According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, the country’s agriculture ministry has stated that the regions hit by frosts in May will re-sow the crops that were killed by the cold weather.
Three of Russia’s key grain-growing areas – Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Tambov, which are part of the country’s fertile Black Earth region – have already declared a state of emergency due to the severe damage caused to crops by the May frosts. This is expected to reduce Russia’s grain harvest this year.
The agriculture ministry was quoted by TASS as saying, “The killed crops will be replanted, all necessary resources are available for this.”
Russia is one of the world’s top grain producers and exporters, and any significant reduction in its crop production can have a significant impact on global grain supplies. Analysts have already lowered their forecasts for Russia’s 2024 grain harvest due to dry weather in the south, but the full impact of the recent frosts has not yet been included in these projections.
The move to re-sow the damaged crops is an effort by the Russian government to mitigate the potential shortfall in grain production. However, the success of this effort will depend on various factors, including the availability of suitable planting conditions and the ability of farmers to quickly replant the affected areas.
The news of the re-sowing plan comes as a relief, as it suggests that Russia is taking proactive steps to address the crop damage caused by the frosts and minimize the impact on its overall grain production and exports.