limited. Due to low rainfall in March, yield potential is being jeopardized. Read more about the impact of drought on Polish grain production.
Soil temperatures dropping to -25 degrees Celsius in some areas and drying winds did cause damage to Polish winter cereals. Nevertheless, on average, the crop emerged from the winter only slightly worse than last year. Last year, the overwintering was favorable for the crops.
According to the Polish statistical office GUS, damage to winter wheat and other cereals has remained limited for the time being. More than 95% of the wheat plants remained viable, and only 0,2% of the winter cereal acreage had to be ploughed under.
Persistent precipitation deficit
Since March, Poland has been struggling with a persistent precipitation deficit. Only 10,8 mm of rain fell in March, less than a third of the normal amount. January and February were also drier than average. Severe drying out of the topsoil is being reported in many regions.
Particularly in Central and Western Poland, traders are seeing the yield potential of winter wheat and barley coming under pressure. Rapeseed also appears vulnerable. Conditions are lower than last year, and a relatively larger area needs to be ploughed. Precipitation in May and June will determine the extent to which crops suffer from the drought.
Polish farmers sowed approximately 4,5 million hectares of winter grain last autumn. That is 1,1% more than a year earlier. The cultivation of winter wheat covers the largest area, at over 2,3 million hectares.