The world needs Ukraine’s grain. Its farmers are running out of reasons to plant

A combine harvester loads mustard seeds into a tractor trailer on an agricultural field on August 25, 2026 in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. Farmers of Sumy region continue to work in the border area, despite massive shelling from Russia. Global Images Ukraine | Global Images Ukraine | Getty ImagesUkraine's harvest season is moving from wheat and barley into corn, soybeans and sunflower, and farmer Oleksandr Chumak has had a strong yield so far. That should be good news. Instead, after 11 years of growing a range of crops in the Odesa region of southern Ukraine, Chumak has had enough. Storage facilities across both Ukraine and Russia are filled with millions of tons of produce that would normally be sent to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa — but are instead trapped in the warring countries. Russian drone and missile hits on Black Sea targets intensified over the summer and into fall, making it impossible to insure commercial ships. Kyiv's retaliatory attacks mean Russian exports are now also stuck, further squeezing global supply.And with fatal Black Sea attacks continuing into October, prospects of a ceasefire look slim, even as Turkey ramps up efforts to broker a deal due to the r...