Based on the latest estimate of this year’s harvest as at 15 September, the harvest is more favourable than in the previous year. This year, more cereals (+4.5%), rape (+7.7%), poppy (+24.2%), potatoes (+10.5%), industrial sugar beet (+3.6%), and green and silage maize (+7.7%) will be harvested.

Based on the latest estimate of this year’s harvest as at 15 September, the production of cereals including grain maze is estimated to be 7 980 thousand tonnes. The year-on-year increase of production by 342 thousand tonnes (+4.5%) was thanks to the per hectare yield increase by 5.8% to 6.00 t/ha. The sowing areas of cereals decreased by 1.3% to 1 329 thousand hectares. This year’s production of cereals including grain maze is estimated to be by 4.0% higher than the average of harvests for the last ten years.

Estimated harvest of all types of cereals is higher, compared to the previous year. Cereals were harvested in the following amounts: winter wheat 4 799 thous. tonnes (+1.8%), spring barley 1 133 thous. tonnes (+5.5%), winter barley 700 thous. tonnes (+8.8%), grain maize 651 thous. tonnes (+5.0%), triticale 219 thous. tonnes (+12.1%), oats 187 thous. tonnes (+39.2%), rye 182 thous. tonnes (+15.3%), and spring wheat 108 thous. tonnes (+13.0%).  

The expected production of potatoes of 688 thousand tonnes is by 10.5% higher, y-o-y, thanks to both an increase of the sowing area to 24 thousand hectares (+4.3%) and  a higher per hectare yield. This year, the average potato harvest is 28.82 t/ha, which is by 1.63 t/ha more than in the previous year (+6.0%). Also when compared to the ten-year average harvest, the estimated potato harvest is higher (production +6.4%; the sowing area −0.4%; the per hectare yield +6.8%).

The expected harvest of industrial sugar beet of 3 793 thousand tonnes is by 3.6% higher, y-o-y, thanks to an increase of the estimated per hectare yield to 63.55 t/ha (+2.8%) and also a slight expansion of the sowing area to 60 thousand hectares (+0.8%). The areas under this crop decreased by 6 thousand hectares (−9.7%) compared to the sowing areas in 2017 when the system of the sugar production quotas was terminated. This year, the expected industrial sugar beet production is by 1.0% lower compared to the average production for the last ten years (the sowing area −2.1%; the per hectare yield +1.1%).

According to the latest estimate, 1 246 thous. tonnes of rape were harvested, by 89 thous. tonnes more than in the previous year (+7.7%). This increase is fully owing to a higher per hectare yield of 3.38 t/ha (+10.8%). The sowing area of 368 thous. ha is by 3.0% lower. Despite the decrease in the sowing area, this year’s estimate of the rape production is thanks to favourable per hectare yield almost the same as the ten-year average (harvest −0.4%; the sowing area −5.5%; the per hectare yield +5.3%).

The estimated harvest of poppy of 29 thous. tonnes is almost by a fourth higher (+24.2%). The increase is contributed to by both a higher per hectare yield of 0.73 t/ha (+10.6%) and an increase in the sowing area to 40 thous. ha (+12.5%). The estimated poppy harvest is also significantly higher than the average of harvests for the last ten years (+36.6%).

The estimated production of sunflower for seed of 30 thousand tonnes is by 4.5% higher thanks to an increase of the per hectare yield to 2.67 t/ha (+9.4%), while the sowing area decreased to 11 thousand hectares (−4.7%). The estimated sunflower for seed production is markedly lower when compared to the production average for the last ten years due to a significant decrease in the sowing area (production −37.3%; the sowing area −45.5%; the per hectare yield +14.0%).

The production of grain peas of 90 thousand tonnes is by a third higher (+33.3%), y-o-y. Both a higher per hectare yield of 2.75 t/ha (+17.5%) as well as expansion of the sowing area to 33 thousand hectares (+13.3%) contribute to the y-o-y increase.

Expected green and silage maze production of 8 876 thous. tonnes is by 7.7% higher, y-o-y, thanks to an increase in the per hectare yield to 37.81 t/ha (+6.6%) and also to expansion of its sowing area to 235 thous. ha (+1.0% compared to the previous year’s harvest area). An increase in production is expected also for lucerne; 527 thous. tonnes to be harvested (+4.8%). Expected harvest of red clover of 375 thous. tonnes is almost the same as in the previous year (−0.2%).

More detailed information also about estimated per hectare yields and the production of selected varieties of fruits and vegetables in the Czech Republic as a whole and broken down by Region are given in the related publication: “Harvest Estimates – Operative Report as at 15 September 2020”.

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Notes:
Responsible head at the CZSO: Radek Matějka, Director of the Agricultural and Forestry, Industrial, Construction, and Energy Statistics Department, phone number (+420) 736 168 543, e-mail: radek.matejka@czso.cz
Contact person: Renata Vodičková, Head of the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit, phone number (+420) 703 824 173, e-mail: renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Data source: statistical survey of Harvest Estimates of Crops (Zem V9) and questionnaire on Areas under Crops (Osev 3-01)
End of data collection: 16 September 2020
End of data processing: 14 October 2020
Related publications: Harvest Estimates – Operative Report as at 15 September 2020
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/harvest-estimates-operative-report-as-at-15-september-2020
Areas under Crops Survey – 2020
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/areas-under-crops-survey-as-at-31-may-2020
Update procedure: Final data on the production of agricultural crops for 2020 will be released by the Czech Statistical Office on 18 February 2021.