The Ukrainian Agrarian Policy Ministry hopes that winter crops in Ukraine will pass the winter period normally and there will be no need to reseed them in spring. This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaly Koval in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
"Usually at freezing 15-20% of winter crops have to be reseeded. Now we do not see such a need. In the perspective of the next few weeks we do not expect a critical situation,” he said.
He also added that the decrease in air temperature, which is now recorded in Ukraine, is moderate and it will allow crops with low threshold of frost resistance to carry the cold weather unhindered.
В. Koval also stressed that the Ministry has not revised its forecast of harvest in the current season, keeping it at the level of 41.9 mln tonnes of grain crops, of which the harvest of wheat is expected to be within 16.2 mln tonnes, barley - 2.8 mln tonnes, corn - 22.1 mln tonnes, other crops - about 0.8 mln tonnes.
At the same time, according to the minister, in 2025, a reduction in sown areas under soybeans is predicted, but in the perspective of 5-10 years its production in Ukraine will increase.
“Among the reasons is the annual demand of the European market in the amount of more than 30 mln tonnes, while Ukraine grows within 6 mln tonnes. Europe needs us as a supplier of protein products, in particular soybeans. Many farmers have felt the benefit of the diversity of crop rotation with soybeans and corn. This is the American model, when farmers sow soybeans after corn. (...) Consequently, we see the transition of farmers to greater versatility in production,” he explained.
At the same time, the minister expressed confidence that the grain group, in particular wheat, “will always be a priority in the Ukrainian agricultural sector, as it is profitable and indispensable in crop rotations, is a convenient precursor for many crops”.
