The condition of winter grain crops in Ukraine as of February 1, 2013 was evaluated as good and satisfactory on 91.4% of fields or on 7.18 million hectares, the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has reported.
According to the ministry’s report, 8.6% of the sprouted crops on 670,000 hectares were weak and thinned.
According to the ministry, winter wheat on 91.6% of the areas (5.93 million hectares) is in a good and in a satisfactory state and on 8.5% (550,000 hectares) – it is weak and thinned.
Winter rapeseeds on 68.5% of areas (703,000 hectares) are in a good condition, on 24.8% (254,900 hectares) – in a satisfactory state and on 6.7% (68,500 hectares) –weak and thinned.
As reported, according to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine sowed winter crops of grain and green fodder, including rapeseeds, on 9.2 million hectares for the 2013 harvest, which is 2.5% less than areas sown with winter crops for the 2012 harvest.
Areas under winter crops in 2012 were 8.1 million hectares, which is 3.5% down year-on-year. In particular, areas under winter wheat decreased by 0.2%, to 6.7 million hectares, those under rye – by 4.3%, to 300,000 hectares, and those under barley – by 19.5%, to 1.1 million hectares.
At the same time, according to the service, rapeseeds for the 2013 harvest were sown on 1.03 million hectares, which is 7.2% up on the previous year.
