MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) — Mixed weather in Russia is sustaining concerns over this year’s harvest prospects, the SovEcon consultancy said.
A late spring accompanied by dry weather in some regions in May threatened Russia’s plans to return as the world’s No. 3 wheat exporter after last year’s drought, but there has not yet been any forecast downgrades.
“Condition of winter grains improved slightly in European Russia due to rains at the end of last week and in early of this week,” SovEcon said.
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“But taking into account actual damage and the low level of moisture content in soil in many regions, we are still cautious on winter grain crop prospects.”
SovEcon narrowed its 2013 grain crop forecast to 84 to 89 million tonnes from a previously expected 83 to 89 million tonnes.
Rain was forecast for this week in areas that did not receive moisture last week, which should further improve the outlook for winter grains.
Southern Federal District, the country’s main wheat export region, usually starts the harvesting campaign in late June.
Cool weather delaying Russia’s spring grain sowing campaign also adds uncertainty, it said.
Russia plans to seed 74.9 million acres this spring, of which two thirds had been completed as of May 23.
This is 5.7 million acres less than last year, the agriculture ministry said.
The country has completed spring wheat seeding on 51 percent of the planned area.
“The pace of wheat sowing is at record low,” SovEcon said.
