Ukrainian farmers harvest 59 mln tonnes of grain from 97% of crop area

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Ukrainian farmers had cleared 58.993 million tonnes of grain from 10.609 million hectares, or 97% of the planned area as of February 15, Ukrainian media reported, citing a statement posted on Telegram by Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization Denis Bashlyk.

Farmers had harvested 28.748 million tonnes of corn from 3.689 million hectares, or 91% of the planned area. "The corn harvest increased by about another 44,000 tonnes last week," Bashlyk said.

The Agrarian Policy Ministry's updated forecast projects that Ukraine will harvest 81.3 million tonnes of grain and oil crops, including 59.7 million tonnes of grain and 21.6 million tonnes of oil crops.

Next season, farmers intend to expand crop areas for soybeans and sugar beet, while reducing the corn crop area, a ministry survey showed. The ministry said 70% of respondents said they plan to expand soybean crop areas by an average of 21% compared to 2023.

Farmers also plan to expand the grain legume crop area by 11% and the spring barley crop area by 7%. Farmers also intend to plant 24% more spring rapeseed and 17% more sugar beet, but 9% less corn. The sunflower crop area could also potentially decrease.

The overall area planted with spring crops in 2024 could shrink by 0.5 million hectares or 3.7% from last season, the ministry said.