The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine has updated its forecast for gross production of grains and oilseeds and expects Ukrainian farmers to harvest up to 76.7 million tonnes in 2023.
According to Ukrinform, the ministry reported this.
This year Ukrainian agrarians can harvest about 56.4 million tonnes of grain and 20.3 million tonnes of oilseeds.
In early spring 2023, the total gross harvest for the current year was forecast at 63.5 million tonnes, down 13% from 2022. In June, after the start of the harvest, the forecast was raised to 68 million tonnes, which was 7% less than in 2022. Now, thanks to favorable weather conditions, the ministry is revising its forecast upwards.
Although the total area under spring and winter crops this year was 980,000 hectares less than last year and amounted to 10.9 million hectares, weather conditions contributed to almost record grain yields (up to 51.8 centners/ha), which will significantly increase the harvest.
According to preliminary estimates of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2023, farmers will be able to harvest 20.9 million tonnes of wheat, 5.8 million tonnes of barley, and 28.1 million tonnes of corn.
Gross production of oilseeds will reach 20.3 million tonnes. The sunflower harvest is forecast at 12 million tonnes. Farmers are expected to harvest a record amount of rapeseed (4 million tonnes). The level of soybean production is 4.2 million tonnes.
Also, this year farmers will harvest 13.7 million tonnes of sugar beet.