Russia's spring grain sowing region narrows

As of April 26, Russia had sown 3.1 million hectares of spring grains which is 814,000 hectares less from the same date a year ago due to  a late spring, the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday (Apr 26).

Russia officially plans to harvest 97 million tonnes of grain this year, the same amount as in 2008, but analysts expect the actual crop to be lower than estimates.

The ministry said sugar beet had been sown on 616,000 hectares by April 26, or 60% of the targeted area, sunflowers on 487,000 hectares, 8% of the target, and corn on 215,000 hectares, or 12.5% of the target.

The ministry did not provide comparisons to acreages sown a year ago.