Warm weather to allow Ukraine to finish harvesting corn - GrainTrade exchange

MOSCOW. Dec 29 (Interfax) - A warm cyclone expected in Ukraine next week will raise air temperatures 5-6 degrees Celsius above the norm for this time of year, thus making it possible to complete the harvesting of corn, 25% of which remains in the fields.

The absence of snow in the fields in Ukraine will make it easier to gather this crop, Ukrainian media said on Thursday, citing the website of the GrainTrade electronic grain exchange.

The state of winter crops in Ukraine has been assessed as normal, but there is a slight shortage of moisture in soil in the country's southern regions.

"Climate change has become a reality today. According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization, the last eight years could be the warmest on record. Thus, the average global temperature in 2022 exceeded the average of 1850-1900 by 1.15 degrees Celsius, which is manifested in the rapid melting of glaciers," GrainTrade said.

As reported, Ukraine had harvested a total of 20.2 million tonnes of corn by December 23 (including 1.8 million tonnes gathered over the week from December 16 to December 23) from 3.1 million hectares (+0.2 million hectares), which accounts for 75% of the planned area.

Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said earlier that this year's corn harvest would be successfully gathered before spring 2023, because Ukraine has a record of harvesting this crop in winter.