February 9, 2012

Ukraine's winter grains' condition remains stable

The condition of Ukraine's winter grain sowings as of the start of February 2012 was good and satisfactory throughout 67.2% of the general areas, stated the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

Despite the extreme cold, the situation at winter crops fields did not change compared to the last decade of January. Nearly 26.8% of winter crops sowings showed good condition, or nearly 1.9 million ha, satisfactory condition - 40.4% (or 2.86 million ha), weak and sparse condition - almost one third or the areas of 2.33 million ha.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the condition of winter rapeseed sowings also did not change. In particular, as of the beginning of February the sowing areas were in good condition throughout 246,000 ha (32.4%), satisfactory - 253,000 ha (33.4%), weak and sparse - 34.2% or 259,000 ha.

As a reminder, recently the Ministry increased its forecast of possible winter crops resowing rates from the level of two million ha to 2.5-3 million ha. However, it will be possible to assess the condition of winter crops sowings and the preliminary damage, after the increase of air temperature only.

According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine sowed winter crops for grain and green fodder, including rapeseed, throughout the areas of 9.4 million ha for the harvest-2012, an increase of 1.9% compared to the harvest in 2011. The sowing areas under winter grains increased by 3.8% and totalled 8.4 million ha.

Since the end of January very severe frosts established in Ukraine.