May 23, 2012

Ukraine's 2012 grain harvest revises down

As of May 1, Ukraine's 2012 grain harvest forecast has been slightly reduced by UkrAgroConsult to 46.3 million tonnes from 46.4 million tonnes a month earlier.

The consultancy said in a report on Tuesday (May 22) it had revised down crop forecasts for wheat, peas, buckwheat and millet, but left unchanged the forecasts for barley, corn and rye.

"The cool, rainy weather in April led to an adjusted forecast for grain output and its structure," UkrAgroConsult said.

"Sufficient moisture supply and moderate air temperatures after winter crops' growth renewal in late March and early April caused strengthening of plants weakened by the autumn drought and February's frost."

Ukraine's Farm Ministry has said the 2012 grain crop could total up to 45 million tonnes against 56.7 million in 2011. UkrAgroConsult has said the 2011 grain crop does not exceed 49 million tonnes.

Another consultancy, ProAgro, forecast the harvest at 47.3 million tonnes this year, including 14 million tonnes of wheat, 23.6 million of corn and 7.3 million of barley.