Drought Hampers Ukraine’s Winter Grain Sowing On 60% Of Land
Up to 60% of Ukrainian land for winter grains is too dry for sowing, meteorologists warned. Only northern and western fields have adequate moisture. With no rain expected before September 25, planting will be delayed. Ukraine targets 5.43 million hectares, with winter wheat making up over 95% of its wheat harvest.
Up to 60% of Ukrainian agricultural land intended for sowing winter grain crops is dry and sowing in these areas is currently impractical, informed state meteorologists.
Ukraine is a major traditional producer of winter grains, but in recent years farmers have often sown seeds in dry soil, hoping that a wet and mild winter will allow the seedlings to sprout and grow strong.
“As of September 10, approximately 50-60% of the area was affected by soil drought. Only the fields in the northern and western regions had sufficient and satisfactory moisture reserves,” the meteorologists said in a report.
“Mass sowing in areas with insufficient reserves is not advisable. Therefore, it will need to be carried out at a later date, after rainfall and replenishment of soil moisture reserves,” the report said.
Meteorologists say that the optimal time for sowing winter grains is between September 15 and 25, but before then, rain is unlikely in the eastern, central and southern regions. It means that no rain is expected in the September 10 to 25 period.
Ukraine has already begun sowing winter crops, planting about 1% of the planned 5.4 million hectares as of September 12.
The economy ministry said earlier this month that farmers planned to increase the 2026 winter grain sowing area to 5.43 million hectares from 5.24 million in 2025.
The ministry said the area planted with winter wheat could rise to 4.78 million hectares from 4.5 million in 2025. Winter wheat accounts for more than 95% of the total wheat harvest in Ukraine, a major global supplier of the grain.
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Source : Ukr Agro Consult
