Russia has practically finished its 2011 grain harvesting campaign, reaping 97.8 million tonnes of grain by bunker weight as of November 28, the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday. "As of today, only 290,000 hectares sown with maize remain to be harvested," a ministry statement said.
The grain crop was up from 63.7 million tonnes a year ago, but down from the 101.9 million harvested by the same date in 2009, the statement said. Russia officially expects to harvest 90-92 million tonnes of grain by clean weight this year, up from 61 million in 2010, when it was hit by a severe drought, but less than the 97 million tonnes reaped in 2009.
Bunker weight is normally 5-7 percent above the clean weight, obtained after the grain is cleaned and dried. Final crop data is given by clean weight. The Russian Grain Union industry lobby has estimated this year's grain crop at 92.7 million tonnes. Farmers have harvested a total of 59.4 million tonnes of wheat, up from 43.5 million a year ago, but down from 63.4 million tonnes two years ago.
Farmers have harvested 17.7 million tonnes of barley, up from 8.9 million in 2010 and down from 18.7 million by the same date in 2009, the ministry said. The rice crop was 1.2 million tonnes, up from 1.1 million a year ago and up from 977,900 tonnes in 2009. The maize crop was 5.8 million tonnes by November 28, up from 2.7 million by the same date of 2010 and from 3.1 million two years ago, it said.
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