Record yield of rape seed was harvested last year
According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, the cereal production was 879,000 tons in 2009, which was 2% more than in the previous year. The yield of rape and turnip rape seed was the largest of the last decade — 135,700 tons.
In 2008 the yield of cereals was influenced by a rainy harvesting period, which was the reason why particularly the spring crop production was smaller than expected, but in 2009 the climate conditions were relatively favourable for harvesting and the harvesting period was timely.
Of the total cereal production, 39,100 tons of rye, 345,600 tons of wheat and 379,900 tons of barley were produced. Compared to the previous year, the production of rye decreased and the production of wheat and barley increased. Last year, the sown are of cereals comprised 316,100 hectares, the average yield per hectare was 2,781 kilograms of cereals, of which 2,603 kilograms of rye, 3,033 kilograms of wheat and 2,703 kilograms of barley.
Rape cultivation has become more and more popular during the last decade. The previous year’s yield was the biggest of the last decade, exceeding the yield of 2007, which has so far been the record yield, by 2,400 tons. In 2009, rape and turnip rape were sown on 81,500 hectares. The average yield was 1,665 kilograms of rape and turnip rape seed per hectare.
Last year, the production of potatoes amounted to 139,400 tons, which was 11% more compared to the year earlier. In 2009, potatoes were sown on 9,100 hectares. The average yield of potatoes was 15,298 kilograms per hectare.
In the autumn of 2009, 51,000 hectares of winter wheat, 15,800 hectares of rye and 8,200 hectares of triticale were sown for harvesting in 2010.
Yield of rape and turnip rape seed, 1998–2009
