August 12, 2008

Russia harvests 53 million tonnes grain to date

Russia has harvested 53 million tonnes of grain in bunker weight this year, with 34 percent of the total area to be harvested, Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeyev was quoted Monday (August 11).

Gordeyev said the amount of grain harvested was 12.5 million tonnes more than last year. He added that the average yield to date was 20 percent higher than a year ago at 3.32 tonnes a hectare.

Gordeyev also said this year's grain harvest would be Russia's largest for 15 years.

The Agriculture Ministry said earlier it expected this year's grain harvest to be 85 million tonnes in clean weight, 3 million tonnes more than in 2007.