Ukrainian Farmers Suspend Wheat Harvesting Due to Lack of Storage Space

In Ukraine, the harvest of winter wheat continues; however, farmers in the Odesa region are forced to suspend harvesting due to blocked ports and low prices. Purchase prices for wheat fluctuate between 6,500 and 9,200 hryvnias per ton, depending on the grain class. To achieve zero production costs, the yield must be at least 5 tons per hectare. The Ternopil and Sumy regions show the highest yields of 6-6.5 tons per hectare, while the Odesa region records the largest gross harvest. In the Chernihiv region, farmers are harvesting second-class wheat with a yield of about 6 tons per hectare. Farmers without their own storage facilities are forced to quickly sell grain to baking enterprises. To minimize the consequences of the logistics collapse, the relevant ministry is developing a mechanism for preferential lending to agricultural producers secured by harvested grain, which will allow attracting funds for the autumn sowing campaign and holding products until market prices rise. Direct losses from the impact on port infrastructure could reach 20-30 million dollars.