Bulgaria’s fall planting has come to its final stage. The country experienced contradictory weather conditions in the course of this work. On one hand, abundant October precipitation replenished soil moisture and produced a beneficial effect on growth of already sown winter crops. On the other hand, this precipitation stopped planting in most of the country’s regions.
For winter barley, this period was rather adverse than favorable. As farmers and machinery were focused on harvesting late spring crops and sowing winter wheat and rape, large-scale planting of winter barley started with some delay, towards the close of its optimum planting period. Generally speaking, the period of favorable weather conditions for barley planting was somewhat missed and the work was interrupted at its height by persistent rains.
So, by the end of November, farmers planted a 21.4% smaller area to winter barley than a year ago.
Reduction of barley plantings in Bulgaria is already a trend, not a pure chance. So, this year farmers preferred winter rape rather than barley. (UkrAgroConsult/Business World Magazine)
