Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
The sunflower harvest has begun in Serbia. Sunflower yields are lower than expected, although the sunflowers are withstanding the high temperatures. In July, the yield forecast was 3 tons/hectare, while at the beginning of the harvest in August it was 2.6 tons/hectare and in 2023 it was 2.9 tons/hectare.
In addition to the lower yields, the quality of the sunflowers is also poor, with small grains and many empty kernels. Due to the drought, the yields and quality of the sunflowers vary from field to field, regardless of the sowing date.
Even the later sunflower has ripened too early. It is expected that the harvest in 2024 will be at least 10 percent lower than in the previous year, and in a more pessimistic scenario even 25-30 percent lower.