April 13, 2012

Ukraine has planted early spring grains and leguminous crops in the areas of 2.265 million hectares, or 57% of the estimate as of April 10, 2012, reported the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

As of the same date in 2011, Ukraine sowed early grains throughout 55% of the areas.

In particular, agrarians sowed spring wheat throughout 182,000 hectares (64% of the plan), barley - 1.67 million hectares (54%), oats - 222,000 hectares (70%), peas - 174,000 hectares (60%).

Agrarians sowed sunflower seeds throughout the areas of 24.5 thsd hectares, or 1% of the forecast.

Agricultural enterprises sowed spring crops instead of the perished winter crops throughout 306,000 hectares, or 12% of the forecast. In particular, Ukraine sowed spring grains throughout 275.5 thsd hectares of the reporting areas, including 253.6 thsd hectares of spring barley, and 30.6 thsd hectares of other spring crops.

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 resowing areas of oats, peas, grain sorghum, soybeans and cereals.