Russia harvests 135 mln t of grain in bunker weight so far, including 93.5 mln t of wheat - Agriculture Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - Russia is nearing the end of its harvest season and has so far brought in 135 million tonnes of grain in bunker weight, before drying and cleaning, which is 9 million tonnes more than a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry reported.

This includes 93.5 million tonnes of wheat and 20.5 million tonnes of barley, respectively 7.8% and 15.4% more year-on-year.

The core, rice and buckwheat harvests are actively underway.

Grain and grain legume crops have been harvested from about 42.5 million hectares, or 93% of the total crop area, the ministry said. The average yield is up by almost 15%, including 14% for wheat and 22% for barley.

The ministry is forecasting that the country will harvest 135 million tonnes of grain in clean weight, including 90 million tonnes of wheat.

"An absolute record is expected for grain legume crops - at least 7 million tonnes. Such amounts will make it possible to not only fully cover the country's domestic needs, but also ship about 50 million tonnes of grain to foreign markets in the current season," the ministry said.