KIEV, UKRAINE — Ukraine’s 2013 grain forecast is estimated at 57.1 million tonnes, an increase from the record high grain production volumes of 56.7 million tonnes from the 2011-12 market year, analysts from APK-Inform Agency said on Aug. 20.

Analysts increased the estimations of the general grain harvest mainly due to the growth of the maize production forecast. 

Favorable agro-climatic conditions in the summer have improved the grain yield, APK-Inform said. Experts increased the yield index from 5.29 tonnes per hectare, expected in June, to 5.95 tonnes per hectare. 

As a result, the grain production forecast was increased from 23.9 million tonnes, expected in June, to 26.2 million tonnes. At the same time, the forecast index significantly (up 14.6%) exceeds the record harvest of maize in Ukraine, made in 2011 (22.8 million tonnes). The estimation of maize planted and harvested areas remained unchanged.

As for the forecast of other grain crops, the indices were slightly increased compared with the June estimations: wheat production is forecast at 21.4 million tonnes (as opposed to 20.5 million tonnes in June) with the average yield of 3.25 tonnes per hectare and barley is forecast at 7.3 million tonnes (7.15 million tonnes) with the yield of 2.31 tonnes per hectare.