In most regions of Ukraine, the weather is favorable for the spring field campaign. Questions about soil moisture arise only in the southern regions. Pavel Koval, General Director of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, told about it.
"If we talk about weather conditions, in principle, in most regions of Ukraine the weather is conducive to a full-fledged spring field campaign. In some regions there is already a fairly large-scale sowing campaign of early crops. If you quantitatively estimate, more than one and a half million hectares are sown today with different crops, including early grains, such as spring barley, spring wheat and oats. We also sow a number of industrial crops, sugar beet, a large area, we are approaching a quarter of the planned areas. We are sowing corn in the southern regions, though it seems to be early, but in these conditions, farmers are trying to sow a little bit", - told Koval.
He also says that potatoes are being planted in the southern region - Kherson, Mykolaiv regions. The soil has already warmed up to the necessary temperature, more than 10-12 degrees at a certain depth.
According to him, there are some questions about moisture in the soil in the south of southern regions.
"But we are promised by the Hydrometeocenter that a cyclone will form on the territory of Ukraine from the 10th of November, just in the southern, eastern regions. There will be rains for 5-7 days. I think it will provide some of the necessary moisture," Koval said.
The expert noted that, in general, all regions of Ukraine have begun spring works.
"Northern regions perform, who have not yet had time because of hostilities, feeding winter crops, closing moisture, cultivating area for sowing early grain and industrial crops. The most difficult situation is in Luhansk region, there are also works in progress, in insignificant volumes, because almost all the territory there is affected by hostilities, but the works are also in progress. In other regions - central, western Ukraine, there are full-fledged works, there are minor difficulties with resources, somewhere there is not enough fuel in some farms, somewhere someone with credit lines has formal difficulties, to start full-fledged work, it is necessary to settle with banks on some programs, including state programs", - Koval said.
He noted that in general the work is carried out, and if we talk about the pace, this year we have begun field work earlier than last year.
"Somewhere today we are approaching the level, which was in terms of seeding on the check date for today, for tomorrow, with a slight lag from last year," said Koval.
In addition, he noted that it is necessary to understand that a significant area of fields and agricultural land today are in the state of hostilities, as well as the liberated areas still need to be cleared of explosive devices.
"And that area by separate estimates could be about 4 million hectares, perhaps even somewhat more. The only thing is that some areas will be cleared quickly, where there are demining maps, where there was little intensity (of fighting), but a large area where there was fighting will be cleared for a much longer time," Koval said.
According to him, these factors can also affect the structure of cultivated areas, the absolute amount of grain production, necessary for the food security of Ukraine and those countries with which we have traditionally traded agricultural products.
For reference, last year, according to preliminary data of the regions, the areas under crops in all categories of farms was expected to be within the range of 28.1 million hectares. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2021, agricultural producers have sown 7.5 million hectares of spring grain and leguminous crops.