Ukraine Harvest Latest

As at July 8th Ukraine had brought in 18% of it's 2009 grain harvest, producing 5.8 MMT, from an area of 2.3 million hectares, according to the Agricultural Ministry.

Some 12% of this year's wheat has now been cut, producing 2.1 MMT of the grain, it said. Wheat yields have so far averaged only 2.5 MT/hectare, implying a final wheat crop of around 17.5 MMT.

That would be below current trade estimates for production of 18-20 MMT this year, and represent a cut of almost a third on output last year when yields averaged 3.5 MT/hectare.

The barley harvest is 28% advanced, producing 3.6 MMT off 1.3 million hectares.