Harvest forecast - August 2006

As at 15 August 2006, the Czech Statistical Office estimates that 6 034 thousand tonnes of main cereals, 665 thousand tonnes of potatoes and 2 913 thousand tonnes of sugar beet should be harvested. Compared to the year 2005, these figures are down by 910 thousand tonnes (-13.1%), 348 thousand tonnes (-34.4%) and 582 thousand tonnes (-16.7%), respectively.
The estimated production of main cereals of 6 034 thousand tonnes is by 910 thousand tonnes (-13.1%) lower than the 2005 harvest. This year-on-year decrease is due to yields per hectare (which account for 62.2% of the fall) and sown areas (37.8%). The estimated drop of yield per hectare to 4.22 tonnes (-8.5% year-on-year) results from the continuing adverse weather – extremely hot and dry July was followed by unusually cold and rainy August.

Among the main cereals, the highest year-on-year decreases are expected for winter wheat – by 584 thousand tonnes (-14.9%), winter barley – by 159 thousand tonnes (-28.9%), for rye – by 116 thousand tonnes (-58.9%) and for triticale – by 111 thousand tonnes (-43.5%).

Harvest of other potatoes and sugar beet was estimated for the first time this year. The expected production of potatoes total should reach 665 thousand tonnes, i.e. by 348 thousand tonnes (-34.4%) less than in 2005. The lower forecast for potatoes is affected, besides the lower average yield – 22.14 t/ha (28.08 t/ha in 2005), by a smaller sown area (-16.8%).

Production of sugar beet is expected at 2 913 thousand tonnes, i.e. by 582 thousand tonnes (-16.7%) less year-on-year. The expected yield of 47.79 t/ha is by 10,4% lower than in 2005.

The harvest of rape should reach 868 thousand tonnes under an estimated yield of 2.97 t/ha. This figure is by 98 thousand tonnes (+12.8%) higher in comparison to 2005.

More detailed information – including regional data – is shown in the related tables Harvest forecast – August 2006.

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Note
Contact: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 274 052 331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO sample survey in businesses farming agricultural land
End of data collection: 15 August 2006
End of data processing: 5 September 2006
Related tables: Harvest forecast – August 2006, also at /katalog-produktu )
Update procedure: Next forecast of the yields and production of selected agricultural crops referring to 15 September 2006 will be published by the Czech Statistical Office on 6 October 2006.