Grain Crop from Black Sea Countries To Be 168.5 MMT
12 June 2014 
Though there is a drought in Western Russia, grain crops in Central Russia are benefiting from rainy and wet conditions. Photo credit: Flikr user dmitryku. Creative Commons license.
Total grain crop in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan combined is expected to be 168.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) for the 2014-2015 harvest because weather conditions, Ukrainian consultancy UkrAgroConsult explained in a news release.
Grain yields in Russia are likely to be high. Central regions are experiencing a much-needed rainy spell. The country has seen an increase in spring planting of 1.5 million hectares over last year, according to the company.
Though Western Russia is in the midst of a drought and winter crops fell short of projections, crop estimates range from 90 to 100 MMT, explained UkrAgroConsult, with the firm’s own predictions at 97 MMT. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Andrey Volkov announced a predicted harvest of 96.8 MMT in June.
Mild weather could continue to benefit grain crops in Ukraine. However, although winter crops withstood winter temperatures, yields are pegged at 54 MMT and are unlikely to be as robust as previously expected, explained the company.
Drought in Kazakhstan is a key contributor to delays in spring planting, specifically a decrease in wheat and a 20% decrease in grain overall since last year, according to the consultancy’s web site. Citing a June report from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, the firm explained that the total expected area planted with grain fell 9% short of projections, with the North Kazakhstan region showing the largest decrease and favoring oil crops instead of grain. However, according to the report, scientists are confident that soil conditions will be ideal through spring in this region, Akmola and Kostanay. They predict soil moisture will be satisfactory in West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Pavlodar and Karaganda and will vary in East Kazakhstan.
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