Russian Harvest Prospects Hurt

WASHINGTON - Oct 7/06 - SNS -- Russian's grain production prospects were hurt by harvest delays in Siberia and the Urals, with the result total output could drop 300,000 metric tons (MT) to around 72.6 million, according to a report from the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

As of September 25, 36.3 million hectares were harvested, or 84.6% of the expected grain harvest area, according to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture's weekly report. Roughly 74.4 million MT of grain has been harvested, 3.0 million MT less than by the same date last year.

The rate of harvest in the Central Russia and Volga Valley federal districts increased during the week of September 17 due to improved weather. However, yields and crop quality had already suffered from month-long rains. The rates of harvest in the Ural and Siberian federal districts are extremely low due to rains in these regions.

Wheat production across the country is forecast at 41.0 million MT, and barley at 17.5 million MT. Total grain exports are forecast at 9.6 million MT, including 7.6 million MT of wheat and 1.9 million MT of barley, while imports, primarily wheat from Kazakhstan, are forecast at 2.4 million MT.

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