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Barley: Farmers refused to enter in a battle for acreages

May 11, 2018 at 1:40 PM , Starry Night Ltd.
In fields, organically cultivated barley is on focus.
In fields, organically cultivated barley is on focus.
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SOFIA. Before the upcoming harvest, rains are crucial for success. Some farmers turn to organic cultivation.

Barley: Not in for a battle of acres this year

BULGARIA. The most recently released data by the Ministry of Agriculture places aggregate production from harvest 2017-18 at 599,457 mt. On a yearly basis, the number represents a drop of 14.09% in output. The lower result was expected since in recent years, because of tough regional competition, local farmers have refocused their cultivation strategies towards more profitable crops such as rapeseed and wheat, for instance.

      Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 04.05.2018)

           units in MT

Beginning availability

22,000

Aggregate output

599,457

Imports

5,314

Domestic consumption

291,000

   beer production

65,500

   feed

195,500

   seeds

30,000

Exports to the world

311,828

   to EU markets

259,432

   to rest of the world

    52,396

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

For the upcoming harvesting season, combines are expected to enter fields of even lesser planted area with barley than they did during harvest 2017-18. Directly influencing the local supply, farmers hope the market will favorably value the grain. However, the unfavorable weather conditions of a month ago could actually decrease the expected output even further. That will definitely have an impact on prices, but an impact on yields and quality is not out of the question, at all. Later in the month, comprehensive results, reflecting the conditions of the fields throughout the country, for fallen-through areas will become available.

Will the sign “organically produced” invite in more foreign buyers?

As much as the profit motive stands behind the reduction of planted acreages for conventional barley on a yearly basis, so much it has encouraged farmers to invest in organic agriculture. In recent years, it has become apparent that barley is one of the locally grown grains that is among the selected choice for being organically cultivated. In some regions, the harvest of barley will start approximately in the middle of next month. Soon, the prices of organically cultivated local barley will test the pulse of the market.

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