A severe heatwave in July has prompted warnings from the Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC) that the 2024 corn harvest could decline by approximately 6 million metric tons compared to last year’s figures. While the UAC did not provide a specific total for the expected harvest, it aligns with forecasts from the Ukrainian grain traders union (UGA), which estimates a 2024 corn harvest of 23.4 million tons, down from 29.6 million tons in 2023.
Denys Marchuk, the deputy head of the UAC, indicated that corn yields in many regions could drop by about 30% due to adverse weather conditions. In contrast, the acting farm minister has a more optimistic view, suggesting that the late crop yield might only decrease by up to 15% in most areas.
Analyst group APK-Inform noted that while temperatures have slightly decreased in late July, the overall conditions remain unfavorable for the yield of late crops. The prolonged high air and soil temperatures, coupled with a lack of precipitation, have intensified drought conditions, adversely affecting the growth of corn, sunflowers, buckwheat, and soybeans. Reports indicate signs of premature drying and twisting of leaves in these crops, with some plants experiencing complete drying or death.