Grain harvest grows, but selling is difficult: Mykolaiv region farmers collect 2.8 million tonnes

Farmers in Mykolaiv region increased their harvest in 2026, but farms lack the funds to continue operating. The main problem remains selling the produce they grow. According to the briefing on November 11.

Volodymyr Afanasiev, chief specialist in the Department of Agricultural Production at the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, presented the season’s results at the November 11 briefing. According to preliminary estimates by the regional administration, agricultural production increased by 32% compared with last year. Crop production was the main contributor to this result.

“In terms of actual production figures, we harvested 2.8 million tonnes of grain, which is 800,000 tonnes more than last year,” said Volodymyr Afanasiev.

In addition to grain, the region harvested:

• sunflower — 600,000 tonnes;
• potatoes — 140,000 tonnes;
• fruit — 15,000 tonnes;
• grapes — 17,000 tonnes.

According to the official, the improved results were achieved thanks to soil cultivation technologies that help retain moisture. The area planted with winter crops was also expanded by 40,000 hectares. These crops mature before the hottest period begins.

“Despite the significant harvest, selling the produce they grow remains the most pressing issue for farmers,” said Volodymyr Afanasiev.

According to him, problems with ports and falling purchase prices are preventing farms from fully marketing their produce. At the same time, farms are forced to spend more on fuel and fertilisers, which are becoming more expensive.

The previous season was weaker for the region across most major crops. According to the regional statistics office, in 2025 the grain and legume harvest totalled 2.04 million tonnes, or 6.8% less than the year before. Average grain yields fell for the third consecutive year, from 39.1 centners per hectare in 2023 to 29.1 centners in 2025.

The sunflower harvest saw the sharpest decline that year: 385,000 tonnes were harvested, almost 51% less than in 2024. Harvests of vegetables, potatoes, and fruit and berries also declined.

Volodymyr Afanasiev spoke about difficulties selling this year’s grain as early as August. At the time, purchase prices for wheat and barley fell from 9,000–11,000 to 5,000–7,000 hryvnias per tonne. Russian strikes on ports and damage to terminals were narrowing export opportunities.

Nadiia Ivanova, head of a seed farm, said at the time that grain prices had fallen by more than 40% in two to three weeks. Rising fuel prices also increased the cost of transporting grain along alternative export routes.

Not all farms could hold on to their harvest until prices improved. Some farmers did not have their own storage facilities or grain elevators, while Russian attacks damaged or destroyed part of the infrastructure.

Later, Taras Vysotsky reported that Ukrainian farmers’ financial reserves had shrunk by 60%. In his estimate, farms had around five billion dollars in available funds at the beginning of the year, but by October 1 they had around two billion. Due to the shortage of funds, farmers may limit their purchases of fertilisers and crop protection products ahead of the spring sowing campaign in 2027.

We previously reported:

• Farmers may run short of money for sowing: Ukrainian farmers have lost 60% of their reserves
• A big harvest, but no profit: wheat in Odesa region has nearly halved in price
• Agro exports rose by almost one and a half times in the first 20 days of September despite port restrictions
• Wheat and barley prices in Mykolaiv region fell to UAH 5,000–7,000 per tonne amid Russian attacks on ports
• Catastrophic crop losses in Mykolaiv region: over 100,000 hectares of crops destroyed by drought and frost!