A sowing campaign continues in Ukraine

In 8 regions of Ukraine, sugar beet crops (sown 86 thousand hectares, or 28%) and sunflower (211 thousand hectares, or 4%) are underway. In addition, as of April 16th, early spring crops and legume crops were sown on an area of ​​1.2 million hectares, which is 51% of the forecast, writes Agro-Center.

The early spring crops and legumes were sown on an area of ​​1.2 million hectares. In particular, already sown:

– barley – 828 thousand hectares (52%);

– oats – 67 thousand hectares (32%);

– wheat – 70 thousand hectares (40%);

– peas – 265 thousand hectares (63%).

Planting of winter crops for grain was carried out on an area of ​​6.1 million hectares (84% of the forecast), winter turnip – 889 thousand hectares or 88%. In the 9 oblasts, planting of winter crops was finished. According to preliminary data of regions, the sown area under the crops in 2018 is expected to reach 27.2 million hectares, at 2017 level.

Grain crops are expected to be planted on an area of ​​14.6 million hectares or 54% in the structure of crop area, which corresponds to the norms of the optimal ratio of crops in crop rotations. The sowing of spring grain crops is forecasted on an area of ​​7.4 million hectares, including early spring crops – 2.4 million hectares. At the same time, the structure of the grain wedge for the harvest in 2018 can be adjusted depending on the conditions of hibernation of winter crops due to the optimization of areas of spring grain crops, in particular, maize for grain and late grain crops.

The survey of winter crops for 2018 harvest shows that from the sown 7.3 million hectares, almost 6.5 million hectares (90%) are in good and satisfactory condition,  715,7 thousand hectares (10%) in weak and liquefied condition. In addition, plants of winter turnip sown on 1.0 million hectares were obtained on 99% of the area, of which 892.4 thousand hectares (89%) in good and satisfactory condition, 103.2 thousand hectares – weak and liquefied condition (10%).