Farmers in Serbia warn that wheat will be the last crop harvested this year if it doesn’t rain within the next 10 days.
Goran Filipović, president of the Serbian Farmers Survival Initiative, reported that corn leaves are drying out, soybeans are suffering, while sunflower crops are still holding up. If rain doesn’t come soon, soy and corn crops are expected to fail and will only be suitable as livestock feed residue.
Soil moisture measurements show a severe lack of water at various depths, with almost no deep moisture where it is needed. This drought is considered worse than last year’s, causing farmers serious financial strain.
Pest infestations, such as mites, have increased due to dry conditions, and the cost of pesticides is very high.
Wheat yields are estimated at about six tons per hectare, but low prices (around 20-21 dinars per kilogram) make the situation financially difficult.
Miroslav Matković, president of the Subotica Farmers Association, emphasized that corn urgently needs rain to develop properly. Some farmers expect no yield from corn, while others hope for at least a third of a normal harvest.
Farmers have repeatedly requested the government to declare a natural disaster due to drought, but their appeals have been denied. Due to climate changes, farmers increasingly rely less on spring crops and are shifting towards autumn-sown grains.
