As of now, Russia has harvested approximately 85 million metric tons of wheat and 120 million tons of grain from 90% of the seeded area, according to Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut. The official forecast for this year’s total grain harvest stands at 132 million tons, reflecting an 11% decrease from 148 million tons in 2023 and a 16% drop from the record 158 million tons in 2022.
Key points include:
Adverse weather conditions, including early spring frosts and drought, have affected many grain-producing regions, prompting expectations of a downward revision in the harvest forecast.
The IKAR consultancy has revised its estimate for the grain harvest to 124.5 million tons.
Despite the overall decrease, Lut noted that the quality of the harvested grain is better than last year.
The wheat harvest is projected to be between 86 and 94 million tons, compared to 92.8 million tons harvested last year and a record 104.2 million tons in 2022.
The final estimate for this year’s harvest will be announced on October 10.