Winter grain crops in Ukraine as of 24, 2014, sprouted on 7.6 million hectares, or 96% of sowed areas, according to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
Out of the crops, 81% on 6.2 million hectares are in good and satisfactory condition, 19% on 1.4 million hectares are in an unsatisfactory condition.
The ministry cited expert estimates that winter grain crops on 319,000 hectares were lost. Most of these areas are located in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions.
Temperatures near zero can cause unwanted wastage of nutritious material and a reduction in crop ability to survive winter. Should temperatures remain higher than average in winter, until the end of December, crops sown at a later date, i.e. after October 15, may sprout. Agricultural meteorologists note that the critical temperature when winter wheat can be damaged in winter starts from 15-17 degrees Celsius below zero, barley crops start from 10-12 degrees Celsius below zero and rye at 17-18 degrees Celsius below zero.
Further changes to the condition of winter crops depend on temperature and the snow cover.
Ukraine sowed 8.97 million hectares with winter crops for 2015, 7% up on 2014, the ministry said. In particular, winter wheat was sown on 6.8 million hectares, winter barley on 1.1 million hectares, winter rye on 149,600 hectares, and winter rapeseeds on 891,600 hectares.
Source - http://en.interfax.com.ua/
