It is surprising that according to statistical data the sowing of the main grain crop – wheat – increased to 387.6 thousand hectares (+6.3%). According to expert estimates based on the data of district departments of agriculture, the area of wheat fields was more modest – in the range of 300-330 thousand hectares. According to the data of the statistical office, corn sowing decreased to 414.7 thousand hectares (-10.7%). This is a noticeable drop, but not as significant as it was estimated by grain market operators, who believed that this year corn was sown in the country much less than 400 thousand hectares.
The growth of sowing of technical crops was due to the unprecedented expansion of areas under rape – almost 99 thousand hectares (+144%).
At the same time, the area under sunflower slightly, but decreased – to 414 thousand hectares (-1.1%). And beet plantations are in a situation of free fall – 10.9 thousand hectares (-26.3%).
In the sector of cultivation of vegetables, potatoes and melons – slight improvement of the situation: the area of plantations increased by 1%. Moreover, the increase was provided by potatoes – 37.7 thousand hectares (+7.3%).
