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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
October 21, 2002
Establishment conditions are unfavorably dry for winter grains in parts of Russia's Southern district, which produces roughly 30 percent of the country's total wheat crop. Estimated surface soil moisture on October 8 was lower than last year in Krasnodar, Stavropol, and southern Rostov. Short-term dryness is not unusual in southern Russia, however, and soil moisture is typically replenished over the winter. In the Central and Volga districts, establishment conditions for winter grains are favorable.
According to Ministry of Agriculture data cited by the Interfax news service, winter grains were sown on 12.2 million hectares by October 5, compared to roughly 13.2 million by the same date last year. The U.S. agricultural attaché in Moscow reports that winter grain area is slated to increase slightly from 2002/03, when 16.1 million hectares were sown. Winter wheat comprises roughly 65 percent of winter grain area, rye 30 percent, and barley 5 percent. Sowing typically continues through early November.
USDA increased estimated 2002/03 Russian grain production to 84.7 million tons (against 85.0 million last year), including 49.0 (46.9) million wheat and 18.5 (19.5) million barley. Harvest was virtually complete by the end of September in the Southern, Central, and Volga districts. In Siberia, cool, wet weather during the growing season boosted yield potential but delayed crop development. As a result, the Siberian harvest is running roughly two weeks behind last year's pace. According to Ministry of Agriculture data reported by Interfax, 13.8 million tons of grain had been threshed by October 7, compared to 17.6 million by the same date last year. The harvest campaign has benefited from dry weather in September and early October, but only about three-quarters of the standing crop had been gathered by October 7. By this time last year, the Siberian harvest was nearly complete.
