Farm Policy News

Emma Bubola, Valeriya Safronova and Maria Varenikova reported in today’s New York Times that, “In the past six weeks, Russian shells have destroyed Ukrainian cities, homes, hospitals and schools. But the war has also reached deep into the fertile plains of a region known as Europe’s breadbasket, paralyzing harvests, destroying granaries and crops, and bringing potentially devastating consequences to a country that produces a large share of the world’s grain.”

In a report last week, “The Ukraine Conflict and Other Factors Contributing to High Commodity Prices and Food Insecurity,” the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) indicated that, “A number of factors have converged over the last 18 months to send global agricultural commodity prices to near-record levels.”

Bloomberg writer Megan Durisin reported today that, “Harvests of some of Ukraine’s most important crops could be cut in half this year, threatening its position as a major exporter and exacerbating already tight global supplies.”

Saabira Chaudhuri reported in today’s Wall Street Journal that, “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked a global shortage of sunflower oil that has in turn pushed prices of other edible oils to record highs, hitting food makers and consumers already grappling with inflation.”

DTN writer Russ Quinn reported yesterday that, “Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the last week of March 2022 are moving significantly higher again. All fertilizers were higher with some double digits higher compared to last month.”

Bloomberg writers James Poole, Megan Durisin, and Kim Chipman reported earlier today that, “Wheat futures in Chicago extended their climb from the lowest close in a month on Friday on prospects for more sanctions on Russia in response to allegations of war crimes in Ukraine.” 

Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported yesterday that, “Ukrainian grain exports in March were four times less than February levels, due to the Russian invasion, the economy ministry said on Sunday.”

Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported yesterday that, “Ukraine’s agriculture ministry on Saturday revised up its forecast for the area to be sown to 2022 spring crops, giving no reason for the new outlook.”

Reuters writer Leah Douglas reported yesterday that, “Two senators are joining farm groups and other lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow farmers to plant conserved acres this spring in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported yesterday that, “Ukrainian farmers have sown about 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) with various spring crops by Thursday, or a tenth more than by the same date last year, despite the Russian invasion, deputy agriculture minister Taras Vysotskiy said.”

Bloomberg writers Jasmine Ng and Claudia Maedler reported today that, “Global food security faces ‘serious threats’ from a combination of soaring prices, fertilizer shortages and a potential loss of production due to the war in Ukraine, according to Syngenta Group.”

Bloomberg writers Megan Durisin and Allison Nicole Smith reported yesterday that, “Benchmark wheat and corn futures tumbled by the maximum allowed in Chicago trading as Russia signaled it may ease its attack in some parts of Ukraine, one of the world’s key sources of grain.” 

Bloomberg writer Elizabeth Elkin reported yesterday that, “Fertilizer prices continue to spike to records as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine puts a massive portion of the world’s fertilizer supply at risk, adding to concerns over soaring global food inflation.”

Reuters writer Natalia Zinets reported yesterday that, “Ukraine’s new agriculture minister Mykola Solskyi on Saturday said Ukraine’s ability to export grains was getting worse by the day and would only improve if the war with Russia ends.”

Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported yesterday that, “Major global grain grower Ukraine has sown the first 150,000 hectares of spring crops amid the Russian invasion which could sharply reduce the sowing area, the country’s deputy agriculture minister said on Friday.”

Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove reported yesterday that, “President Joe Biden said that the world will experience food shortages as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and production increases were a subject of discussions at a Group of Seven meeting on Thursday.”

Bloomberg News reported yesterday that, “The European Union is proposing a 1.5 billion-euro ($1.65 billion) funding package for farmers, plus freeing up fallow land for crops as it seeks to shore up food security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported yesterday that, “Ukraine’s spring crop sowing area may more than halve this year from 2021 levels to some 7 million hectares, its Agriculture Minister Roman Leshchenko said on Tuesday, versus 15 million hectares expected before the Russian invasion.”