Ukraine Wheat Farmers Struggle with Economic Difficulties
Ukraine's wheat farmers are struggling to turn a profit this season despite relatively strong harvest results. According to industry estimates, yields below 5 tons per hectare (t/ha) are on the verge of profitability, but only if the grain meets at least Grade 3 quality standards.
Oleksiy Bovdyr, head of Skif LLC, confirms that farmers harvesting 4.5-5 t/ha of wheat at current purchase prices around UAH 6 thousand per ton are essentially breaking even. Food-grade wheat can be sold for approximately UAH 6.2 thousand per ton.
However, harvest results remain strong in many regions, with Svitanok Stari Maiaky in Odesa region reporting its best result in 15 years at 5.5 t/ha and Agrein in Cherkasy region averaging 7 t/ha with some fields reaching up to 8 t/ha.
Moisture shortages have prevented western Ukrainian farms from fully realizing their yield potential, with average wheat yields normally reaching 7-8 t/ha. Disruptions to port logistics caused by Russian attacks and higher costs for fertilizers, crop protection products, fuel, and other inputs have weakened export demand and increased production costs.