April 13, 2012

Russia's winter-grain sowings recover on warm weather, rains

Winter-grain plantings in southern Russia's major growing areas are recovering due to the rain and warm weather, according to the country's forecaster.

Most of the winter crops in the Southern Federal District are in "good condition," said Anna Strashnaya, head of the agricultural forecasts department at the Federal Hydrometeorological Center in Moscow. About 5-30% of the plants are weak and thin, down from as much as 50% in the last 10 days of March, she said by phone today.

Crops in some parts of North Osetia-Alania Republic, Stavropol and Rostov are in bad condition and may require re- planting, she said, adding the winter grain death rate in all of the southern regions will be lower than last year.

The weather will be warmer than average and rain will support good soil moisture in Russia's south through to April 20, Strashnaya said. In the eastern part of the North-Caucasus federal district dry, hot weather may decrease the soil moisture level during that period, she said.

Last year, Russia's Southern and North-Caucasus federal districts harvested about 35% of the country's grain crop, or about 33 million tonnes, according to state statistics data.