Ukraine: APK-Inform analysts are forecasting the total barley crop in Ukraine in 2004 to be at the level of 10 million tonnes. The experts have reviewed their previous barley crop forecast of 8.8 million tonnes on account of the latest updates on the planted areas and operative reports about the yield of the crop being harvested, AgriMarket.Info posted on July 13.

According to State Statistics Committee's finalized data, the total sown area of barley to be harvested this year in Ukraine (both winter and spring varieties) is 4.7 million hectares. The harvest area, according to the analysts, should be expected at about 4.3 million hectares.

According to the operative reports, the actual barley yield on 7 percent of the area, harvested up to the moment, is at the level of 2.87 tonnes per hectare in bunker weight equivalent. The experts forecast the yield in the final weight equivalent to be around 2.33 tonnes per hectare, with a possible upward revision of this figure (and, consequently, of the total barley crop) in the next periods.

According to State Statistics Committee, harvest area of barley in 2003 was 4.6 million hectares, with the planted area having been 5.8 million hectares. The total barley crop was 6.8 million tonnes at an average yield of 1.49 tonnes per ha. Vast areas of winter barley were lost or severely damaged by disastrous weather conditions in winter 2002/03.

16 July, 2004