Average yield of maize and production of sunflower and rape break record
In 2016, the average yield of maize broke the record and exceeded 8.6 tonnes per hectare, which was largely due to the periodic consecutive alternation of an ideal hot weather and abundant rainfall. With the exception of potatoes the production of the observed crops harvested in autumn was higher than in the previous year. Record production of sunflower and rape was harvested, nearly 1.9 million tonnes of the former and close to 900 thousand tonnes of the latter. 2.5 million tonnes (17.8%) more cereals were produced on a 145 thousand hectares (5.4%) smaller area compared to 2015.
In 2016 compared to the previous year:
5.6 million tonnes of wheat were produced on a 1.1% larger area (1,040 thousand hectares), its average yield equalling 5,380 kilogrammes/hectare.
Maize was harvested from an 11% smaller area (1,023 thousand hectares). The 8.8 million tonnes of production was a third, while its yield (8,610 kilogrammes/hectare) 49% higher.
1.9 million tonnes of sunflower, 22% more than in 2015, were harvested from a 4.9% larger area (642 thousand hectares). Its average yield was 16% higher (2,950 kilogrammes/hectare).
Nearly a half more, 882 thousand tonnes of rape were grown on a 16% larger area; its average yield increased by 28%.
The harvested area of potatoes was 13% smaller (16 thousand hectares). 11% less, a total of 403 thousand tonnes was harvested.
The 16 thousand hectares of area of sugar beet grew by 2.8%, its harvested quantity (1.1 million tonnes) was 18% and its average yield (67.5 tonnes/hectare) 15% higher than in 2015.
The harvested area of alfalfa (193 thousand hectares) was 43% larger, while its production (972 thousand tonnes) became nearly two-thirds higher. Its average yield (5,040 kilogrammes/hectare) was up by 14%.
Arable crops, 2016
| Crops | Harvested area | Harvested production | Average yield | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| thousand hectares | previous year=100.0% | average of years 2011–2015=100.0% | thousand tonnes |
previous year=100.0% | average of years 2011–2015=100.0% | kilogrammes/ hectare | previous year=100.0% | average of years 2011–2015=100.0% | |
| Wheat | 1 040 | 101.1 | 98.5 | 5 592 | 104.9 | 117.6 | 5 380 | 103.9 | 119.6 |
| Maize | 1 023 | 89.3 | 85.2 | 8 807 | 132.8 | 124.2 | 8 610 | 148.7 | 145.7 |
| Sunflower | 642 | 104.9 | 107.1 | 1 893 | 121.6 | 129.1 | 2 950 | 115.7 | 120.4 |
| Rape | 257 | 116.3 | 124.4 | 882 | 149.4 | 159.5 | 3 440 | 128.4 | 128.4 |
| Potatoes | 16 | 87.3 | 76.7 | 403 | 89.1 | 75.9 | 24 620a) | x | x |
| Sugar beet | 16 | 102.8 | 95.3 | 1 076 | 118.1 | 114.3 | 67 480 | 114.9 | 119.9 |
| Alfalfa | 193 | 143.4 | 149.5 | 972 | 163.1 | 174.6 | 5 040 | 113.8 | 116.7 |
a) Production on arable land and in other land use categories, compared to arable land area.