Winter grain crops in Ukraine as of November 8 had sprouted on 6.9 million hectares, or 90% of the fields sowed with the crops, the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food has said.

According to its data, 85% of crops are in a good and satisfactory condition, 15% are weak and thinned.

On November 8, according to the ministry, the sowing of winter crops for the 2014 harvest was halted - areas under winter crops as of November 11 totaled 7.71 million hectares, in particular winter wheat and triticale were sown on 6.29 million hectares, rye – 248,000 hectares, and barley - 1.17 million hectares.

The ministry noted more successful agro-meteorological conditions than last year both in terms moisture and heat quantity.

As reported, Ukraine planned to sow winter grains on about 8.2 million hectares for the 2014 harvest. A shortage in areas sowed with winter crops is due to adverse winter conditions in September.