Lowest yields in the EU in 15 years and poor quality

As the spring harvest in the Balkans draws to a close, production in the region is becoming clearer. And one thing is for sure – the climate hits yields hard this season. Extreme summer heat and drought across the Balkans have significantly reduced forecasts for maize and sunflower yields, the main spring crops in the region. Romania and Bulgaria are among the biggest sunflower producers in the EU after France and Hungary, but this year is proving quite challenging. Sunflower yields in Bulgaria, according to AgroPortal, are down to 1.55 t/ha, while in Romania farmers are expected to harvest 1.45 t/ha. Compared to the previous year, which was also somewhat affected by the drought, yields decreased by 16.2% for Bulgaria and 32.5% for Romania. On a 5-year basis, yields are 29% and 34.7% less, respectively. In Bulgaria, maize yields are falling even more drastically, as the crop is less drought-resistant and most of it is not irrigated. AgroPortal estimates yields in Bulgaria at 3.45 ...