April 21, 2012

As of April 17, 2012, Ukraine sowed early spring grains and leguminous crops throughout the areas of 3.29 million hectares, or 83% of the plan, an increase in acreage as compared to the same date in 2011 at 61% of the areas, reported the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

In particular, agrarians sowed spring wheat throughout 224,000 hectares (82% of the plan), barley - 2.54 million hectares (83%), oats - 283,000 hectares (89%), peas - 228,000 hectares (82%).

Agrarians sowed sunflower seeds throughout the areas of 274,000 hectares, or 7% of the forecast.

Besides, agrarians began sowing corn and soy. As of April 17, agrarians already sowed corn throughout the areas of 322,000 hectares - 1% of the plan, soy occupied 123,000 hectares - 1%.

As of the reporting date, agricultural enterprises sowed spring crops instead of the perished winter crops throughout 436,000 hectares, or 18% of the forecast. In particular, Ukraine sowed spring grains throughout 3,946,000 hectares of the reporting areas, including 3,602,000 hectares of spring barley, 18,000 hectares of corn, and 415,000 hectares of other spring crops.

As a reminder, in 2012 the general grain sowing areas (including winter and spring crops) is forecasted at the level of 15.8 million hectares, almost the same level as in 2011. Ukraine plans to increase corn for grain sowing areas to 4.5-5 million hectares (up 1-1.5 million hectares compared to 2011), barley - to 3.2 million hectares (up 600,000 hectares compared to 2011), and depending on the re-sowing areas of oats, peas, grain sorghum, soy and cereals.