Russia's 2012 grain crop to hit almost 94 million tonnes

The harvest volume will conform to the previous period - 94 million tonnes, according to the forecasts of the Ministry of Agriculture.

All regions of the Russian Federation, except of a few regions of the Siberian Federal District, started the spring field works, stated Elena Skrynnik, Minister of Agriculture of Russia, on April 26.

According to her, agrarians already planted spring agricultural crops throughout the areas of over five million ha, an increase of two million ha compared with the same date last year. The general areas of spring crops will total 51 million ha, including spring grains areas - 30 million ha.

E. Skrynnik noted that winter crops were planted throughout 16.5 million ha, the share of losses totalled 7.5%, which is much lower compared to the indices in 2009 and 2010. Winter rapeseed areas became perished throughout 118 thsd ha, said the Minister.