WASHINGTON, DC, US — With a larger planted area and higher yield, Poland saw a 15.5% increase in its total production of wheat, rye, mixed grains, triticale, barley corn and oats in 2020-21, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.

Production totaled 33.3 million tonnes. The winter grain harvest reached 19.5 million tonnes, a 13% increase over the previous year, and the spring grain crop is estimated at 9.5 million tonnes, a 21% increase over 2019-20.

“Although early official weather forecasts for the 2020 spring and summer months predicted drought conditions in Poland, consistent rain fell throughout June and July,” the USDA said. “Warm and sunny weather during the first half of August further created excellent growing conditions for spring grains.”

Wheat exports reached 4.2 million tonnes, more than double the level of exports from the previous year.

“High international grain prices and the weaker Polish zloty against the euro and the dollar will continue to motivate Polish grain exporters in 2020-21,” the USDA said.

Wheat production increased by 9% over 2019-20 and reached 12 million tonnes. The area planted and area harvested for wheat remained almost the same as the previous market year at 2.5 million hectares.