Harvest Estimates - July 2024

The refined estimate of production of basic cereals (excluding grain maize) is 6 772 thousand tonnes and it is by 7.4% lower compared to the average of harvests for the last five years. Compared to the first estimate in June, the expected production of basic cereals slightly decreased (−0.7%).

“Farmers expect under-average production of cereals; in July, they even reported a lower per hectare yield than they estimated in June. The total production of cereals will be further refined; however, it will probably be the lowest since the year 2018. Besides a lower per hectare yield, mainly of winter crops, the reason is a lower sown area, too” Renata Vodičková, Head of the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), stated.

According to the estimate, harvests of both winter and spring common wheat, rye, and winter barley are lower, year-on-year. On the other hand, a higher production of spring barley, oats, and triticale is expected.

Winter common wheat is estimated to be harvested in the amount of 4 473 thous. tonnes, (−12.4%), spring barley 981 thous. tonnes (+3.2%), winter barley in the amount of 660 thous. tonnes (−18.9%), triticale 215 thous. tonnes (+2.9%), rye in the amount of 122 thous. tonnes (−2.7%), oats 189 thous. tonnes (+59.0%), and spring common wheat 106 thous. tonnes (−22.0%).

The expected harvest (production) of rape in the amount of 962 thous. tonnes fell by over a quarter, y-o-y (−26.5%), and it is the lowest since the year 2006. Compared to the first estimate from June, the current estimate of rape production is by 83 thous. tonnes lower (−7.9%).

This year’s estimated poppy production in the amount of 27 thous. tonnes is by a half higher than in the previous year (+51.9%) thanks to both the higher per hectare yield and larger sown area.

“The refined estimate of rape harvest is significantly more pessimistic than in June and the expected production will probably be the lowest for the last seventeen years. It is due to the unfavourable weather this year during the vegetation period as well as due to a considerable decrease in the sown area. On the other hand, poppy is successful this year and its harvest is expected to be by a half higher than the last year one, for the time being,” Dagmar Lhotská from the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the CZSO stated.

For more detailed information on estimates of crop harvests see the Supplementary information to the news release on harvest estimates – July.