Free of charge

Unexpected hailstorms ravaged regions

July 4, 2017 at 8:49 PM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

Recent hails, as big as tennis balls, devastated some regions. Harvest will be postponed at some places while at others, farmers count the losses.

Wheat: agro-business - it is an open factory under the sky

SOFIA. Because of the somewhat colder Spring this year, the vegetation of crops was somewhat belated. Moreover, unexpected rains right before harvest postponed harvest, as well. However, farmers could adapt to mild changes in weather conditions and manage such consequences without a problem! Yet, the unexpected hailstorms of the past few days, heavily hitting parts in west and central North regions, came as a bane for some of them. Subsequently, storms moved towards the east and central regions of the country, as for the time being, the Granary of Bulgaria has been spared. Some farmers estimated losses of as much as 50%; while a few stand close to 100%. Soon, the actual losses because of the recent hailstorms will become apparent.

Some farmers already sold out; others are in the midst of harvest

Right before the hailstorms, some farmers in the west and central North regions already harvested their fields, fulfilling their contracts with buyers. Those in the Northeast and the South regions are in the midst of harvest. Before harvest began, farmers in the North regions expected a stronger yield this season because of auspicious weather conditions during Spring, which brought sufficient rains and infused the necessary water reserves in the soil. Whether the recent hailstorms will change the picture for the worse remains to be seen. Anyhow, the quality of wheat will be impacted by the rains.

Currently, farmers of feed wheat persist in not selling below 0.140 EUR/kg EXW Bulgaria although buyers ask for prices as low as 0.128 EUR/kg.

Wheat, Bulgaria

Type

EUR/kg

milling wheat

0.145

feed wheat

0.140

EXW Bulgaria

Categories:

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Organic Commodities
Aug 5, 2026
VANCOUVER. Wet weather conditions prevail for the chia seeds in South America. Prices are not quite as expected.
Grains
Jul 29, 2026
DALIAN/BRUSSELS. The Chinese buckwheat market is currently being driven by the sales of carry-over stocks. Prices have risen slightly. EU countries imported significantly less buckwheat in July 2026 than in the same month last year.
Grains
Jul 29, 2026
DALIAN/BRUSSELS. The Chinese millet market is currently stable. In July 2026, EU countries imported 77% less millet than last year.
Organic Commodities
Jul 16, 2026
ASUNCIÓN. Delays in harvesting pose risks to the quality of this year’s crop. However, dramatic frost events such as those seen last year are not expected to occur. Growers have sown record acreages.