Sowing campaign in Russia going well, but too early to talk about harvest forecasts - Deputy PM Patrushev

MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) - The sowing campaign in Russia is going well, but it is too early to make harvest forecasts, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev told Interfax on the sidelines of a national meeting dedicated to the results of the forestry sector's work last year.

"So far everything is fine, we are waiting to see how the sowing progresses further," Patrushev said when answering a question about the progress of sowing and prospects for this year's harvest given the good condition of winter crops. "It is too early yet," Patrushev said regarding harvest forecasts.

The Agriculture Ministry said last week that the sowing of spring crops was underway in 25 regions of Russia, covering 1.8 million hectares, which is more than a year earlier.

According to forecasts, the total sown area will increase by 1 million ha this year, to 83 million ha. Plantings of grains, buckwheat, soybean and rapeseed are expanding.

Russia harvested 141.2 million tonnes of grain in 2025, including 91.1 million tonnes of wheat, compared to 125.9 million tonnes (82.6 million tonnes of wheat) in 2024.