Crop production

The total level of crop production and horticulture increased by 2.5% compared to 1996. The expansion can be attributed primarily to the increase in the yield of cereals.
    In recent years the share of crop production in total agricultural production has increased. It averaged below 50% in the years 1986-1990, whereas in 1997 its share was 57.2%.
    In 1997, 51% of the total agricultural area, that is 4,711 thousand hectares comprised arable land (diagram 5). Compared to the previous year, the area of arable land declined by about 2 thousand hectares. The set-aside area was 227 thousand hectares. Compared to the previous year, this is an increase by 12 thousand hectares, owing to the unfavourable weather conditions.
    Grain crops dominate the cropping structure. These crops are cultivated on 65% of the total arable and garden area. Compared either to the previous year, or to the average of the years 1991-1995, their relative importance has increased. Among the cereals, the areas of wheat (diagram 6), spring barley and triticale have increased. Though the area of corn has only slightly increased, it is still 66 thousand hectares less than the average of 1991-1995 (diagram 7). Due to favourable weather conditions, wheat and corn had record yields in 1997 (table 6).
    Unfortunately, the abundant amount of rainfall at harvest time had an adverse effect on the quality of the wheat resulting in low prices.
    Both the area and the yield of industrial plants have decreased.
    Sugar-beet was produced on 98 thousand hectares in 1997. This figure is 17% lower than in 1996, reflecting lower demand from the processors (diagram 8). Combined with slightly reduced yields, output declined by 21%.
    Sunflowers were grown on 440 thousand hectares in 1997 - 7 % less then in 1996 (diagram 9). Adverse weather conditions caused plant health problems and reduced the yield by 33% in 1997. Therefore sunflower output amounted to only 539 thousand tons, 37% less than in 1996.
    Despite large stocks and previous low prices the area of potatoes did not change significantly. Output at 1.1 million tons was practically the same as in the previous years (diagram 10). The annual domestic demand, either for direct consumption or for industrial purposes is about 800-900 thousand tons.
    Alfalfa and silage corn (diagram 11) still dominate forage production, though their share of total arable land area has been reduced due to the declining number of animals (diagram 12).