Russia's Agriculture Ministry retains forecast for grain harvest at 132 mln tonnes in 2024, including 86 mln tonnes of wheat

MINERALNYE VODY. June 21 (Interfax) - Russia's Agriculture Ministry retains the previous forecast for the grain harvest at 132 million tonnes this year, including 86 million tonnes of wheat, though abnormal weather could result in significantly adjusted expectations, Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth told reporters on Friday at the All-Russia Field Day in the Stavropol Territory.

"It has been very dry for the past month-and-a-half in the southern regions and in the central part of Russia, namely that we first had a freeze, and then it was very dry. The situation could of course significantly adjust our expectations in principle. However, we have retained our forecast for the harvest at 132 million tonnes of grain for the time being; 86 million tonnes of wheat and 28 million tonnes of all oilseeds," Luth said.

"We will continue to monitor the weather, and the grain is currently gaining volume while it has rained," she said.

Luth recalled that frosts have damaged crops on more than 1 million hectares. "However, our agricultural producers have been able to re-sow the vast majority of areas in time, though not always with grain, but with other crops. Nevertheless, the situation has not affected the volume significantly," she said. "Therefore, we will continue to watch, though we believe that we could harvest 132 million tonnes."

Luth said that the overall harvest would depend not only on the southern and central regions, "but also, of course, on Siberia".

"The situation in Siberia this year is quite good. We expect a good harvest there," she said.

Russia harvested 144.9 million tonnes of grain in 2023, including 92.8 million tonnes of wheat.