September 2, 2024

 

EU's MARS cuts estimates for Romania's corn production this year

 

 

The European Union's MARS agricultural monitoring system has significantly lowered its estimates for Romania's corn production in 2024, primarily due to the severe drought affecting Southeastern Europe.

 

According to MARS, the average corn yield in the EU is now expected to be 7.03 tonnes per hectare, down from the 7.24 tonnes per hectare estimated in July, representing a 6% decrease from last year's levels, Profit.ro reported.

 

The drought's impact is particularly severe in Romania, where MARS has revised the country's corn yield estimate down to 3.83 tonnes per hectare from the 4.08 tonnes per hectare projected in July. This adjustment marks an 18% decline compared to last year.

 

Similar reductions have been noted in other countries in the region, such as Hungary, where the corn yield estimate has been lowered to 6.46 tonnes per hectare, a 21% drop from 2023.

 

MARS attributed these significant reductions to the extreme heat experienced in Romania, with temperatures averaging 2.0-3.5 degrees Celsius above normal across most regions. The period from July 1 to August 17, 2024, has been recorded as the hottest in the country's history.

 

In addition to corn, MARS has also reduced its estimates for other key crops in the EU. Soft wheat production, the most widespread cereal crop in the bloc, is now expected to yield 5.68 tonnes per hectare, down from 5.87 tonnes per hectare estimated last month, a 2% decrease compared to last year.

 

Similarly, barley production is forecast at 5.01 tonnes per hectare, slightly lower than the 5.09 tonnes per hectare predicted earlier but still 8% higher than last year's yield.

 

- Romania Insider