Ukraine has already harvested more than 4 million tons of winter wheat, barley, rapeseed, and peas for the 2024 harvest, Acting Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said during a national telethon.
“This year’s harvest started two weeks later than the average due to the weather. We are currently harvesting winter barley, winter wheat and winter rapeseed. In addition, some regions have already started harvesting peas. If we look at the figures, we have already harvested more than 4 million tons as of today. The figure is increasing every day,” he said.
According to the acting minister, despite the shelling, particularly of the fields, in most cases the problems are being localized. Grain harvesting is proceeding at a very active pace, which makes it possible to forecast a grain harvest of about 56 million tons.
Mr. Vysotsky specified that the harvest of early (winter – IF-U) crops accounts for more than 10% of the total gross harvest. The largest share – 36 million tons – will be corn, which will be harvested in the fall.
Speaking about the yield of winter wheat and barley, the acting Minister stated that the yield is 5-7% lower than last year’s result due to weather conditions.
“Unfortunately, some regions are experiencing a record drought and lower yields. At the same time, in the western and central regions, the figures are higher than last year. So far, the forecast is within 5-7% less than the previous year, which, given all the challenges posed by the war, is a really good result,” he emphasized.
Mr. Vysotsky confirmed that the heat wave could have a negative impact on the growth of crops, particularly corn and soybeans. However, so far this trend is not widespread, which gives us hope for decent results.
Agrarians of Odessa and Mykolaiv regions harvested 92.1 thousand tons of early grain and leguminous crops on a total area of 42.2 thousand hectares by June 24, according to the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine on Friday. It is specified that a total of 90 thousand tons of winter barley from 41.1 thousand hectares and 2 thousand tons of winter wheat from 1.2 thousand hectares were threshed.
Accordingly, the average yield of winter barley was 21.9 c/ha, winter wheat – 17.8 c/ha.
The agency clarified that on the same date last year, the harvesting of winter crops had not yet begun.
“Despite the constant shelling, people and special equipment also work during the curfew. The necessary permission can be obtained from the district military administrations,” the Ministry of Agrarian Policy summed up in the message.
