Ukrainian farmers forced to revise crop structure for the 2026 season

Despite a relatively stable set of crops in the grain balance, the 2026 season will require different approaches. Market conditions, climate factors, and government regulations are pushing farmers to reconsider their crop structure. This was stated by Suzana Hryhorenko, Executive Director of the Seed Association of Ukraine.

In particular, the current year is expected to see a decline in soybean acreage due to the introduction of a 10% duty, additional costs for obtaining certificates of origin, low global prices, and weather-related risks. At the same time, corn production volumes are not expected to decrease, as stable external demand continues to make the crop attractive for planning. Sunflower is set to remain the leading crop in the planting structure, as it remains profitable to grow and relatively easy to market both domestically and internationally.

Alongside traditional crops, farms are increasingly willing to plant new ones in response to changing consumer demand. In recent years, areas under flax, coriander, chickpeas, lentils, as well as sweet potatoes and asparagus, have been expanding. These crops are becoming more popular not only on the domestic market but also globally, amid steadily growing demand for healthy food and spices.

For farmers, this trend offers not only an opportunity to enter new sales markets but also a way to partially diversify risks and offset losses during challenging seasons.

In addition to niche crops, farmers are paying increasing attention to forage grasses and cover crops. The most common among them are alfalfa, clover, sainfoin, sweet clover, and birdsfoot trefoil. Growing these crops helps improve crop rotation and soil structure, partially replace mineral fertilizers, and further diversify production risks.

A separate area of development is the production of forage grass seeds. There is already demand for recognizing the equivalence of Ukrainian seeds in EU countries, while obtaining OECD and ISTA certificates could pave the way for increased exports.

Tags: Ukraine, corn, soybean, sunseed, sown area