According to Nikolai Leshik, some years favor an increase in grain ear crops, while in other years specific weather conditions are more conducive to the growth and development of corn. «Since corn plants develop over a longer period, and the stages of yield formation and grain filling differ slightly from the calendar stages for ear crops, last year saw higher moisture availability in May and June. That contributed to the formation of the ear crop yield,» he said.

Recently, weather conditions have sometimes been such that for three years in a row, there was a moisture deficit in May and June, but subsequent rainfall allowed corn to produce a decent yield. «This is what shapes what we call a ‘corn year’. There are indications that 2026 will be more favorable for corn yield formation. Therefore, the focus is on increasing corn grain production, and by doing so, we will also fulfill the head of state’s instruction to increase total grain yield to 11.5 million tonnes», Nikolai Leshik said.

«In total, corn, including the forage group, is planned to be sown on about 1.3 million hectares, of which 376,000 hectares will be for corn for grain. That will be 76,000 hectares more than what was harvested for corn for grain in 2025», the head of the main department said.