Sowing campaign 2026 in Ukraine lags 35.7% behind last year – 53,400 ha sown in 9 regions

Ukraine as of March 16 in nine regions sowed spring grains and legumes on 53,400 hectares, representing 1% of this year's forecast, the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture reported.

According to operational statistics, the pace of work currently lags 35.7% behind last year's indicators. The Ministry of Economy specified that currently in Ukraine 25,600 ha of peas have been sown (9% of plan), 16,900 ha of barley (2%), and 5,400 ha each of wheat and oats. Sowing of industrial crops has not yet begun.

Leading regions are Odesa (26,400 ha), Volyn (8,500 ha), Mykolaiv (7,700 ha), Kherson (3,800 ha) and Lviv (3,500 ha).

The Ministry of Economy operational report also notes that in 2026 Ukraine plans to sow spring grains and legumes on 6.003 million ha, 1.6% less than the actual 2025 figure (6.104 million ha).

Corn will traditionally occupy the main share of area — 4.418 million ha, 1.6% (or 70,300 ha) less than last year's figure. Areas under barley will also decrease to 753,700 ha (-2.7%). At the same time, wheat areas will expand 7% (to 186,300 ha), while production areas under peas (274,500 ha) and oats (138,000 ha) will each increase 1%.

The Ministry of Economy forecasts that buckwheat areas in 2026 will total 56,800 ha (-2%), while millet areas will be at 40,000 ha, 20.5% more than last year's figures. Sowings of other grains and legumes are expected at 135,500 ha, 19% less than last year's figure (167,100 ha).

In the structure of industrial crops, sunflower in 2026 is forecast to occupy 5.0 million ha, 2% (or 103,600 ha) less than in 2025. Soybean areas are expected at 2.04 million ha (-1.6%), sugar beet at 197,200 ha (-0.8%). The ministry has not yet released data on rapeseed.