© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian flag is covered with grains in this picture illustration taken May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) – Only 1-2% of the Ukrainian winter wheat crop will not survive the current winter, the agriculture ministry said on Sunday, citing data from scientists.

Winter wheat accounts for more than 95% of Ukraine’s overall wheat output. During winter, up to 7% of the winter sowing area usually dies, mainly due to heavy frosts and ice crust on fields, but the winter has been milder this year.

Farmers sowed about 4.2 million hectares of winter wheat for the 2024 harvest.

“The results of plant regrowth… showed that the survival rate of winter cereals (wheat, rye) was 98-99%,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added that up to 5% of winter barley was also damaged this winter.