The estimated production of basic cereals (excluding grain maize) in an amount of 6 298 thous. tonnes is by 561 thous. tonnes (−8.2%) lower than the last year production. The year-on-year (y-o-y) decrease in the production has been caused mostly by an expected decline in the per hectare yield to 5.04 t/ha (−7.2%). The total area under basic cereals slightly decreased to 1 250 thous. hectares (−0.9%). This year estimated production of basic cereals is by 15.1% lower than the average harvest for the last five years (area −2.9%; yield −11.7%) and by 10.7% lower compared to the ten-year average (area −6.1%; yield −4.8%).

The most frequent crop on fields in the Czech Republic is winter wheat, which is sown on almost a third of the total area under crops (31.4%). Its estimated harvest of 4 150 thous. tonnes is by 380 thous. tonnes (−8.4%) lower than in 2017. The production decrease is due to both a decrease in the expected per hectare yield to 5.36 t/ha (−7.1%) and a smaller area under the crop of 774 thous. hectares (−1.5%).

Spring wheat production is estimated to be 196 thous. tonnes (+3.8%, year-on-year) thanks to an increase of its per hectare yield to 4.26 t/ha (+5.2%), while the area under the crop has slightly decreased to 46 thous. hectares (−1.2%).

The production of spring barley is expected to be in the amount of 1 021 thous. tonnes, by 123 thous. tonnes less (−10.7%) owing to a decrease of the expected per hectare yield to 4.60 t/ha (−7.3%) as well as a drop in the sowing area to 222 thous. tonnes (−3.6%).

The winter barley production in 2018 is also expected to be lower, y-o-y: 503 thous. tonnes (−11.4%). The per hectare yield dropped by 16.2% to 4.90 t/ha; the sowing area broadened by 5.6% to 103 thous. hectares.

The rye production is expected to be 114 thous. tonnes (+4.5%, y-o-y) thanks to an expansion of its sowing area to 25 thous. hectares (+14.1%). The estimated rye per hectare yield dropped to 4.50 t/ha (−8.5%).

The harvest of oat expected to be 143 thous. tonnes remains almost the same as in 2017 (+0.3%). Its sowing area decreased by 2.8% to 43 thous. hectares and the estimated per hectare yield of 3.34 t/ha is 3.4% up, y-o-y.

The production of triticale this year is estimated to be 171 thous. tonnes (−3.7%, y-o-y) despite an increase of its sowing area to 38 thous. hectares (+4.4%) due to a decrease in its average per hectare yield to 4.51 t/ha (−7.8%).

Rape is the second most frequently sown crop (the first one is winter wheat); this year, it is sown on 16.7% of the total area under crops. The rape sowing area has slightly increased by 4.4% y-o-y, to 412 thous. hectares; thus, after the year 2013, it is the second highest in the monitoring history. Thanks to the increase in the sowing area and a higher per hectare yield of 2.96 t/ha (+1.7%) the harvest is expected to be 1 221 thous. tonnes (+6.5%, y-o-y). The estimated rape production is comparable to the ten-year average (harvest +0.8%; sowing area +7.9%; per hectare yield −6.6%). However, compared to the average of the last five years, this year estimated harvest is by 9.5% lower (sowing area +5.0%; per hectare yield −13.4%).

More detailed information on estimated per hectare yields and production of selected crops in the Czech Republic as a whole and broken down by Region are given in the related publication: Harvest Estimates – Operative Report as at 10 June 2018. Information on the area and structure of sowing areas is released in the publication: Areas under Crops Survey – 2018.