SOFIA, BULGARIA — Summer heat and drought took a toll on Bulgaria’s 2020 corn production, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As of Oct. 16, 2020, Bulgaria’s 2020 corn harvest was about 91% complete at 2.5 million tonnes, a 15% decline from the 2019-20 marketing year. Even though the USDA reported a 26% higher area harvested, average yields were 29% lower than the previous year.

Dry conditions during the fall delayed winter grain planting, putting winter wheat and barley planting behind last year’s pace, 57% and 50% respectively. The USDA expects the 2020-21 marketing year wheat production to total 5 million tonnes and barley 570,000 tonnes.