Condition of winter grains in Ukraine - carpe diem

Source

APK-Inform

2266

Winter crops are rather important for grain producing industry owing the larger volume of the harvested grain compared to the spring ones, and also have the large-scale share in the general production of the agricultural crops. Annually it is one of the important factors defining the winter crops condition the same is in 2015. Thus the experts of APK-Inform poled the agrarians on the weather conditions impact on the winter crops development and asked to provide the estimation on the winter sowings as of the end of 2014.

 

Winter grains: the weather to say the last word

In 2014 the winter crops planting campaign plan was realized and exceeded the planned areas. Thus according to the data of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine the grain winter crops planted areas for crop 2015 totaled 7.6 mln ha or 102% of the forecast. However despite the optimistic data the agrarians faced the number of difficulties during the planting campaign.

The major problem faced by the agrarians during the fall planting campaign was the productive moisture absence in the plow layer which is the key factor being oriented on by the agricultural producers. So in order to wait for the optimal moisture content a lot of respondents informed about the applying of the winter grains phase-in sowing. Thus the terms of the planting were the main factor influencing the winter crops development and condition.

Note according to the data of the agricultural producers’ poll nearly 70-95% areas had faced the winter crops seedling depending on the region. However despite the good rates of the seeding the condition still cautioned the market operators.

 

 

Thus the Southern region agrarians stated that due to the drought mixed with short rains the winter grains planting campaign had to be realized in two stages. But still the agri technological deadline was met. So nearly 70-95% of the areas being planted in the first stage faced seedling (first half of September) and nearly 70% of them are in good and satisfactory condition. These seedling are more ready for wintering unlike of the seedling being planted in the second stage (first decade of November).

The same situation was faced in the Central and Eastern regions, though the planting deadline was also met. In the third decade of September there were short rains positively influencing the plants development, which were planted in the first stage and being planted later. Nearly 80-90% of the areas faced seedlings and most of them are in good and satisfactory condition. However due to the staging planting the winter crops seedlings were unequal and are in the different phases of development. Meanwhile the snow cover defended the crops from the frosts, which in the areas reached -13°C.

Note the crops condition in the Eastern regions of Ukraine. Thus the agrarians of Luhansk oblast reported about impossibility to plant winter crops due to the military actions being carried on the territory of their regions. Meanwhile the agrarians who were able to plant them reported about the satisfactory condition of the plants.

The most favorable weather conditions for winter grains planting and development were in the Western and Northern regions. Thus the planting campaign was held in August – first decade of September after the short rains and in the soil with moisture average content. Nearly 80-95% of the planted areas faced seedlings. Meanwhile, 60% of the plantings are in satisfactory condition and 30% are in good one. The plants are in the different stages of development.

 

 

Winter rapeseed: will the hopes be justified?

The weather conditions were unfavorable for winter rapeseed. Despite the rains being faced in the second decade of August, the moisture in the top soil was at the low level due to the high temperatures causing the negative impact on the winter rapeseed condition.

Thus the agrarians in the Southern and Central regions reported about 75-85% of the planted areas which faced seedlings. Meanwhile nearly 50% (first half of December) were in the satisfactory condition, meanwhile the rest was weakened. So the agrarians are aware of the successful wintering of the oilseed.

The same situation is in the East of the country, where the seedling was faced throughout of 55-60% of the planted areas and most of them were in the satisfactory condition. Meanwhile night frosts being observed in the third decade of October stopped the autumn vegetation of the pants.

In the Northern and Western regions the moisture insufficient content in the soil caused the slowing of the seed germination. Note some Western oblasts had not seen rains for month by December. So rapeseed seedling was faced throughout of 65-80% of the areas and less than 50% of them are in satisfactory condition. Meanwhile nearly 30% of the plants are in bad condition. Still there are oblasts where 50% of the sowings were in good condition.

 

 

 

Winter blasts

Annually the winter crops are under the plague of mouse-like rodents which increases the risk of harvesting the bad quality grain. Thus in the Southern and Central regions there was mice plague. Except of rodent there have been Hessian fly, grain fly, cereal cicadas on the grain sowings. So the market participants had to allocate the additional funds for purchasing of rodenticides and insecticides for fight with the pests.

Generally, despite the difficult weather conditions for plants sowings and development most of the seedlings of winter crops developed rather enough in order to winter well and give the good crop. Besides if there is a favorable winter with the sufficient snow cover the seedling which condition is satisfactory and even bad have good chances for spring development.

 

Viktoria Torop , APK-Inform Agency

 

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