Russia’s ‘Huge’ Spring Wheat Delays Risk Lowering Harvests

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(Bloomberg) — Heavy rains and colder-than-usual weather in Russia have resulted in the worst start to spring planting in many years, risking lower wheat harvests in the world’s top exporter of the grain.

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Some 1.3 million hectares of spring wheat were planted in the country’s southern region as of last week, less than half of what was planted at the same time last year, according to agriculture ministry estimates obtained from two local traders. They asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak to the media.

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The crop, which is planted through early June and harvested from August to October, accounts for almost a third of Russia’s wheat output. The slump comes at a time when the US crop is also at risk from a prolonged drought, while high energy and fertilizer costs are piling on pressure on farmers elsewhere.

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Overall, the Russian spring wheat area — which includes the Central region and Siberia — is set to drop by about 5% to 10.5 million hectares for the 2026-27 season, the lowest in two decades, according to preliminary estimates from Moscow-based consultancy IKAR. Many farmers have been switching to more lucrative oilseeds, according to the organization.

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“We have huge problems with sowing of our spring wheat and spring barley,” IKAR director, Dmitry Rylko, said at a presentation at the GrainCom conference in Geneva this week. “In some sites we have never ever, for the last 25 years, had such a delay.” 

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While the extent of the damage is yet to be fully assessed, a serious delay would hit harvests and exports, he added. 

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Russia’s Agriculture Ministry doesn’t disclose the pace of plantings on a regular basis and did not respond to an email and phone calls seeking comment.

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In April, the ministry had acknowledged that the sowing campaign had been delayed due to unusual weather conditions, but said that late sowing could allow for a large harvest.

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Last month, temperatures were 3-7C below normal across most of the western parts of the country, according to the Russian Hydrometeorological Center.

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Apart from delaying planting, the colder than usual weather has slowed plant growth and root development — a concern because crops need strong roots to reach for water deeper into the soil, according to Arkady Zlochevsky, president of the Russian Grain Union, which represents growers and exporters.

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There are other weather worries weighing on the wheat crop too.

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In May, with sowing season underway, heavy rains have fallen in southern Russia, the Urals and the Volga region, according to the Russian Hydrometeorological Center. Apart from delaying planting, this could also spell trouble for the winter wheat that is usually harvested from June. 

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“Everything depends on the weather,” Zlochevsky said by phone. If farmers do not have enough time to collect crops, it could cause more losses, he added.