March 20, 2008

Russia's 2008 total grain acreage increases by 1.9 million hectares

Russia's spring grains acreage for this year will be 31 million hectares, and added with the 16.2 million hectares of winter grains acreage, total grain planting for the year will be 1.9 million hectares more than in 2007, the agriculture ministry announced on Wednesday.

The ministry said winter grains were in a good state and damage wouldn't exceed last year's amounts.

Agriculture minister Alexey Gordeyev said Russia planned to harvest 85 million tonnes of grain this year, 3 million tonnes more than in 2007.