November 5, 2004

Russia Harvested 83.2 Million MT Grain to November 2

Russia harvested 83.2 million metric tons of grain to Nov. 2 in bunker weight, compared with 72.4 million tons on the same date last year, according to an agriculture ministry official from Moscow Thursday.

The grain was harvested on 41.3 million hectares which is 93.1% of the total area.

The wheat harvest to date was 48.1 million, compared with 35.6 million tons on the same date last year. The wheat was harvested on 23 million hectares, 95.1% of the total area to be harvested.

The corn harvest to date was two million tons on 461,300 hectares, 50.7% of the total area to be harvested. On the same date last year 1.45 million tons had been harvested.

The agriculture ministry expects a grain harvest of 73-76 million tons in clean weight.

Russia's 2003 grain harvest was 67.2 million tons in clean weight, declining 22.4% on 2002.