POLAND (2 June)
As in several other parts of the region, winter grains have suffered from the prolonged and harsh winter. Winter wheat plantings are estimated to have been down about 3 percent on the previous year and winterkill losses could be up to 5 percent of this. Increased spring wheat plantings may offset some of the reduced winter area but the overall area for harvest in 2003 is likely to be somewhat below that in 2002. Yields are also expected to be down and the wheat harvest is currently forecast at 8.4 million tonnes, compared to 9.3 million tonnes last year. Regarding coarse grains, the winter rye and barley crops are expected to be reduced for the same reasons as wheat. However, plantings of spring barley and maize are expected to increase in compensation for the lost winter grain area and attractive feed grain prices. Aggregate coarse grains output is forecast to remain close to the previous years level at about 17.1 million tonnes.