Minister Stefan Krajewski on Agricultural Market Tensions and Rapeseed Forecasts

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stefan Krajewski appeared as a guest on RMF FM on March 14, 2026, to address growing concerns within the Polish farming sector. During the interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec, the minister faced questions regarding the increasing tension in agricultural markets, which some reports suggest is becoming difficult to control. This public appearance occurred at a time when producers are sounding the alarm over fluctuating commodity prices and market stability. The government official's participation in the broadcast highlighted the urgency of the current agricultural situation in Poland. Market observers noted that the dialogue focused on both immediate price pressures and long-term structural challenges facing domestic food producers.

Financial analysts from Credit Agricole released a forecast indicating that rapeseed prices are set to rise to approximately 2,300 PLN per ton during the 2026 season. While this projection offers some potential for higher revenue, the immediate reality at the Bronisze wholesale market remained challenging for many growers. There was a significant oversupply of domestic field vegetables, which led to a noticeable drop in prices for these products. Traders at the facility reported that while some items commanded high prices, the abundance of local produce put downward pressure on the earnings of field vegetable farmers. This disparity between different sectors of the market illustrated the volatile nature of the current trading environment. 2,300 (PLN/t) — forecasted price of rapeseed in 2026

The sugar beet sector faced particularly acute financial distress, with some farmers reporting devastating losses due to current price levels. One producer claimed that 700,000 PLN disappeared from his expected revenue as a result of the unfavorable market conditions for sugar beets. This specific case became a focal point for broader discussions about the profitability of traditional Polish crops in the face of shifting global and local economic factors. Farmers across the country warned that without intervention or market stabilization, many holdings may face insolvency. The situation was described by industry publications as a period of heightened risk where the costs of production were increasingly out of sync with market returns. The Polish agricultural sector has historically been a major producer of sugar beets in the European Union, with the industry undergoing significant restructuring following the abolition of EU sugar quotas in 2017. Since then, domestic prices have been more closely tied to global market fluctuations and competition from non-EU producers. Rapeseed production has also seen growth as a key component of the biofuel and food oil industries in Poland over the last decade. „700,000 PLN wyparowało z moich buraków cukrowych” (700,000 PLN disappeared from my sugar beets) — Unnamed Farmer via Tygodnik Rolniczy