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May 18, 2001
Turkey experienced a warm winter for most of the country from January-April (refer to temperature departure maps and temperature time-series graphs). Warm temperatures reduced winter wheat hardiness and induced an early spring. The warm winter temperatures and poor snow coverage also raised concerns about increased Sunni bug or sunn pest infestations. The end result is the warm winter and spring temperatures may reduce wheat yields for the MY 2001/02 crop. A large factor will be dependent on pest control programs and how the critical pest growth stages overlap with the wheat harvesting periods.
Cumulative precipitation graphs for major crop regions in Turkey show that precipitation was normal to above normal for most wheat regions during the 2000/01 growing season. A notable exception is the Central Anatolia region which received slightly below normal precipitation. The Central Anatolia region grows more wheat than any other regions (about 40 percent). The combination of low precipitation and warm winter temperatures in Central Anatolia may reduce wheat yields. In contrast, the Thrace region, which produces about 10 percent of wheat, received above normal rainfall and the region is expected to have above normal yields (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Percent Normal Precipitation (from Sept 1- May 10, 2001) for Turkey
Local farmers in Turkey are also experiencing economic hardships as the government tries to collect loan repayments as a method to salvage the nation's collapsing economy and appease international money lenders. Many local farmers have been given notices to repay their loans or the state will take their land. For many decades, the state forgave debts and gave subsidies but the tougher government policy has placed new pressures on Turkey's agriculture sector. The new policy has reportedly caused some farmers to abandon their farms due to excessive debt burdens and economic hardship.
For more information, contact Curt Reynolds with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division at (202) 690-0134 or e-mail ReynoldsC@fas.usda.gov.
