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2026-02-18 17:22:56
[Cold Wave Sweeps Ukraine, Threatening Winter Wheat and Rapeseed Harvests] ⑴ The Ukrainian Agricultural Union stated on Wednesday that recent warmer weather leading to snowmelt followed by a cold wave has caused ice crusts to form on farmland in most areas, potentially damaging winter wheat and rapeseed harvests. ⑵ Ukraine is one of the world's major wheat exporters, with winter wheat accounting for approximately 95% of the country's total wheat production. Winter wheat is sown in autumn and harvested the following summer, with higher yields than spring wheat. The sown area for winter wheat to be harvested in 2026 is approximately 4.5 million hectares, the same as last year. ⑶ Since the beginning of January, Ukraine has experienced record-breaking low temperatures, with parts of the west, north, and central regions covered in snow. Warming temperatures over the weekend caused the snow to melt, flooding farmland, which then refreezed to form ice. The Agricultural Union warned that this weather risk could lead to "significant adjustments" to the harvest. ⑷ Currently, the Ukrainian National Meteorological Agency has not commented on the specific impact of this frost damage on the harvest. The market will closely monitor subsequent weather changes and crop condition assessments.
