HUNGARY (2 June)
The winter wheat area is estimated close to the previous year’s level and crops were reported to be in satisfactory condition coming out of the winter. Despite the late arrival of spring, yields may improve somewhat over last year’s drought-reduced levels and output is forecast at 4.2 million tonnes (2002: 3.9 million tonnes). However, the late onset of spring is expected to significantly affect the size of this year’s barley crop. Lengthy delays in completing spring fieldwork, in many cases beyond the latest date for sowing barley, will likely have led to a significant shift from barley to maize although final planting figures are not yet available.