Bulgaria’s corn crop hits 16-year low as wheat and barley surge in 2025-26

BULGARIA – Bulgaria is projected to harvest its smallest corn crop in more than 15 years, with the 2025-26 season expected to yield an estimated 1.5 million tonnes, according to a recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  

This marks a significant decline since 2009, with yields forecasted to plunge by approximately 130,000 tonnes compared to the previous year’s output, driven by an exceptionally hot and dry summer that has severely impacted agricultural production.

The FAS report highlighted that the corn harvest began unusually early, in mid-August, with yields averaging a disappointing 2 tonnes per hectare.

“Further adjustments are likely, based on the harvest’s progress,” the FAS noted, indicating ongoing challenges for farmers. The planted corn area has also seen a sharp decline, dropping 19% year-on-year, marking the second consecutive year of reduction.

This trend is attributed to a combination of low yields and depressed corn prices, which have discouraged farmers from planting.

According to planting seed producers, farmers are planning further reductions in corn acreage for the 2026-27 season. The FAS/Sofia team reported that many farmers are considering excluding corn from crop rotation entirely, even at the cost of reduced subsidies, as profitability remains a concern.

Despite the downturn in corn production, Bulgaria’s agricultural sector shows resilience in other crops.

The FAS estimates an 8.5% year-on-year increase in wheat production for 2025-26, driven by a 6.2% expansion in harvested area and a 2.3% increase in yield, averaging 5.8 tonnes per hectare. However, milling quality has declined, with private sources indicating that only 55% to 60% of the wheat meets milling standards, compared to over 70% in the previous season.

Similarly, barley production has risen by 7.7%, supported by a 2.7% increase in harvested area and a 5% improvement in yields.

The FAS report also pointed to growing domestic demand for corn, particularly for food processing, ethanol production, and feed for the poultry and swine industries. This rising demand is likely to increase Bulgaria’s reliance on corn imports to meet domestic needs, as local production struggles to keep pace.

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