Russia's winter grains are in a better condition than last year, Anna Strashnaya, head of the agricultural department at state weather forecaster Hydrometcentre, said in comments which may help allay concerns over next year's crop. Russia harvested more than 102 million tonnes of grains in 2015 and officials are yet to issue their estimate for the 2016 crop. Some analysts have warned over the risk of damage to next year due to a lack of rain.
The condition of winter grains in several regions was improved by rains in October through November and by warm weather in November, Strashnaya told Reuters. As of November 25, about 89 percent of winter grains are in good or satisfactory condition, while 11 percent are in a poor condition, according to her estimate. "This is better than last year, but worse than a five-year average of 8.5 percent (of poor winter grains)," Strashnaya said. Last autumn about 16 percent of winter grains were in poor condition. Russian farmers have cut winter grain sowing due to dry weather in several regions this year.