May 22, 2006

Russia lowers harvest estimates by 5 million tonnes due to frost

Russia is likely to harvest 70-73 million tonnes of grain in 2006, compared with 78.1 million tonnes in 2005, the agriculture ministry announced Friday (May 19),  according to Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeyev.

Gordeyev said the forecast was preliminary, with more accurate assessment expected in the second half of June.

The fall in the harvest this year is attributed to unusually severe frosts.

As the spring planting campaign started late this year, especially in Siberia, crops would be vulnerable to cold and rainy weather during harvest, Gordeyev said.