Pace of Ukraine's 2026 sowing campaign now 35.7% slower than in 2025 - ministry

MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - As of March 16, 2026, Ukrainian farmers in nine regions have sown spring crops and pulses on 53,400 hectares, which is 1% of this year's planned area, Ukrainian media reported, citing a statement from the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

The pace of this year's sowing campaign is currently 35.7% slower than in 2025, the ministry's statistics show. To date, Ukrainian farmers have planted peas on 25,600 hectares (9% of the planned area), barley on 16,900 hectares (2%), wheat on 5,400 hectares, and oats on 5,400 hectares. They have not yet begun sowing industrial crops.

Ukrainian farmers plan to sow spring crops and pulses on 6.003 million hectares in 2026, which is 1.6% less than last year's 6.104 million hectares, the ministry said.

The largest area will traditionally be sown with corn, which will be planted on 4.418 million hectares in 2026, which is 1.6%, or by 70,300 hectares less than in 2025. The area under barley will also be reduced by 2.7% to 753,700 hectares. Meanwhile, the area under wheat will be increased by 7% to 186,300 hectares, and the areas under peas and oats will also be increased by 1% each to 274,500 hectares and 138,000 hectares, respectively.

This year, the area to be planted with buckwheat will shrink 2% year-on-year to 56,800 hectares, while the area under millet will grow 20.5% year-on-year to 40,000 hectares. Other grains and pulses will be sown on around 135,500 hectares, which is 19% less than last year (167,100 hectares).

As for industrial crops, sunflower is expected to sown on 5 million hectares, which is 2%, or by 103,600 hectares less than in 2025. A total of 2.04 million hectares will be sown with soybeans (-1.6%), and 197,200 hectares with sugar beet (-0.8%). The ministry has not yet said how many hectares will be planted with rapeseed in 2026.

The ministry said in early March that Ukrainian farmers would start the spring fieldwork in 2026 one to two weeks later than usual due to adverse weather conditions, such as the freezing of soil and a snow cover. This delay will not affect the overall volume of this year's sowing campaign.

As reported, the 2025 sowing campaign in Ukraine started early. Farmers in 15 regions had planted grain and pulses on 83,000 hectares by mid-March 2025, including 45,200 hectares under barley, 17,800 hectares under peas, 12,900 hectares under spring wheat, and 7,200 hectares under oats.