March 6, 2009
Russia increases winter grain planted area for 2009 harvest
Russia planted winter grains for the 2009 harvest on 17.1 million hectares, which is 300,000 hectares more than last year, the agriculture ministry said late Wednesday (March 4).
The winter grain planted area comprises 13.8 million hectares wheat, 2.4 million hectares rye, 600,000 hectares barley and 300,000 hectares triticale.
The spring grain planted area this year is planned at 31.3 million hectares, the same as last year, the agriculture ministry said.
In 2008, Russia harvested 108.1 million tonnes of grain, 32.6 percent more than in 2007.
President of the Russian Grain Union Arkady Zlachevsky said earlier Russia was likely to harvest at least 80 million tonnes of grain this year, and the harvest could reach 100 million tonnes if conditions were favourable.
