Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Russia: winter crop planting rates far behind last year's
According to operative information of Russian farm ministry, as of September 20 this year Russia's farming businesses (this refers to organised farming enterprises only) sowed winter crops on a total of 8 million hectares, the rate lagging behind that of last year by 0.9 million hectares.
In Southern Federal District the planting rate is slower by 1 million hectares from that of last year. Such major grain growing regions as Rostov and Volgograd planted by 428,000 and 507,000 hectares lass grain than as of the same date last year, accordingly. Sowing is also lingering in Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais (vast wheat producing regions in south of Russia).
The lag in sowing campaign is due to unfit weather conditions: lack of rain, needed for proper water reserves in soil.