Ukrainian farmers have sown 83% of the acreage for grain crops.

As of May 19, Ukrainian farmers have sown 4.97 million hectares of grains and legumes, representing 83% of the forecasted areas, the Ministry of Economy reports. Poltava, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy regions have emerged as leaders in the scale of sowing.

According to the department’s data, corn takes up the largest area among grain crops, sown on 3.54 million hectares. Other crops are sown on the following areas: spring wheat – 184.7 thousand hectares, barley – 709 thousand hectares, peas – 256.7 thousand hectares, oats – 136.7 thousand hectares, millet – 19.6 thousand hectares, buckwheat – 17.9 thousand hectares.

Poltava region tops the list of regions with the largest sowing areas, having sown 530.4 thousand hectares, followed by Chernihiv (445.9 thousand hectares) and Cherkasy (364.5 thousand hectares) regions. Along with grains, farmers are completing the sowing of other crops: sugar beets on 187.9 thousand hectares (95% of the forecast) and sunflowers on 3.73 million hectares (75%). Soybean sowing amounts to 1.34 million hectares, or 65% of the forecasted area.

This year’s sowing campaign started late, but according to experts, the condition of winter crops in most regions remains satisfactory, and possible losses or replanting needs are less than 10%.