Will Early Spring Accelerate the Harvest?

For nearly two months, Polish farmers have been wondering if the nearly month-long accelerated vegetation will result in an earlier harvest.

Nature tends to strive for balance. Despite the early start to vegetation, frosts in the second half of April and mid-May caused delays. Orchardists suffered the most, often losing entire crops. Frosts also affected grains by reducing the number of pollinated flowers and impacting rapeseed.

In Warmia and Mazury, more abundant rainfall improved crop conditions. However, frosts and variable weather conditions have affected the pace of vegetation.

In Mazowsze, frosts also caused damage, and rainfall remains insufficient. Farmers worry that a lack of water may lead to further crop losses.

In Lower Silesia, the loss of flowers on the main rapeseed stem reaches up to 40%. If there is enough water at the end of the growing season, rapeseed may partially compensate for these losses. However, the massive feeding of the cabbage stem weevil larvae, which began early in spring, complicates the situation. In dry weather, rapeseed may mature earlier, but certainly not by three weeks as it seemed a month ago.

The situation with winter cereals is different. Nature tends to balance out more easily, so while the harvest will be earlier, it will probably be only by about a week.

In Kujawsko-Pomorskie, the frosts were milder, but the lack of regular rainfall is a problem. Crops, especially grains, are feeling the water shortage, which may affect the size and quality of yields.

In Suwalszczyzna, weather conditions were particularly challenging. Frosts and late snowfall significantly delayed vegetation. Farmers fear that the yields may be smaller than in previous years if conditions do not improve soon.

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