According to Experts.news, as of November 4, 2026, Ukrainian farmers had planted 4.448 million hectares with winter grain crops, which is 400,300 hectares, or 8.3%, less than on the same date last year, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine reported.
According to the ministry, 85.4% of the projected area for winter grain crops—totaling approximately 5.21 million hectares—has been planted.
The largest declines were seen in winter wheat and barley plantings. Specifically, 3.953 million hectares—or 87.1% of the forecast—have been sown with wheat and triticale. This is 350.5 thousand hectares, or 8.1%, less than on the same date in 2025.
Winter barley has been planted on 420,500 hectares, which is only 70.8% of the projected area. Compared to last year, its planted area has decreased by 58,200 hectares, or 12.1%.
At the same time, the area planted with winter rye increased by 12.7%, to 74.3 thousand hectares. Farmers have already completed 96.9% of the forecast for this crop.
The pace of grain planting has slowed in recent weeks. During the week of October 28 through November 4, the planted area increased by 234,600 hectares, whereas the previous week saw an increase of 285,300 hectares, and the week before that—536,800 hectares.
Thus, the weekly increase in grain plantings decreased by 17.8%, and compared to the figure from two weeks ago, it has more than halved.
In total, farmers still need to plant about 763,000 hectares of winter grains to meet the forecast, including approximately 588,000 hectares of wheat and triticale and 173,000 hectares of barley.
As of the same date in 2025, Ukrainian farmers had planted 4.848 million hectares of winter grains. At that time, wheat plantings totaled 4.304 million hectares, barley—478,700 hectares, and rye—65,900 hectares.
The current figures reflect the progress of the fall planting campaign for the 2027 harvest. The final area planted with winter grains will depend on the completion of fieldwork, and the future harvest will also depend on how well the crops survive the winter and on spring weather conditions.
Sources: Ministry of Agrarian Policy, operational data on winter crop planting as of November 4, 2026; official planting statistics as of November 4, 2025.
