Bulgaria: Grain and Feed Update
MY2016/17 wheat production marked a new record reaching 5.65 MMT with 11percent higher yields and an expanding share of milling wheat at 44 percent due to favorable climate conditions and the shift in use of imported genetics. Wheat exports had a strong start and are at 2.1 MMT as of early November with a potential to grow above 3.6 MMT for the season. In contrast, the corn crop suffered from summer heat and dryness and FAS/Sofia has revised downward its production estimates to 2.3 MMT. The corn harvest is reported at about 95 percent completed by November 3. Accelerated grains exports in the last quarter of MY2015/16 resulted in lower ending stocks. Favorable fall weather and rainfall in the first half of October allowed for generally timely fall planting, rebuild of soil moisture reserves, and promised a good start of MY2017/18 winter grains crop.