Spring sowing 2026: how many winter crops will need to be resown
6 March 14:53
Most winter crops in Ukraine successfully survived the winter period. Overall, potential crop losses or areas requiring replanting do not exceed 10%.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Ministry of Economy.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky said that these indicators allow farmers to confidently enter the active phase of spring field work.
According to him, the situation is more difficult in some regions, where winter crops may have been weakened by the weather swings of winter.
The highest risks are in the Kirovohrad region, where up to 40% of crops may need to be replanted.
In the Vinnytsia region, losses of 20-30% are possible. Replanting or increased fertilization may also be necessary in the Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions, within the range of 10-20%.
Vysotsky also reminded about the beginning of the active stage of spring sowing. Favorable weather allowed farmers in most regions to start fertilizing winter crops and preparing the soil for sowing spring crops.
In particular, the key challenges remain the instability of fuel prices and the rise in the cost of fertilizers, which is caused by the crisis in the energy sector.
“Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of petroleum products, primarily diesel fuel. Therefore, fluctuations in the fuel market are very sensitive for farmers during the sowing season. In fact, the availability of mineral fertilizers and petroleum products are two key factors that influence spring sowing. At the same time, farmers traditionally prepare for field work in advance,” the official explained.
As a reminder, Ukrainian farmers plan to maintain the total area under grain and oil crops at 21.2 million hectares in 2026. Wheat and barley may show growth, while corn may lose a small portion of its acreage.
