Ukrainian farmers planted more crops during the spring planting campaign than had been originally expected, says director general of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) Roman Slaston.
Slaston described how the latest government analysis shows that more than 80% of the traditional land area was planted.
This, he said, has come about as many farmers in areas which had been occupied by Russia have been able to plant despite war activity.
Similarly, he said crops due to be harvested in the coming weeks, such as winter barley, are showing “quite good condition”, with “yields that should be close to recent years”.
This comes following good weather conditions and despite reduced fertiliser use, says the farming representative.
Slaston was speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal from Ukraine on Wednesday.
Export difficulties
However, Slaston warned that the improved planting analysis and crop yields will “mean nothing” if Ukrainian farmers are unable to export their grain.
He said grain trucks at border crossings are waiting for “several days” and as long as “5km to 25km” and that “there are still no major port exports”.
Ukrainian farmer and director general of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) Roman Slaston.
He described how, in May, a total of 1.7m tonnes of grain was exported via rail and road from Ukraine and that for the first half of June, there was 2.2m tonnes exported.
This rise, he said, has been “mainly due to increase of transportation on roads”. However, he said that to further improve road and rail export infrastructure, “there are some steps still to be done”.
Slaston said there are “roughly 15m to 16m tonnes of grain still in silos” and that when harvests, which are commencing in the coming weeks, are added to this, “there will be 50m to 60m tonnes of grain” in storage again.
Anticipating this, the agricultural sector’s aim now is to increase the monthly export total to 4m tonnes by the end of July, with road and rail improvements remaining the most “plausible” means of achieving this target.
Polish border
The UCAB director general said Polish and Ukrainian authorities are working to finalise two crossing points at the Polish border, which will have “designated lines for food and agricultural trucks”.
He said the government is also working to address the inefficient use of trucks where loads have been half-filled or sent to the incorrect border crossings.
Without improved access to export markets, Slaston says the impact of Russia’s invasion will be seen greatest in next year’s grain crop and yield.
He said this “pretty big problem” will mean that farmers won’t have access to revenue.
“Farmers are considering not seeding half of their fields in autumn. They will not be able to plant half their winter crops. That issue comes already, right now,” he said.
Slaston also highlighted government concerns that there will be a shortage in grain storage capacity in the coming months in Ukraine.
He said some 10m tonnes of additional storage will be needed for grain and while some of this may be covered through “plastic storage bags”, this will prove challenging.
Russian theft
The Ukrainian farmer also described how farmers in areas of Ukraine which remain occupied by Russian forces are being forced to sell their grain at lower prices.
He said: “It is still the case that Russian soldiers are taking their grain. The Russians come in and say they are taking their grain, but that they will pay 30% of the market price.
“If the farmer refuses this, they will come with their combines and take it anyway. First, they come and offer the 30% to push for co-operation.”
Tillage farming on the farm of Andrij Patuschenko, 20km north of Kherson, Ukraine. / Andrij Patuschenko
Slaston said “we are seeing more cases of theft of grain from silos in the south”, but that the western and central areas of Ukraine are “under control”.
Ukrainian farmers planted more crops during the spring planting campaign than had been originally expected, says director general of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) Roman Slaston.
Slaston described how the latest government analysis shows that more than 80% of the traditional land area was planted.
This, he said, has come about as many farmers in areas which had been occupied by Russia have been able to plant despite war activity.
Similarly, he said crops due to be harvested in the coming weeks, such as winter barley, are showing “quite good condition”, with “yields that should be close to recent years”.
This comes following good weather conditions and despite reduced fertiliser use, says the farming representative.
Slaston was speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal from Ukraine on Wednesday.
Export difficulties
However, Slaston warned that the improved planting analysis and crop yields will “mean nothing” if Ukrainian farmers are unable to export their grain.
He said grain trucks at border crossings are waiting for “several days” and as long as “5km to 25km” and that “there are still no major port exports”.
Ukrainian farmer and director general of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) Roman Slaston.
He described how, in May, a total of 1.7m tonnes of grain was exported via rail and road from Ukraine and that for the first half of June, there was 2.2m tonnes exported.
This rise, he said, has been “mainly due to increase of transportation on roads”. However, he said that to further improve road and rail export infrastructure, “there are some steps still to be done”.
Slaston said there are “roughly 15m to 16m tonnes of grain still in silos” and that when harvests, which are commencing in the coming weeks, are added to this, “there will be 50m to 60m tonnes of grain” in storage again.
Anticipating this, the agricultural sector’s aim now is to increase the monthly export total to 4m tonnes by the end of July, with road and rail improvements remaining the most “plausible” means of achieving this target.
Polish border
The UCAB director general said Polish and Ukrainian authorities are working to finalise two crossing points at the Polish border, which will have “designated lines for food and agricultural trucks”.
He said the government is also working to address the inefficient use of trucks where loads have been half-filled or sent to the incorrect border crossings.
Without improved access to export markets, Slaston says the impact of Russia’s invasion will be seen greatest in next year’s grain crop and yield.
He said this “pretty big problem” will mean that farmers won’t have access to revenue.
“Farmers are considering not seeding half of their fields in autumn. They will not be able to plant half their winter crops. That issue comes already, right now,” he said.
Slaston also highlighted government concerns that there will be a shortage in grain storage capacity in the coming months in Ukraine.
He said some 10m tonnes of additional storage will be needed for grain and while some of this may be covered through “plastic storage bags”, this will prove challenging.
Russian theft
The Ukrainian farmer also described how farmers in areas of Ukraine which remain occupied by Russian forces are being forced to sell their grain at lower prices.
He said: “It is still the case that Russian soldiers are taking their grain. The Russians come in and say they are taking their grain, but that they will pay 30% of the market price.
“If the farmer refuses this, they will come with their combines and take it anyway. First, they come and offer the 30% to push for co-operation.”
Tillage farming on the farm of Andrij Patuschenko, 20km north of Kherson, Ukraine. / Andrij Patuschenko
Slaston said “we are seeing more cases of theft of grain from silos in the south”, but that the western and central areas of Ukraine are “under control”.
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