Weather conditions
have generally been kind for oilseed rape and wheat harvest with both crops now
all but finished.
Oilseed rape gross yields are reported somewhere around 2.3mt/ha, similar
to last year.
According to ministry 61,000 hectares or 7% of the forecast 924,000
hectares of winter oilseed rape has already been planted.
My records suggest that’s a slight decrease on last years planted
are but we still have a three week planting window to go.
Current local spot price for oilseed rape is a paltry 3,100uah/mt
(382usd/mt); this time last year oilseed rape was selling at a more respectable 4,400uah/mt (541usd/mt).
Wheat yields are up on 2012 with the ministry of agriculture’s
current official estimate hovering around 3.4mt/ha (last year it was 2.9mt/ha).
Local spot price for 3rd class wheat is 1,200uah
(148usd/mt) compared to 1,700uah/mt (210usd/mt) at the same time last year.
Corn is looking good at the moment with this season’s weather
playing a big role in helping the crop germinate, grow and pollinate well. A recent cool spell
coincided with corn pollination which helped seed set.
Current estimations are pegging corn at 5.95mt/ha although the feeling
is the price will be low.
Sunflower harvest is away in the south with early yields coming in
a smidge over 1.0mt/ha.
Soya is looking good as it generally does at this time of year and
early predictions are for a reasonable crop but who make money on soya in
Ukraine?