Soil Moisture Rises, High Cereal Yields Expected
· AA Tarım & Ekonomi
Record rainfall across Turkey, the highest in 66 years, has boosted soil moisture and strengthened expectations for a strong cereal harvest.
Record Rainfall Achieved
According to data from the General Directorate of Agricultural Reform of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, an average of 18.4 millimeters of rainfall was recorded across Turkey in July. This represents an 18% increase compared to seasonal norms and a 92% increase compared to the same period last year. In the 10-month water year, spanning from October 1, 2025, to July 31, rainfall exceeded norms by 30% and last year's figures by 76%, reaching the highest level in the last 66 years. While temperatures increased by 0.3 degrees Celsius, the occupancy rate of irrigation dams reached 72.6%.
Agricultural Drought Risk Eliminated
The bulletin published by the Ministry stated that meteorological and agricultural conditions have been extremely favorable in the 2025-2026 production season. The rise in soil moisture across the country has strongly supported plant development, completely removing the risk of agricultural drought from the agenda. Harvest processes are underway in some cereal-growing areas and have been successfully completed in others. However, the report emphasized that plant health issues and potential disease risks arising from localized excessive rainfall are being closely monitored by technical teams.
High Yield Expected Across All Regions
Thanks to the moist period that began in the soil, the development of field crops is continuing healthily in all regions of Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia, and Southeastern Anatolia. The current climate conditions and favorable soil moisture balance directly indicate the potential for targeted yields and high productivity in agricultural production. If meteorological conditions maintain their current stability, cereal and other strategic agricultural products are projected to exceed expectations in the 2025-2026 agricultural year.