Ukraine’s Minister of
Agriculture has declared the 2015 spring planting campaign finished.With a total (spring and winter) crop standing at an impressive, considering the circumstances, 26.5mha which is almost equal to last year as previously suggested it would be on this blog.
But I bet if you had
a quick drive around Ukraine you’d still see some tractors working in the field.
This is because although the Minister has said spring planting is finished (right about when he predicted it would be two weeks ago) and he really believes it to be the case, here’s how it actually works.
This is because although the Minister has said spring planting is finished (right about when he predicted it would be two weeks ago) and he really believes it to be the case, here’s how it actually works.
The Ministry of
Agriculture shout at the regional head to speed up planting in his region and finish
according to the plan. The regional head
calls the farm director in to his office and shouts at him while waving a piece
of paper with a league table of plantings for all the farms in the
region pointing out he is in the relegation zone or there about. The farm director patiently points out that all
machines are working at full capacity and planting will be finished within an agronomically
acceptable planting window. The regional
head starts turning red in the face and shouts that this isn't good enough while spittle flies out of his mouth, they
need to finish now, the Ministry has told him so, his job is on the line. The farm director suggests that if he reports
they have finished planting would that help.
The regional head is ecstatic with this idea, calms down immediately and
beams from ear to ear. After much handshaking and general bonhomie the farm
director is bid farewell. The regional
director reports to the Ministry that planting is now finished. The Minister of Agriculture declares planting
to be complete. Meanwhile Yuri is still
planting the last of the corn.
True story.