Half of Harvests in Crop Giant Ukraine Could Be Wiped Out by War

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.

Russia’s invasion is happening at a crucial time for crops. Ukrainian farmers have just started planting corn and sunflowers, progress of which is being hobbled by field mines and a lack of fuel and fertilizers. For wheat that was sown months before the war, a chunk of the area is occupied by troops.

With ports mostly shut, farmers are also considering switching to crops more suited to local consumption than for export. ...