Romanian Winter Plantings Seen Down 30 Pct
Romanian farmers are expected to plant 30% less winter grains this year, according to UkrAgroConsult.
Drought in 2009, delayed receipt of farm subsidy payments, an antiquated infrastructure and low grain prices are all partly to blame.
Agrimoney.com report that since the collapse of Communism, the amount of irrigated land has slumped by more than 90% to well below 300,000 hectares.
A recent USDA tour of the country reported a "large amount" of deserted farms - "not land just lying fallow or waiting for next season's crop but vacant land" they add.
Lack of on-farm storage, in a country where half of the tillable area is still ploughed by horse-drawn equipment, means that many farmers are forced to take whatever price is on offer for their crops at harvest time.
Many have clearly had enough, at least for now.
Drought in 2009, delayed receipt of farm subsidy payments, an antiquated infrastructure and low grain prices are all partly to blame.
Agrimoney.com report that since the collapse of Communism, the amount of irrigated land has slumped by more than 90% to well below 300,000 hectares.
A recent USDA tour of the country reported a "large amount" of deserted farms - "not land just lying fallow or waiting for next season's crop but vacant land" they add.
Lack of on-farm storage, in a country where half of the tillable area is still ploughed by horse-drawn equipment, means that many farmers are forced to take whatever price is on offer for their crops at harvest time.
Many have clearly had enough, at least for now.
