Good cereal yield in 2017 despite adverse conditions

According to Statistics Estonia, the average yield of cereals was 3,967 tonnes per hectare in 2017. This is a very good result given the weather conditions in the previous year.
The total cereal production in 2017 was 1,311,900 tonnes, of which 713,300 tonnes was wheat, 425,700 tonnes barley and 52,400 tonnes rye. The average yield per hectare was 4,202 kilograms for wheat, 4,154 kilograms for barley and 3,932 kilograms for rye.
In 2017, the sown area of cereals was smaller than the year before. Cereals were grown on a total of 330,700 hectares, which is 5.9 percent less than in the preceding year. The sown area of wheat was 169,800 hectares, which is 3.2 percent more than in 2016. The sown area of barley decreased by 24.2 percent and amounted to 102,500 hectares. The sown area of rye increased by 7.3 percent compared to the preceding year and was 13,300 hectares.
The production of legumes was 75,300 tonnes, which is 31.2 percent less than in 2016. The average yield was 1,149 kilograms of legumes per hectare. Legumes were sown on 65,500 hectares, which is 18.2 percent more than in 2016. This is also the largest sown area of legumes ever.
The production of rape and turnip rape seed was 165,300 tonnes. In 2017, rape and turnip rape were sown on 73,800 hectares. The average yield was 2,240 kilograms of rape and turnip rape seed per hectare.
The production of potatoes was 91 200 tonnes, which is 1.6 percent more than the year before. The sown area of potatoes was 5,400 hectares in 2017. The average yield of potatoes was 16,925 kilograms per hectare.
Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: Statistics Estonia