Ukraine as of October 5 sows winter crops on 73% of planned areas

Ukraine as of October 5 had sown winter crops on 6 million hectares, or 73% of the planned area, according to Ukraine's Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry.

The rate of crop sowing this year is ahead of that of last year: as of October 5 last year 5.7 million hectares had been sown with winter crops, the ministry said.

In particular, this year winter wheat was sown on 5.35 million hectares, which was 80% of the forecast, rye on 285,000 hectares (91%), and winter barley on 362,000 hectares (30%).

As reported, according to the ministry, Ukraine for the 2013 harvest will sow winter crops on 9.1 million hectares, which will be 3.3% down on 2012. However, Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk recently forecast an increase in the areas sown with winter crops in 2012, to 9.2 million hectares.