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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
December 24, 2003
According to data from the State Statistical Committee of Ukraine, sown winter grain area for 2004/05 fell 16 percent from last season to a reported 7.1 million hectares. Winter wheat (which typically comprises over 95 percent of total Ukraine wheat area) was planted on 5.5 million hectares, down 18 percent from last year. Following September dryness which delayed planting and hampered emergence in some areas, rainfall in early October replenished surface moisture for winter grains, and current crop conditions are generally favorable.
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Ukraine: Area Sown to Winter Grains (1,000 Hectares) |
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2003/04 |
2004/05 |
Percent Change |
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Total Sown Winter Grain Area |
8,390 |
7,071 |
-16% |
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Including: |
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Wheat |
6,749 |
5,541 |
-18% |
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Rye |
550 |
778 |
41% |
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Barley |
715 |
534 |
-25% |
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Green Chop |
376 |
219 |
-42% |
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Source: State Statistical Committee of Ukraine |
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The year-to-year decrease in winter wheat area was most pronounced in eastern and southern Ukraine, the country's prime winter wheat area (see map). Despite the sharp year-to-year drop, however, planted area for 2004/05 is not unusually low compared to recent years. Sown winter-grain area for 2003/04 reached one of the highest levels in over ten years, but severe winterkill destroyed two-thirds of the planted area and wheat production plunged to an estimated 4.0 million tons, from 20.6 million in 2002/03.
October precipitation brought relief to parched soils, replenishing depleted surface moisture for emerging winter crops. Soil moisture reserves as of mid-December remained noticeably lower than at the same time last year. This is unlikely to pose a problem for yield prospects, however, as moisture in most regions was adequate for crop establishment and fall tillering prior to the onset of winter dormancy. Subsurface moisture is frequently below capacity at this time of the year and is typically fully replenished before growth resumes in March.
Ukraine grain production for 2003/04 is estimated at 21.9 million tons (against 38.7 million in 2002/03), including 4.0 (20.6) million wheat, 8.0 (10.4) million barley, and 6.5 (4.2) million corn. The USDA will release its initial estimates of worldwide 2004/05 grain production on May 12, 2005.
