FAO calls world cereal production in 2023 a record

FAO has increased its estimate of the world's total cereal production last year to a record 2 billion 386 million tons. This is reported in the organization's report. This is 13.2 million tons or half a percent more than the previous estimate and 33.3 and 1.2 more than last year’s figure, respectively. The upward adjustment was made in connection with a serious increase in the forecast for the corn harvest and more moderate ones for wheat and barley in the largest producing countries. Specifically for wheat, the estimate was increased by 1.4 million or to 788 million 500 thousand tons. The reasons were higher yields and expansion of harvesting areas in Canada, which more than offset lower estimates for grain production in Brazil due to a combination of erratic heat waves and, conversely, excess rainfall. However, this is still 2.2 percent less than last year. For corn, the forecast has been raised for the US, mainland China, as well as Canada and Turkey. The reasons were also an ...