«Sugar beet sowing campaign has begun throughout Ukraine. Traditionally, this year "sweet" sowing moves from the west to the east of Ukraine. In Lviv, Ternopil and Volyn regions separate farms have already completed sugar beet sowing, however, other farms have not yet decided on the harvested areas and the beginning of the sowing. The vast majority of farms are planning to start sowing in the first decade of April», — comments Vasyl Dolinsky, the analyst of the commodity markets and agriculture of «Ukrsugar» Association.

He says, low soil moisture after winter makes agrarians resort to such urgency. Beet farms have to sow in cold soil and beware of frosts in hopes of getting the maximum benefit for the seedlings. Agronomy services claim that such a risk is justified, because according to the last year's experience, part of the sown seeds could not grow out due to beet sowing in dry soil. 

Recall that according to the forecasts of the Analytical Department of «Ukrsugar» Association, in the current marketing year sugar beet harvested area will amount to 220-230 thousand hectares, which is almost four times less than last year. First of all, this is due to the fact that in two years of global sugar surplus, world prices for sugar and, accordingly, raw materials reached the historic minimums.

«This year Khavst-Agro» plans to sow 750 hectares of sugar beet, reducing its harvested area by 100-150 hectares due to the crop rotation. In Volyn region soil and climatic conditions are good, the soil has enough moisture. In general, low sugar prices and high costs became the main reason for reduction in sugar beet acreages», — explained Andriy Yasnytskyi, «Khavst-Agro» LLC.