Ukraine nears completion of spring sowing campaign, with more than 20 million hectares planted for the 2026 harvest
Growers in Ukraine are wrapping up the spring sowing campaign. A total of 5.88 million hectares of spring grains and legumes have been planted, representing 97% of the projected area. Overall, more than 20 million hectares of winter and spring grain and oilseed crops have been sown for the 2026 harvest.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the following areas have been planted:
- Spring wheat — 186.6 thousand ha;
- Spring barley — 713.6 thousand ha;
- Peas — 259.7 thousand ha;
- Oats — 137.5 thousand ha;
- Buckwheat — 55.1 thousand ha;
- Millet — 38.5 thousand ha.
Corn accounts for the largest share of the cropping structure, covering 4.37 million hectares.
The highest sowing rates were recorded in the central and northern regions of the country. The leading regions include:
- Poltava region — 594.1 thousand ha (wheat — 4.9 thousand ha, barley — 65.1 thousand ha, peas — 12.1 thousand ha, oats — 1.9 thousand ha, corn — 502.5 thousand ha);
- Chernihiv region — 572.9 thousand ha (wheat — 10 thousand ha, barley — 15 thousand ha, peas — 9.2 thousand ha, oats — 16.8 thousand ha, corn — 512.3 thousand ha);
- Vinnytsia region — 481.6 thousand ha (wheat — 10 thousand ha, barley — 55 thousand ha, peas — 8 thousand ha, oats — 1 thousand ha, corn — 396.1 thousand ha);
- Kyiv region — 424.3 thousand ha (wheat — 25.6 thousand ha, barley — 39 thousand ha, peas — 5.5 thousand ha, oats — 6 thousand ha, corn — 336 thousand ha).
Industrial crops have been planted on a total of 7 million hectares, including 4.86 million hectares of sunflower, 1.99 million hectares of soybeans, and 190 thousand hectares of sugar beet.
“Despite an unusually cold spring, record frosts, and constant shelling, agricultural producers have practically completed the sowing campaign. More than 20 million hectares of winter and spring grain and oilseed crops have been planted for the 2026 harvest. This demonstrates the professionalism and resilience of our growers and the entire agricultural sector, which remains a pillar of the economy and a guarantor of food security for Ukraine and the world even under wartime conditions,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Oleksii Sobolev.
According to the ministry’s forecast, total grain and oilseed production is expected to reach 81–83 million tons. Grain output is projected at 60–61 million tons, in line with last year’s level.
Wheat production is expected to decline to 22–23 million tons due to reduced acreage and more conservative yield expectations. Corn production could exceed 32 million tons, while barley output is estimated at around 5 million tons.
Sunflower production may surpass 12 million tons, nearly 16% higher than last year. Soybean output is forecast at around 5 million tons, while rapeseed production is expected to reach 3.5 million tons.
