Russia’s sowing campaign for the 2026 autumn harvest will take place in “difficult conditions” as an “extreme” combination of a severe drought and lack of rain impacts farms, officials have admitted. The agricultural region of southern Russia, which accounts for a large portion of the country’s winter grain harvest, has been impacted for a second year, resulting in low moisture reserves in the soil. Growers are resorting to switching to new technologies and drought-resistant seeds, with weather tests compounded by increased costs for seed, fuel and fertilisers.
Russian state news service Interfax reports that this growth is reportedly 15-20%, according to estimates. Deputy Governor of the Rostov Region Sergei Bodryakov told the outlet: “Don farmers are on the threshold of the autumn sowing campaign, some have already gone out into the fields. In the north of the region, some farms are already sowing winter wheat and rapeseed. As of today, 20,000 hectares have been sown.
“In other zones, soil preparation is being completed.”
He also stressed that the agrometeorological situation remains difficult.
“There is practically no precipitation,” Bodryakov said.
“Nevertheless, we need to sow.
“To help farmers, Don scientists have developed scientific and production recommendations for sowing winter wheat in dry conditions in relation to natural and climatic zones.”
Andrey Neduzhko, CEO of Agroholding Steppe, said: “The start and pace of field work directly depend on current weather conditions.
“[We currently have] high air temperature and lack of moisture in the soil.
“That is why the final decision on the start of sowing in a specific area of a specific region is made based on online monitoring.”
He added: “The agroholding adheres to a flexible, adaptive approach to the sowing campaign.
“The company’s specialists proceed from the fact that the main task is to create optimal conditions for obtaining a future harvest, so the calendar dates are very flexible.”
Russia is expected to reap 87 mln metric tons of wheat this year, CEO of the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies Dmitry Rylko told another of the country’s news services, TASS.
He said: “The new regions will add 2.5million metric tons to Russia’s wheat harvest.
“That’s 84.5million metric tons plus 2.5 mln metric tons of grain from new territories.
“The drought there in the new territories is on a par with the one experienced in the Rostov Region. Harvest shortfalls are on account of that.”