Russia halfway through grain harvest; 41.5 mln tonnes harvested
Russia was halfway through the grain harvest as of August 25. By that date it had harvested grain from 20.2 million hectares, 2.6 million hectares less than a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry reported.
A total of 41.5 million tonnes of grain (bunker weight) was harvested, down from 60.5 million tonnes on the same date last year. The average yield was 20.6 centners/ha, down from 26.5 centners/ha.
Wheat accounted for 29 million tonnes of the grain harvested so far, compared with 39.3 million tonnes at the same stage last year. Wheat has been harvested from 12.6 million hectares (compared with 13.6 million hectares in 2009). The yield declined to 22.9 centners/ha from 28.9 centners/ha. Barley totaling 5.9 million tonnes (compared with 11.2 million tonnes in 2009) has been harvested from 3.3 million hectares (4.3 million hectares). The yield declined to 17.9 centners/ha, down from 25.8 centners/ha.
In the Central Federal District, grain has been harvested from 5.2 million hectares (78% of target), which is 0.8 million hectares less than a year ago. About 9.7 million tonnes of grain was harvested, down from 18.6 million tonnes. The average yield was 18.6 centners/ha (31 centners/ha).
In the Southern Federal District, grain has been harvested from almost 5.5 million hectares (80% of target), which is 0.7 million hectares less than a year ago. A total of 16.8 million tonnes of grain was harvested, down from 18.4 million tonnes. The average yield was 30.8 centners/ha (29.6 centners/ha).
In the North Caucasus Federal District, grain has been harvested from 2.3 million hectares (87% of target), which is 0.147 million hectares less than a year ago. About 7.5 million tonnes of grain was harvested, down slightly from 7.6 million tonnes. The average yield was 30.8 centners/ha (32.1 centners/ha).
In the Volga Federal District, grain has been harvested from about 6.1 million hectares (56% of target). Over 6 million tonnes of grain was harvested, down from 14.5 million tonnes. The average yield was 10 centners/ha.
In the Urals, grain has been harvested from 691,800 hectares (21% of target) and 910,800 tonnes of grain was harvested, down from 225,700 tonnes. The average yield was 13.2 centners/ha compared with 16.1 centners/ha. In Siberia grain has been harvested from 151,500 hectares and 186,600 tonnes was harvested. The average yield was 12.3 centners/ha, down from 20.2 centners/ha.
In the Northwest Federal District, 152,400 hectares of grain were harvested (53.6% of forecast), yielding 308,400 tonnes of grain compared with 230,900 tonnes in 2009. The yield declined to 20.2 centners/ha compared with 29.8 centners/ha.
Rapeseed has been harvested from 285,800 hectares, which is 144,100 hectares more than last year. A total of 441,100 tonnes of rapeseed has been harvested, up from 266,200 tonnes. Yield declined to 15.4 centners/ha from 18.8 centners/ha.
Fiber flax has been harvested from 21,000 hectares compared with 15,100 hectares last year.
Producers in the Southern and North Caucasus districts have harvested more than 1 million tonnes of sugar beets with yields averaging 355 centners/ha compared with 332 centners/ha in 2009.
The Agriculture Ministry forecasts that the grain harvest will total 60 million-65 million tonnes (net weight) in 2010, down from 97 million tonnes last year.
