The 2026 First Forecast for Crop Production, released by Turkstat, indicates a strong growth outlook for grains and oilseeds, the critical raw materials for the compound feed industry. While grain production is projected to surge by 21.7% to reach 41.6 million tons, record increases are expected in barley and wheat, which directly impact forage and ration costs.

The Turkish Statistical Institute (Turkstat) has published its initial crop production estimates for 2026, compiled from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry data. In the field crops category, which directly concerns the feed and livestock sectors, production of grains and other crops excluding forage crops is projected to increase by 12.6% to 75.4 million tons. The most notable expansion within this group occurred in the grain sector, the primary energy and raw material source for compound feed formulations.

BARLEY AND WHEAT REBOUND, WHILE CORN SEES A PLANNED DECLINE

According to the newly released data, production forecasts for the feed industry’s two most strategic starch and protein sources are highly promising. Information announced today indicates that wheat production is expected to rise by 26.7%, reaching 22.8 million tons. Meanwhile, barley, an indispensable energy source in feed rations, is projected to see a record 50.0% surge, bringing total output to 9 million tons. Among other grain inputs, rye is estimated to rise by 12.3% to 228.3 thousand tons, and oats by 4.3% to 300 thousand tons. Conversely, corn production, a vital ingredient for poultry and ruminant feed, is forecast to drop by 5.9% to 8 million tons. This decline, resulting from deliberate measures taken due to corn’s high water consumption, is evaluated to potentially impact corn prices and import quotas.

COMPLEX OUTLOOK FOR PROTEIN SOURCES: SUNFLOWER RISES, SOYBEAN DROPS

A dual trend prevails in oilseeds and industrial crops, which fulfill the feed sector's protein and oil requirements. Sunflower seed production, which directly influences the supply of sunflower meal, is expected to grow by a robust 16.2%, reaching 2.3 million tons. Sugar beet production, providing valuable co-products like molasses and beet pulp for roughage and concentrate feeds, is also estimated to increase by 5.8% to 22 million tons. However, soybean production, a critical protein source where the Turkish feed industry remains highly import-dependent, is projected to fall by 12.7%, capping total output at a limited 129.9 thousand tons.