Agro-ministry increased the forecast of grain yield by a million tons

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine made a revised estimate of the 2018 harvest and are expecting the grain production to be 64 million tons. This was announced by Maxim Martynyuk, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, on the air of Novy Vremya Radio. “As a result of the rains, we have very good readings for corn, and today we are ready to voice a bold forecast that we will have a total grain yield of 64 million tons, which is the second best result in history after the record-breaking of 66 million tons two years ago” said the first deputy minister.

Martyniuk stressed, the year 2018 will be remembered for abnormal weather conditions, which at certain times gave us serious concerns as to the output of grains. “The end of the winter was very good, but then snow was on the ground till April 2, so the spring sowing and seed season started late and gave us one month instead of two. Then there was dry May, and in the summer there were showers not in the right time, but in the end thanks to the group of late cereals the overall result is the second in history,” – he said.

Note, in order to maintain the balance of demand/supply on the domestic market, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding with the grain market players regarding the actions of the sides for the 2018/19 grain marketing year. The document sets the volume of exports for food grade wheat at the level of 8 million tons and up to 8 million tons of animal feed wheat. The total local demand for food grade wheat is expected to be 4.5 million tons.

Source: epravda.com.ua