August 17, 2010

Ukraine reaps 28.7 million tonnes grain

The Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry has reported 28.7 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crop yields from 11.59 million hectares as of August 16, 2010, which was 97% of the forecast.

The average yield of grain and leguminous crops per hectare is 24.8 centners. As of August 12, 2009, Ukraine harvested 35 million tonnes from slightly more than 90% of the areas under crops.

As of August 16, 2010, farmers harvested 17.79 million tonnes of wheat from 6.25 million hectares, with the average yield being 28.4 centners per hectare, and 9.21 million tonnes of barley from 4.31 million hectares, with the average yield being 21.4 centners per hectare.

They also harvested 31,000 tonnes of buckwheat from 38,000 hectares and 1.4 million tonnes of rapeseeds from 832,000 hectares.

As reported, Ukraine's government forecasts the grain harvest in 2010 at 40-42 million tonnes against 46 million tonnes harvested in 2009. Grain exports in the current marketing year are estimated at 15-17 million tonnes.

The USDA last week downgraded its grain harvest forecast for Ukraine in 2010 by 6.2 million tonnes, to 38.75 million tonnes. Export forecasts were cut by 4.2 million tonnes to 15 million tonnes.