Warm April to favour Russia's grain sowing campaign

Warm and dry weather during April will favour a spring grain sowing campaign in Russia, bringing some relief after heavy snowfall, data from the state forecaster showed on Monday. Russia lost a quarter of its grain harvest due to drought last year and needs a good crop to cover domestic demand and return as a major wheat exporter this year.
Temperatures will be above normal levels in all leading grain regions during April, a map produced by the State Hydrometeorology Agency showed. Precipitation will be in line with the seasonal average in all key regions, excluding Russia's South where it is expected to be lower. Recent heavy snowfall over parts of Ukraine and Russia may jeopardise this year's spring barley crop if the two countries are forced to push back sowing, analysts and weather forecasters said last week.