Trends of sowing areas and results of the first estimates of yields per hectare of agricultural crops - 2005
Publication Date: 11. 07. 2005
Product Code: e-2140-05
Trends of sowing areas and results of the first estimates
of yields per hectare of agricultural crops in 2005
The structure of sowing areas decisively affects production of agricultural commodities. Its trend after 1990 recorded radical changes. The share of technical crops in the structure of sowing considerably increases, while arable land area where root crops, perennial and annual fodder plants are grown is on the decrease year by year. However, cereals remain the main group of agricultural crops. Their share in the total sowing area is 60.0% in 2005 and does not decrease below 50% in the long-term.
A slight reduction of the sowing area of cereals occurred in 2005 (-13.8 thousand ha, i.e. 0.9%). This reduction applies especially to sowing areas of winter wheat (-38.9 thousand ha, i.e. 4.9%), winter and spring rye (-12.3 thousand ha, i.e. 20.8%), oats (-6.9 thousand ha, i.e. 11.8%) and grain maize (-7.8 thousand ha, i.e. 8.9%). A long-term growth of sowing areas among cereals is reported only for triticale whose sowing area rose to 64.8 thousand ha (i.e. +2 thousand ha). This cereal us usable not only for feeding purposes, but it is also a crop with very good possibilities of technical use (production of biospirit).
Areas planted with potatoes had been decreasing for a rather long time, this trend slowed down in 2003. These areas have been reduced by more than a third (from 69 thousand ha to 43 thousand ha) since 2000. The size of potato areas in 2004 was virtually the same as in 2003. This tendency keeps on in 2005 when these areas are by only 99 ha larger than in 2004. An increase in the share of potatoes on arable land cannot be expected in next years due to the problems of growing and resulting economic problems related to this crop.
Rape is another important crop with interesting trends in recent years. Its sowing areas more than doubled (from 167 thousand ha to 343 thousand ha) between 1993 and 2001. After a two-year reduction of sowing areas caused mainly by unfavourable climatic conditions and the subsequent ploughing in, there was a moderate increase (259 460 ha of sowing areas) in 2004. Sowing areas in 2005 are slightly higher too (+7.7 thousand ha, i.e. 3.0%) and reached 267 thousand ha. The support (financial stimulation) provided by the state aimed at production of methyl ester is a reason for the recovery of growers’ motivation.
Another factor influencing the total production of agricultural crops in a given year is the yield, which is substantially affected by the weather. The weather conditions during the harvest and in the subsequent period of pre-sowing preparation in 2004 were favourable on most of the Czech Republic’s territory. The predominantly dry August with unevenly distributed precipitation was succeeded by months with better water conditions that affected favourable growing of rape and cereals. Sowing was under way according to the agricultural schedule. The coming up of winter cereals was quick, even, and some crops that had been sown late were in a very good state thanks to the good weather. The state of winter cereals was also favourably affected by good weather after the plants had come up and mainly during November and December. Getting gradually colder ended vegetation and the crops were well prepared for the winter. The weather during the winter months was favourable for winter cereals. In the spring, plants survived several stressing factors in succession. High temperatures were followed by low temperatures and insufficient precipitation just after the end of winter. Moreover, frosts at the end of April harmed the sugar beet that came up, orchards, and in some regions also rape, vegetables and spring and winter cereals. Nevertheless, the overall state of crops is good.
According to the first estimate of yields per hectare in June, the harvest of main cereals should be 7 295 thousand tonnes, i.e. by 11.2% less than the record-breaking harvest in 2004. The biggest proportion has wheat, with the expected production of 4 243 thousand tonnes, under the average yield per hectare of 5.17 tonnes (as against 5.84 t/ha harvested in 2004); of which more important winter wheat should produce 3 997 thousand tonnes, under a yield per hectare of 5.24 tonnes. Another most represented crop is barley, with an estimated production of 2 389 tonnes, under the average yield per hectare of 4.58 tonnes (4.97 t/ha harvested in 2004), of which spring barley should produce 1 824 thousand tonnes, under a yield per hectare of 4.60 tonnes. Estimated production of triticale reaches 280 thousand tonnes, under a yield per hectare of 4.32 tonnes (4.86 t/ha harvested in 2004). The first estimate of rye production suggests 198 thousand tonnes, under the average yield per hectare of 4.22 tonnes (5.29 t/ha harvested in 2004). Production of 185 thousand tonnes is expected for oats, under a yield per hectare of 3.59 tonnes (3.88 t/ha harvested in 2004).
An estimate of rape production suggests 754 thousand tonnes, under the expected average yield per hectare of 2.82 tonnes. This estimate is 19.3% below the volume harvested in 2004.