ODESSA, May 30 – About 99% of all crops in Ukraine are in good condition, Serhiy Melnyk, the deputy agriculture minister, said during the Zhnyva-2008 meeting in Odessa on Friday.

He said the winter crop sowing campaign may start as early as June 20.

He also confirmed the grain forecast for 2008 at 40 million tons. He also said that 13 million tons of grain, including 8 million tons of wheat, the yield of which in 2008 is forecasted at 19 million tons, would be exported.