NASA Harvest Releases June 2024 Winter Crop Planted Area and Wheat Production Estimate

As the growing season progresses in Ukraine, NASA Harvest scientists mapped winter cereals and rapeseed across the country in both free Ukraine and occupied territories. Monitoring agricultural production during wartime is crucial to ensure food security and prevent global shortages, which can lead to widespread hunger and additional social unrest. Additionally, NASA Harvest’s analyses help in mitigation planning and allocating resources efficiently to sustain local populations as well as supporting global trade and humanitarian efforts.

The planted areas shown in table 1 were estimated using the occupation lines provided by the Institute for the Study of War as of the 22nd of May 2024:

For each occupation status, forecasted production is estimated assuming the same harvested proportion as in 2023, such that:

Production 2024 = planted area 2024 * (harvested area 2023/planted area 2023) * yield estimate 2024.

NASA Harvest will continue supporting agricultural monitoring efforts throughout the Black Sea region during the conflict given that this area remains a major hub for global agriculture, producing significant quantities of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil, which are essential for food security worldwide. Additionally, the region's fertile soil and favorable agricultural environment make it a key contributor to the global supply of staple crops, impacting food prices and availability internationally.

How to cite this article using these numbers: “NASA Harvest: Becker-Reshef I., Wagner J., Skakun S., Kalecinski N., Qadir A., Nair S., 2024. NASA Harvest Winter Crop Planted Area and Wheat Production Estimate as of June 2024.”