Russia's Agriculture Ministry could adjust forecast for 2024 grain harvest, awaiting regional outlook

MOSCOW. Sept 23 (Interfax) - Russia's Agriculture Ministry could adjust the forecast for the grain harvest for this agricultural year, with the ministry estimating the haul at 132 million tonnes, including 84 million tonnes of wheat, to date.

"The regions must submit their respective final estimates for the expected harvest by the end of this week to the Russian Agriculture Ministry for an adjustment of the forecast," the ministry said in a statement following a meeting chaired by Oksana Luth, the agriculture minister.

Russia has so far harvested 105.9 million tonnes of grain, including 77.7 million tonnes of wheat, from 78% of the sown area. "The harvest is falling behind in the Urals, Siberia and the Volga region due to difficult weather conditions. Overall, 10.6 million hectares of grain crops remain to be harvested in the country, including 8 million hectares in the Volga, Ural and Siberian Federal Districts," the ministry said.

Luth said the priority was to complete the harvesting campaign in full with minimal losses. In addition, Roshydromet has been asked to improve the system of agrometeorological support for seasonal field work.

The Russian Agriculture Ministry has not changed its forecast yet, despite adverse weather conditions this year. Grain market experts have changed their estimates several times, and these are now lower than official forecasts. The Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) said in early September that the grain harvest this year could be 125 million tonnes, including 82.2 million tonnes of wheat. The ProZerno company predicts a harvest of 126 million tonnes, of which 82.8 million tonnes wheat.

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