Sowing rates of soybeans, sunflowers and corn in Ukraine are 60-90% lower than last year

In Ukraine, sowing of spring agricultural crops continues, however, due to abundant rainfall and low temperatures, the sowing rates of soybean, sunflower and corn are significantly lower than last year, and the area of spring barley sowing has already decreased by 20%.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, as of May 4 in the territory under the control of Ukraine, the area of sowing of spring crops changed in comparison with last year as follows:

• spring wheat - increased by 27% from 186.1 to 236 thousand hectares,
• spring barley - decreased by 20% from 853.8 to 712.1 thousand hectares,
• peas - increased by 7.5% from 119.6 to 128.6 thousand hectares,
• oats - decreased by 16.1% from 153.5 to 132.2 thousand hectares,
• corn - decreased by 86% from 1.9766 to 1.059 million hectares,
• buckwheat - decreased by 63% from 5 to 3.05 thousand hectares,
• millet - decreased by 216% from 18.2 to 8.4 thousand hectares,
• sunflower – decreased by 61.6% from 2.3993 to 1.485 million hectares,
• soybeans - decreased by 93.3% from 335.5 to 173.6 thousand hectares,
• sugar beet - increased by 2.1% from 175.4 to 179.2 thousand hectares.

Last week's dry weather allowed Ukrainian farmers to speed up sowing, and almost 1 million more hectares were sown with spring crops. Next week, dry and cool weather with temperatures of 2-12 ^o C is expected, which will facilitate sowing, although it will delay the development of crops.

Barley and corn acreage may decline amid low prices and adverse weather conditions as optimal planting dates close, so farmers may increase soybean and sunflower acreage.