SOFIA, BULGARIA — Bulgaria is forecast to produce its smallest corn crop in more than a decade due to severe drought impacting the region, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

The FAS projects Bulgarian corn production to decline to 2.2 million tonnes, down from 2.45 million in 2023-24. Area planted to corn is estimated at 484,000 hectares in 2024-25, down 9% from the previous year.

“2024-25 will be the third consecutive year of significantly below-average corn yields, and this may have a longer-term impact on planting intentions going forward,” the FAS said. “More than 90% of the corn in the country is non-irrigated and new investments are slow and burdensome.”

It added that the bleak prospects for the 2024-25 crop forced farmers to practically halt export sales in July. As of Aug. 9, 2023-24 corn exports were reported at 693,00 tonnes, mainly to non-EU countries, compared to 950,000 tonnes at the same time the previous year.

Conversely, based on the latest harvest data, the estimate for the barley crop has increased to a record level of 930,000 tonnes and the previous wheat production estimate remains at 6.9 million tonnes, similar to last year, the FAS said.

“Dry conditions supported timely harvest and improved wheat quality with milling wheat’s share reported above 70% compared to below 50% in 2023-24,” the FAS said.