The production of cereals increased last year

Of the total cereal production, 360,400 tons of wheat, 294,400 tons of barley and 30,900 tons of rye were produced. The average yield per hectare was 2,600 kilograms of cereals, of which 2,806 kilograms of wheat, 2,492 kilograms of barley and 2,317 kilograms of rye.

The sown area of cereals was 297,200 hectares in 2011, 8% more than in the previous year. The sown area of wheat was 128,500 hectares, which is the largest of the last thirty years. The sown area of barley increased the most (by 13%) and amounted to 118,100 hectares in 2011, but in spite of that the sown area of barley was the smallest during the last thirty years after 2010. If in the meantime the sown area of rye had dropped below 10,000 hectares, then during the last five years the threshold has been exceeded and in 2011 the sown area of rye amounted to 13,300 hectares.

The production of legumes was 15,500 tons and the average yield was 1,807 kilograms per hectare. In 2011, the legumes were sown on 8,600 hectares, which is the largest sown area of legumes during the last three decades.

The yield of rape and turnip rape seed was 143,600 tons, which was 10% more than in 2010 and which is besides the largest during the last two decades. In 2011, rape and turnip rape were sown on 89,100 hectares. The average yield was 1,612 kilograms of rape and turnip rape seed per hectare.

The production of potatoes amounted to 150,900 tons, which was 8% less compared to the year earlier. Three years ago the sown area of potatoes dropped under 10,000 hectares and it comprised 9,300 hectares in 2011. The average yield of potatoes was 16,284 kilograms per hectare.

In autumn of 2011, 52,700 hectares of winter wheat, 12,200 hectares of rye and 4,700 hectares of triticale were sown for harvesting in 2012.