Polish farmers grapple with soaring input costs and shrinking cabbage acreage

Polish growers are confronting sharply higher expenses for fertilizers, fuel, plant protection chemicals and land leases while grain prices remain low. A farmer from Lower Silesia said wheat now sells for about 740 zloty per tonne, far below the level needed to cover production costs, and that direct subsidies will disappear within a week. The rising cost structure makes many farms marginally profitable despite decent yields.

Cabbage production is also contracting. Data from the ARiMR register show the planted area fell to 12,733 ha for the 2026 season, an 11 % drop from the record 2025 level of 14,355 ha. The largest districts remain Małopolskie (3,218 ha) and Łódzkie (3,040 ha). Producers cite low market prices, excess supply and high storage costs as reasons for reducing the crop, hoping the adjustment will improve future profitability.