LATVIA (9 February)
Latest reports indicate that 144 000 hectares have been planted with winter cereals similar to the past few years. Winter cereals are reportedly in satisfactory conditions. Provided that favourable weather conditions prevail in spring and early summer, Latvia is set to harvest some 980 000 tonnes of cereals, about 60 000 tonnes up on 2004 and the five-year average harvests. Last year’s harvest included some 380 000 tonnes of wheat, 270 000 tonnes of barley and 150 000 tonnes of rye. Aggregate cereal imports for the 2004/05 marketing year is estimated at 161 000 tonnes and exports are estimated at 52 000 tonnes.