Russia's autumn-sown grains crops are heading into winter "even worse" condition than five years ago, when losses from cold weather, and summer drought, sent wheat production tumbling, SovEcon warned.
Dry weather has allowed for speedy plantings, with farmers having planted 16.2 Mln ha of grains already, only 300 Th ha short of the government target, and roughly 3 Mln ha ahead of last year.
Some parts of Russia, and western Ukraine, have received less than 20% of normal rainfall over the past 45 days, according to MDA.
However, the dryness has left seedlings ill-developed ahead of freezing temperatures which are setting into the country, with western Russia witnessing "very cold conditions", MDA said, adding that the weather had "stalled wheat germination".
"Cool temperatures will continue in north central Russia, which will likely result in poorly-established fields there," the weather service said.
Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/
