The final results of the 2014 grain harvest have been officially announced by the MAF.

Wheat production amounts to 4,870 thousand tons

According to operational data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, wheat production from the 2014 harvest amounts to 4,870 thousand tons, from a harvested area of 11,545 thousand decares (98.9% of the sown area) and a national average yield of 422 kg per decare.

According to data from the National Grain Service based on the quality assessment of wheat from the 2014 harvest for the entire country, wheat grain is distributed by groups as follows:

Group I – 2.48%;

Group II – 11.45%;

Group II B – 44.41%;

Group III – 41.52%.

A certain quantity of wheat with relatively good baking indicators falls into the third group, which is fully suitable for the production of bread and bakery products. This quantity constitutes 22.21% of the group and can be distinguished as Group III+.

The average values of the main indicators that determine the qualitative characteristics of the grain from the 2014 harvest are:

• moisture content: 12.7% ± 0.8%;
• hectolitre weight: 75.9 ± 2.8 kg/hl;
• wet gluten yield: 24.5% ± 3.6%;
• gluten extensibility: 8.3 ± 2.6 mm;
• baking strength number: 53.2 conv. units ± 7.6 conv. units;
• protein content: 12.3% d.m. ± 1.3% d.m.;
• falling number: 290.5 seconds ± 68.7 seconds.

According to data from the "Agri-Market Information System" Ltd. (AMIS), the 2014/15 marketing year started with an average purchase price for bread wheat of BGN 296/ton in July 2014, about 12% lower on a monthly basis. In August, a further slight price decrease was recorded, followed by some recovery in September 2014. The average purchase price for bread wheat for the first three months of the current marketing year is BGN 290/ton – 2% higher compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to data from the Agricultural Market Information System of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO - AMIS) as of October 2014, global wheat production in the 2014/15 marketing year is expected to reach a record 719 million tons, 2 million tons more on an annual basis, as a result of increased output in the main producers.

Situation and Outlook Analysis of Wheat and Barley*

* Source MAF