According to the forecast of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2024, the yield of grain and oilseeds in Ukraine will amount to about 74 million tons. This includes approximately 52.4 million tons of grains and 21.7 million tons of oilseeds. This forecast was published on the ministry's website on April 17.
Specifically, it is projected that this year Ukrainian farmers will be able to harvest the following volumes of grain crops:
- Wheat: 19.2 million tons (compared to 22.2 million tons last year)
- Barley: 4.9 million tons (compared to 5.7 million tons last year)
- Corn: 26.7 million tons (compared to 30.5 million tons last year)
"In terms of oilseeds, an increase in soybean production is forecasted to reach 5.2 million tons, compared to 4.7 million tons in 2023. The projected sunflower harvest will be 12.4 million tons, which is almost the same as last year's figure of 12.9 million tons. Rapeseed is expected to reach 4.1 million tons, compared to the previous 4.7 million tons," the statement said.
Ministry representatives specified that forecasts regarding the total grain harvest will be adjusted throughout the year depending on various circumstances, mostly weather conditions.
It is also noted that the total sowing area of grain and leguminous crops is forecasted at 10.6 million hectares (a decrease of 395 thousand hectares compared to the 2023 level). Of these, winter wheat will be sown on 4.3 million hectares (a decrease of 0.3 million hectares), spring wheat is expected on 0.2 million hectares (an increase of 0.2 thousand hectares). Winter barley will be sown on 0.47 million hectares (a decrease of 0.15 million hectares), the area of spring barley is expected to be 0.94 million hectares (an increase of 0.06 million hectares), and the maize planting area will be 3.9 million hectares (a decrease of 62 thousand hectares).
As for oilseeds, the soybean planting areas will be expanded. It is expected to be planted on an area of 2.2 million hectares. This is almost 400 thousand hectares more than last year. The sunflower sowing area will remain at approximately the same level as last year – 5.3 million hectares. The rapeseed planting area will be smaller by 0.1 million hectares, totaling 1.5 million hectares compared to the previous year.