April 17, 2008

Russia plants spring grains on 3.7 million hectares

Russia planted spring grains on 3.7 million hectares to April 14, which is 12 percent of the planned total area, the agriculture ministry reported Wednesday.

According to the agriculture ministry's reports for 2007, last year spring grains were planted on 3.6 million ha to April 16.

The ministry said clement weather in Russia last week enabled farmers to increase the pace of planting.

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

Gordeyev said 300,000 hectares of land that was not used for grain planting would be reclaimed this year, and would go towards increasing grain harvest together with the use of new technology and mineral fertilisers.