Farmers in southern Russia may lose up to 25% of their crops due to drought

Crop losses of grain, corn and sunflower due to drought in some regions of southern Russia may amount to up to 25% compared to 2024. This was reported to Izvestia by the People's Farmer Association, which assessed the situation after the introduction of emergency situations due to abnormally hot weather in the Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region and Crimea.

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"The situation in the Rostov region is probably one of the worst today. The emergency mode has already been introduced in 21 districts. And in the Krasnodar Territory — at nine. Currently, the yield is around 46 quintals per hectare, while last year it was around 62 quintals. That is, it is a minus of more than 25% compared to last year," Konstantin Yurov, deputy chairman of the association, explained to Izvestia.

He explained that the emergency regime was introduced based on the effects of drought on grain crops, primarily wheat and barley.

"But it is already clear that the harvest of row crops, corn and sunflower, will also suffer. There will be practically no such crops in areas where an emergency regime has been introduced. However, according to our observations, this situation is now being recorded in more areas where the emergency regime has not been introduced. Therefore, there will be a large shortage of crops," Konstantin Yurov noted.

As an example, he cited data from the authorities of the Krasnodar Territory, who estimated losses at 2.8 million tons of grain and leguminous crops. The association is now more concerned about what will happen to farms that have received lower yields for wheat and barley, and practically did not receive them for corn and sunflower.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Grain message: farmers in the south of Russia may lose up to 25% of their crops due to drought