November 15, 2004

Russia Harvests 83.6 Million MT Grain To November 8
 
Russian farmers harvested around 83.6 million metric tons of grain in bunker weight to Nov. 8, or 15.2% more than at the same time in 2003, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday, the news agency Prime-Tass reported.
 
Grain had been taken from 98% of the total planted area.
 
The average yield has so far amounted to 2.02 tons per hectare, compared with 1.92 tons/ha a year ago. Wheat accounted for 48 million tons of the total grain harvest, or 35% more than a year earlier. The average wheat yield amounted to 2.09 tons/ha, up from 1.78 tons/ha a year before.
 
The State Bread Inspectorate found that as of Oct. 14, the share of superior milling wheat (3rd class) amounted to 31%, down from 40% a year ago. The share of all milling varieties stands at 72%, almost unchanged from 73% a year before.
 
The government expects Russian grain output at 76 million tons in clean weight, up from 67.2 million tons in 2003. Wheat output is expected at around 43 million tons, up from 34.1 million tons in 2003.