Significant Losses of Winter Crops in Kirovohrad Region: Causes and Consequences

This season, farmers in the Kirovohrad region have suffered substantial losses of winter crops, which has significantly impacted the region’s planting campaign.

This is reported by AgroReview

According to official information from the regional department of agricultural development, February frosts combined with the formation of an ice crust have led to damage of over 113 thousand hectares of winter grains and nearly 26 thousand hectares of rapeseed. Experts emphasize that over 20% of the sown areas have been affected, forcing agricultural producers to begin large-scale replanting and reseeding efforts to compensate for the losses.

The head of the regional agricultural department, Valeria Furmanova, noted that despite the significant scale of the losses, the situation is under control. Currently, agricultural enterprises are completing inspections of the lands and gradually sowing spring crops in place of the lost winter crops.

Climatic Factors and Expert Conclusions

Experts believe that the main reason for the death of winter crops is the lack of a stable snow cover during the severe frosts. According to agronomist Vitaliy Posternak, prolonged frosts of -20 to -25°C, along with soil icing, became critical for the plants.

“Winter wheat, barley, and peas were essentially trapped under the ice crust, leading to oxygen deficiency and mechanical damage to the tissues.”

Main Aspects of the Current Planting Campaign

• Vulnerability of Varieties: The greatest losses were suffered by crops of imported varieties, which turned out to be insufficiently adapted to snowless Ukrainian winters.
• Reseeding Strategy: Farms are actively replacing the lost winter wheat with spring flax and other alternative crops to minimize losses.
• State Support: In 2026, a new agricultural insurance program was launched, covering risks for winter wheat, rye, and barley, which is expected to significantly support farmers in the event of similar weather calamities.
• Scale of Damage: According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, on average across the country, up to 12% of areas may require reseeding, while in Kirovohrad, this figure is significantly higher, complicating the situation in the region compared to other areas.

Industry experts emphasize that the implementation of agricultural insurance as a new form of state support is an important step for the financial protection of agricultural producers in the face of climatic risks in the future.