Low temperatures and rain delay sowing in Ukraine and Russia

Lower than last year, the rate of sowing spring crops in Ukraine and Russia may lead to a revision of the structure of acreage. Sunflower sowing is particularly delayed due to low temperatures in both countries, in addition, in Russia, the sowing of spring crops suffers due to excessive precipitation.

In Ukraine, the sowing of early spring grain and leguminous crops has already been completed by farmers of Donetsk, Kherson, Odessa, Cherkasy and Mykolaiv regions.

As of April 23, spring crops were sown in Ukraine:

• wheat – 157.5 thousand hectares or 89% of the plan (119 thousand hectares as of this date last year),
• barley – 1.2 million hectares or 87% (1.07 million hectares),
• oats – 152.5 thousand hectares or 79%,
• peas – 208.7 thousand hectares or 89%.

In addition, as of the specified date, it is sown:

• sunflower – 1.2 million hectares or 19% of the forecast (compared to 3.2 million hectares on the same date last year),
• corn – 386.6 thousand tons or 7% (2.4 million hectares),
• sugar beet – 144.4 thousand hectares or 64% (200 thousand hectares).

According to the Ministry of Industrial Development and trade of Russia, as of April 23, 3.5 million hectares or 6.7% of the plan were sown with spring crops in the country, while last year 9.2 million hectares or 17.6% of the planned areas were sown on this date.

In general, 2.4 million hectares of spring grain crops were sown, or 8.1% of the forecast, in particular:

wheat – 456.6 thousand hectares or 3.6% of the plan (1 million hectares as of the same date last year),

barley – 1.2 million hectares or 15.6% (2.6 million hectares),

corn for grain – 81.4 thousand hectares or 2.9% (869.7 thousand hectares).

In addition, as of the specified date, it is sown:

• sunflower-242.9 thousand hectares or 2.9% of the plan (1.5 million hectares as of the same date last year),
• spring rapeseed – 34.7 thousand hectares or 2.8% (154.4 thousand hectares),
• soybeans – 5.8 thousand hectares or 0.2% (162.3 thousand hectares),
• sugar beet-254.1 thousand hectares or 23.9% (611.6 thousand tons).

Next week, in Ukraine and in the European part of Russia, the air temperature will rise, and the amount of precipitation will decrease, which will speed up the pace of sowing.