Since the war in Ukraine started, some farmers have shared difficulties with staffing shortages as some farm workers have left to fight in the war. Even though replacement workers have been brought in to fill these gaps, farmers say that there is no replacement for the experience and efficiency that has been lost with the loss of these workers. Many farmers expect significant financial losses as a result. These labor shortages have been further exacerbating disruptions to Ukraine's grain outputs, as exports and supply chain issues have also been harming agricultural production in the country.
See "In Ukraine, agricultural outputs affected by staffing shortages as farm workers leave to fight in the war", Elizabeth Piper and Pavel Polityuk, Reuters, May 8, 2023