• This year's grain maize harvest has begun, and already at the start of the season it can be said that the weather was favorable for maize across much of Poland.
  • According to Professor Tadeusz Michalski, we can even expect a repeat of last year's record yields, but with much better purchase prices.
  • The weather was unfavorable for maize growers in parts of Europe, which means Polish grain could successfully be exported this season.

We spoke with Professor Tadeusz Michalski, president of the Polish Maize Producers Association, about the season for grain maize that is drawing to a close. This year is particularly interesting because, despite last season ending with many farmers operating at a loss, the area planted with maize increased, suggesting that it is still worth growing.

The weather was favorable for maize

As Prof. Tadeusz Michalski says, the weather was favorable for maize this season. Although wet summer weather made the cereal harvest difficult, the absence of drought during this period had a very positive effect on maize.

- Across most of Poland, it is clear that maize adapts easily to different conditions. Of course, in regions where there was a lack of water, maize cannot withstand it, but if these conditions are averaged across the country, I think we can say the assessment is good plus. A good harvest is expected, and yield levels are likely to be comparable to last year, which was the best season to date according to the Central Statistical Office (GUS). A major plus for maize is the sunny weather in recent weeks, which is helping maize grown for grain to dry out across a large part of Poland. We had some concerns about the rainy period at the end of summer, but these have largely been offset. A considerable proportion of the crops can be harvested in good conditions, and let us remember that in the case of maize, moisture content matters a great deal, and even 2-3 percent less means a better purchase price, says the president of PZPK.

Polish maize exports are possible

Prof. Michalski also adds that despite the forecast high yields and an increase in acreage, there should be no problems with purchase prices or finding buyers. He argues that the weather was unfavorable for maize across much of Europe, led by France, so Polish grain can be successfully exported to these markets.

- I think that this year many farmers have curbed their inclination to sow grain varieties that mature too late. Even if they produce a better yield, they may not have enough time to lose moisture. Let us remember that revenue from sales depends not only on yield size but also on grain moisture, and every 0,5 percent matters here. As for costs, corn is generally inexpensive to produce, and harvesting and drying costs have a major impact on the final profit. This year we have a problem in this regard, which is why we should all the more harvest grain with the lowest possible moisture content. Let us remember that purchase prices are 200-300 PLN/t higher than last year, so this partly compensates for the increase in costs,” explains Prof. Tadeusz Michalski.

As he adds, the dryer itself is also important—its capacity, operating efficiency, heat recovery capabilities, etc. The differences are significant, but it can often be assumed that the newer the dryer, the more energy-efficient it is to operate. The cost of such an investment is a problem, however.