Russia keeps 2025 grain harvest at 135 mln tonnes, including 88 mln tonnes of wheat - deputy PM

MOSCOW. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Russia's grain harvest for 2025 remains unchanged at 135 million tonnes, including 88 million tonnes of wheat, Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

"Harvesting is actively moving forward. This year's grain yield is exceeding last year's by 10%. Based on this, we can afford to set the grain forecast at 135 million tonnes, and we expect to harvest 88 million tonnes of wheat," he said.

The wheat harvest was previously forecast at 90 million tonnes.

At the same time, grain harvests in Russia have consistently exceeded 120 million tonnes for six years, Patrushev said. "This has become possible largely due to systemic state support and the introduction of advanced technologies," he said.

"But alongside this, we have the task of significantly increasing production by 2030. Therefore, we are now looking for various solutions and seeking new points of growth. This includes harvesting two crops from one field, and we are already implementing such technologies, as well as prioritizing support for key areas," he said.

The industry is also beginning to "effectively respond to weather challenges, including through the use of special aircraft for artificial precipitation enhancement," he said. This year, an aircraft from the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) operated in Stavropol Territory, which allowed the region's farmers to obtain a good harvest. "We will replicate this practice in regions subject to drought phenomena," Patrushev said.

Speaking about the winter crop sowing, Patrushev said that it is proceeding quite actively. "According to plans, its area should be about 20 million hectares. This is comparable to the area sown with winter crops last year," he said. "Farmers have the necessary resources, we are monitoring all of this. I note separately that the Agriculture Ministry and the Energy Ministry are in constant dialogue, monitoring fuel availability. Agricultural machinery is also generally available, and various programs continue to operate to stimulate its purchase, both through the Industry and Trade Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry."

The acquisition of plant protection products and mineral fertilizers also currently presents no issues, he said.

The production of mineral fertilizers in Russia should exceed 65 million tonnes by the end of the year, he said. "That is, we are fully supplied with this product, while new investment projects are also being implemented. And now about 70% of fertilizers go for export," he said. "Simultaneously, in the domestic market, the government in dialogue with fertilizer producers continues to restrain prices for this product. Essentially, it is through such large-scale external supplies that the industry's businesses receive their main profits. This makes it possible to ensure the price affordability of mineral fertilizers for our agricultural producers."