October 29, 2010

Russia's 2010 grain output to reach 64 million tonnes

Grain production in Russia will total 63.5-64 million tonnes in bunker weight this year, while the 2011 output will reach the level of nearly 85 million tonnes, said Elena Skrynnik, the minister of agriculture of the Russian Federation.

In 2010, the grain production in clean weight in Russia is expected at the level of 60.5 million tonnes. According to the minister, the country produced 62.7 million tonnes of grains to date. The government will provide the final estimations of the harvesting campaign results in early November.

Taking into account the carry-over stocks, the overall grain supply in 2010 will total nearly 87 million tonnes, which are sufficient volumes for the domestic requirements of the country, with carry-over stocks for the following year amounting to 13 million tonnes.

The minister informed that as of to date, sowing of winter crops has covered an area of 14 million hectares, while complete sowing areas of winter crops totalled 15.5 million hectares, falling short of an earlier government estimate of 18 million hectares.

Winter grains production volumes in 2011 are forecast to reach 40 million tonnes. Russian farmers have to increase spring crops sowing areas in 2011 from the level of 28.5 million to 35 million hectares, Skrynnik urged.