Ukrainian Farmers Turn to Off-Spec Grain Amid High Wood Pellet Prices

Ukrainian farmers are turning to off-spec grain and grain-cleaning residues as an alternative fuel for crop drying due to high wood pellet prices. Wood pellets currently cost between UAH 9,000 and UAH 18,000 per ton in Ukraine, significantly more than feed wheat and corn.

The Hanze Agri grain elevator in Sumy region has already used corn-cleaning waste for crop drying, while Kernel is considering this option as well. Sunflower seed has the highest calorific value among the main crops at around 24 MJ/kg, while sunflower husks generate 16.5-18 MJ/kg.

According to calculations by Ukravit founder Vitaliy Ilchenko, assuming 80% boiler efficiency, useful heat costs around UAH 1.9/kWh when generated from wheat or barley, UAH 2.1/kWh from corn and UAH 2.8/kWh from sunflower seed.

The approach is primarily considered suitable for crops that cannot be sold for food use, damaged grain and cleaning residues rather than marketable food-grade grain.