Spring sowing in Ukraine up 8.3% for grains at 476,700 ha

MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - Ukrainian farmers had sown 476,700 hectares of spring grains and legumes as of March 28, up 8.3% from a year previously, Ukrainian media reported, quoting the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.

Pea sowing was up 51.1% at 81,800 ha, barley 35.6% at 291,500 ha, wheat 27.8% at 68,300 ha and oats 17.6% at 28,700 ha.

The leading regions by spring sowing were Odessa with 7,000 ha of wheat, 41,500 ha of barley, 28,400 ha of peas and 1,500 ha of oats.

The Poltava region had sown the most sugar beet with 10,200 ha. The Vinnitsa, Volynia and Rovno regions have started to sow sugar beet, Kiev region - sunflower and Vinnitsa region - soya.

The ministry said earlier that, according a survey conducted in the state agricultural register on the preparation of agricultural producers for sowing, 70% of respondents plan to increase the area under soybeans by an average of 21%.

The survey also showed that during the spring sowing, grain legumes would remain a priority for farmers, with their sowing set to increase 11%, while barley will rise 7%. It is expected that the area under spring rape will increase 24%, sugar beet will rise 17%, and corn will decrease 9%. The area under sunflower may potentially decrease.