Harvest estimate 2017
Last year, agricultural crops registered normal yields, despite the drought and the very high temperatures in the spring 2017, and after a poor production year 2016. Yields of winter wheat (an increase of 29 % to 8.78 tonnes/ha) and corn maize (an increase of 35 % to 12.42 tonnes/ha) were particularly good. In general, winter cereals performed very well compared to 2016, although their results are just below those of 2015.
The production increases are less significant, which is mainly due to smaller areas in 2017 compared to 2016. The production of winter wheat is 15 % higher than in 2016 (1,605,986 tonnes in 2017), although it is also 15 % below the 2015 level (1,908,379 tonnes in 2015).
An increase can also be observed for potatoes and sugar beets in 2017. The yields of ware potatoes have increased by 27 % (49.26 tonnes/ha) and those of sugar beets by 31 % (95.11 tonnes/ha). Areas are also increasing. Consequently, the production of ware potatoes has increased by 32 % (3,966,852 tonnes), and that of sugar beets by 48 % (5,941,783 tonnes). The production of tuberous plants was therefore higher than in 2015.