According to the latest estimates of harvest as at 15 September 2019 the production of cereals (+9.8%), green and silage maize (+19.6%), poppy seed (+77.0%) as well as potatoes (+3.5%) shall be higher compared to those of the last year. On the contrary, the production of rape (−17.4%), sunflower for seed (−38.1%), industrial sugar beet (−6.0%), or grain peas (−4.6%) is expected to be lower compared to those of the last year.

According to the latest estimates of harvest as at 15 September 2019 the production of cereals, including grain maize, is assumed to be around 7 638 thousand tonnes. The year-on-year increase of 680 thousand tonnes (+9.8%) is, first of all, due to a higher per hectare yield of 5.66 t/ha (+8.4%). This year cereal harvest estimate is by 4.3% lower than the recent five-year average harvest and is comparable to the ten-year average one, difference −0.7%.

The estimated production of grain maize in an amount of 544 thousand tonnes of grain is by 11.3% higher, namely due to a substantial increase in the per hectare yield by 19.9% to reach 7.17 t/ha. The area under grain maize of 76 thousand hectares declined by 7.3%, compared to the last-year harvested area. Despite the annual increase this year assumed production of grain maize is significantly lower than the average harvests for the recent five years and ten years by −14.9% and −26.9%, respectively.

The expected production of green and silage maize of 7 997 thousand tonnes is by a fifth higher (+19.6%) higher, year-on-year (y-o-y) due to an increase by 15.9% in the per hectare yield to 34.57 t/ha and also in the area under these crops to 231 thousand hectares (+3.2%) compared to the last-year harvested area. The expected production of green and silage maize is close to the five-year average one, lower by 1.8%, and is by 4.3% higher than the last ten-year average one. A slight year-on-year increase in harvest is expected for other fodder crops as well. The production of red clover is assumed to be 351 thousand tonnes (+1.5%), y-o-y, and that of lucerne is assumed to be 429 thousand tonnes (+2.5%), y-o-y.

As in the last year, farmers seeded potatoes on 23 thousand hectares. The estimated potatoes production of 604 thousand tonnes is by 3.5% higher compared to the last year one. The harvest per hectare shall be 26.39 t/ha of potatoes, which is by 0.89 t/ha more (+3.5%) than in the last year. This year estimated production of potatoes is, however, lower than both the five-year average harvest and the ten-year one by 4.9% and 8.4%, respectively.

The estimated harvest of industrial sugar beet of 3 499 thousand tonnes is by 6.0% lower, y-o-y due to a reduction of the sowing area by 8.6% to attain 59 thousand hectares while the per hectare yield is assumed to be 59.1 t/ha (+2.8%). The areas under this crop dropped by 7 thousand hectares (−10.4%) compared to those in 2017 when the system of the sugar production quotas was terminated after being in force for forty-nine years. This year expected industrial sugar beet production is also lower compared to long-term yields by 12.9% than the average production for recent five years (sowing area −5.2% and per hectare yield −8.2%) and by 7.2% than the production average for recent ten years (sowing area −1.8% and per hectare yield −5.5%).

According to the estimate this year rape production is to be 1 165 thousand tonnes, i.e. by 246 thousand tonnes (−17.4%) less than in the last year. The decrease was caused by both a decline in the per hectare yield to 3.07 t/ha (-10.5%) and a reduction in the area under this crop to 380 thousand hectares (−7.8%). This year production estimate is lower than both the five-year average harvest and the ten-year one by 13.2% and 6.6%, respectively.

The expected production of poppy seed markedly grew to 24 thousand tonnes (+77.0%), y-o-y, compared to the last year very weak harvest. The increase in production is contributed by both an increase in the estimated per hectare yield of 0.68 t/ha (+33.3%), and an expansion of the sowing area under this crop to 36 thousand hectares (+34.5%). The estimated poppy seed production is also higher compared to the recent five-year average production and the ten-year one by 6.4% and 8.1%, respectively, although not in as significant manner.

The estimated production of sunflower for seed at 29 thousand tonnes is by over a third (−38.1%) lower, y-o-y, owing to a significant decline of this crop sowing area by 41.5% to 12 thousand hectares although the per hectare yield grew by 5.5% to attain 2.49 t/ha, y-o-y. The estimated sunflower for seed production is to be substantially lower also if compared to the recent five-year average harvest and the ten-year one by 32.8% and 42.5%, respectively, due to a drop in the crop sowing area.

The production of grain peas of 67 thousand tonnes is by 4.6% lower than the last year one due to a lower estimated per hectare yield of 2.34 t/ha (−3.7%) as well as a moderate decline in the area under this crop by 1.1% to attain 29 thousand hectares.

More detailed information on estimated per hectare yields and productions, also of selected varieties of fruit and vegetables in the Czech Republic as a whole, and broken by region are given in the following publication ‘Harvest Estimates – Operative Report as at 15 September 2019’.

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Notes:
Responsible head at the CZSO: Renata Vodičková, (+420) 274 054 292, e-mail: renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Contact person: Renata Vodičková, (+420) 274 054 292, e-mail: renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Data source: statistical survey of Harvest Estimates of Crops (Zem V9) and
questionnaire on Areas under Crops (Osev 3-01)
End of data collection: 16 September 2019
End of data processing: 11 October 2019
Following outcomes: Harvest Estimates – Operative Report as at 15 September 2019 - at https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/odhady-sklizne-operativni-zprava-k-15-9-2019
Areas under Crops Survey – 2019
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/soupis-ploch-osevu-k-31-5-2019
Update procedure: The finalised data on the production of agricultural crops for 2019 will be released by the Czech Statistical Office on 18 February 2020.