Polish agriculture: Sunflower acreage grows as manure prices stabilize

Agricultural trends in Poland show a significant increase in sunflower cultivation. According to ARiMR data, sunflower acreage has grown from under 10,000 hectares in 2020 to over 85,000 hectares in the current season. Farmers favor the crop due to lower input costs compared to rapeseed, simpler agrotechnics, and compatibility with existing corn machinery. Sunflower is increasingly used in crop rotation on lower-quality soils, providing biomass that improves soil structure.

In the fertilizer market, liquid manure remains a key natural option for upcoming winter cereal sowings. Current market prices for manure range from 5 to 15 PLN per cubic meter, with an average of approximately 10 PLN per cubic meter. Both cattle and pig manure provide essential macro and micronutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Cattle manure typically provides 3.6 kg of nitrogen and 1.8 kg of P2O5 per ton, while pig manure provides 3.5 kg of nitrogen and 1.7 kg of P2O5 per ton.