Winter Wheat Area Down in Bosnia

WASHINGTON - Dec 10/07 - SNS -- Winter wheat area in Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to decline 12% to 50,450 hectares this season, with 20,450 in the Federation of BiH and 30,000 hectares in the Republika Srpska.

The U.S. agricultural attache for the country says, "The main reason for this decline is that grain production is not as profitable as other crops. Currently, approximately 60% to 70 % of planned wheat area has been sown because of unfavorable weather conditions.

"Increased precipitation in the second half of October and November delayed the corn harvest and made wheat sowing very difficult, and in some areas impossible. If weather permits, farmers will continue sowing wheat in the coming period and will increase spring sowing. Because of adverse weather conditions at sowing, an average wheat yield of 2,5 MT/ha will likely be lowered at harvest time."

Total planned winter barley area is approximately 8,000 hectares. Presently, only 60% to 70 % of planned barley area has been sown because of unfavorable weather conditions.