WARSAW, POLAND — Poland’s total grain production in 2020-21 is expected to reach 30.7 million tonnes, a 6.3% increase from the previous year, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The total includes wheat, rye, mixed grains, triticale, barley, corn and oats. Dry conditions in mid-March threatened spring grains but substantial rain throughout most of May and June has improved the outlook.

Higher yield averages are expected for all grain varieties, the USDA said. Corn production is expected to increase 15.1% over last year to 4.3 million tonnes.

Wheat production is expected to increase 6.2% to 11.7 million tonnes. Winter wheat yields should offset a slight drop in spring wheat yields this year, due to dry planting conditions in early spring.

The USDA said more grain will be diverted toward human consumption instead of livestock feed.

Exports are expected to remain on par with 2019-20.

“Higher yields and better grain quality, as well as the weakening of Polish zloty against the euro and dollar, will motivate Polish exporters in MY 2020-21, particularly for non-EU markets,” the USDA said.

To date, Poland’s grain industry has not been severely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), despite some initial logistical turbulence when Poland closed its national borders, the USDA said.

For a short period in mid-March, some seed, chemical, and fertilizer shipments were briefly delayed due to trucks stuck at the borders. Farmers were also confronted with some closings of agricultural-input outlets, as well as closings for grain collection points, mostly because some employees at these businesses stayed home to social distance.

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