January 27, 2011

Russia's 2011 grain yield may boost by 40% on-year

Russia's 20011 grain crop is seen to grow 40% to 85-87 million tonnes from 60.5 million tonnes in 2010 when the worst summer drought scorched one-third of the country's planted region, an official said.

Winter crops should yield 42 million tonnes, while the spring sowing harvest will stand at 45 million tonnes, so the overall harvest is to be between 85-87 million tonnes, given favourable weather conditions, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Korolyov said.

The deputy agriculture minister noted that such grain harvest would be sufficient to meet domestic needs and maintain the exports potential. He confirmed the Federal State Statistics Service forecast that the 2011 winter crops loss will not exceed 1.6 million hectares (3.95 million acres).