Corn harvest in Ukraine is expected to be larger than last year

Ukrainian farmers are expected to harvest around 56 mln tons of early grains and 21 mln tons of oilseeds in the 2025 season, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky reported on Ukrainian Radio.

“Regarding early grains, production is projected at approximately 26 mln tons, slightly below last year. The decrease is due to lower yields of winter wheat and barley in the southeastern regions caused by drought,” he said. Speaking about corn, whose harvest begins in September, the deputy minister noted that overall yields are expected to be good, although crops in parts of southeastern Ukraine—Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions—were largely lost. However, the main corn belt—Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kyiv regions, and further west—produced healthy plants thanks to rainfall and favorable temperatures, despite late sowing. “Overall, the national corn harvest is expected to be good, around 28 mln tons, higher than last year,” Vysotsky added, noting that the total projected grain harvest of 56 mln tons matches last year’s level.

Oilseed production is expected to reach about 21 mln tons, similar to 2024, with a slightly higher share of sunflower and a smaller share of soybeans. The deputy minister also highlighted favorable farm-gate prices: “From a farmer’s perspective, prices are high and remain stable even during harvest. Where there were no losses, these prices truly reflect the value of the work on the land.”

Regarding livestock products, Vysotsky reported a stable situation with meat, egg, and milk production. He noted that horticulture suffered losses due to a cold spring: “Yes, there were losses in early fruit crops, but late varieties may perform slightly better, potentially matching last year. Domestic apple prices are expected to decrease soon, as current sales mostly involve last year’s stored produce. By September, prices will begin to change and stabilize by the end of October, depending on the final harvest.”

A similar trend is expected for vegetables. “We are approaching the peak harvest. Prices will respond and decrease, but there is no reason for them to fall below production cost. Vegetables will become more affordable for consumers while still providing a fair economic return for producers,” Vysotsky concluded.

Tags: Ukraine, corn, crop forecast