Lead

Russian farmers have reported a robust start to the grain harvest, with over 4.5 million tons of grain threshed since the beginning of the year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev. Speaking at a meeting on seasonal field operations, Patrushev said that harvesting has begun in 16 regions across the country. The announcement came as the Russian Agriculture Ministry reported an average yield this year that is 1.5 times higher than at the same time last year, signaling a promising start to the campaign.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, carried multiple reports on the harvest progress. In an early June report, the Agriculture Ministry said that farmers had harvested 1.24 million tons of grain from the new crop, with operations completed on 279,700 hectares. The average yield stood at 44.5 centners per hectare, one and a half times higher than the previous year's figure.

A subsequent report in July, quoting Deputy Prime Minister Patrushev, raised the harvest figure to more than 4.5 million tons, with operations underway in 16 regions. Patrushev noted the campaign had "kicked off" and that "more than 4.5 million tons of grain have been threshed."

More recently, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut provided updated numbers, saying that farmers have gathered more than 21 million tons of grain since the beginning of 2026. However, Lut acknowledged the harvest is "running behind schedule," lagging by about 2.5 million hectares in grain harvesting. She attributed the delay to slower sowing caused by heavy rains, particularly in the Central Federal District where rainfall has prevented farmers from starting their harvest.

Despite the setbacks, Lut expressed optimism, noting "good physical volumes and potentially strong harvests." She also said that while Siberia's harvest will be somewhat lower this year, southern regions that underperformed last year are "performing very well this year" and will likely compensate for the shortfall. "Once again, this happens every year - some regions underperform while others exceed expectations. We are a large country," she said.

Key Claims

  • Harvest volume: Over 4.5 million tons of grain harvested since the beginning of the year, as reported by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev.
  • Harvest area: Harvesting operations are underway in 16 regions, according to the same report.
  • Initial figures: Farmers harvested over 1 million tons of grain from the new crop, with an average yield of 44.5 centners per hectare, as reported by the Russian Agriculture Ministry.
  • Yield increase: This year's average yield is 1.5 times higher than last year's, per the Ministry.
  • Historical context: In 2025, Russia harvested over 144 million tons, the third-largest grain volume in the country's history, according to the Ministry.
  • Updated harvest: More than 21 million tons of grain have been harvested since the beginning of 2026, per Agriculture Minister Lut.
  • Delay cause: The harvest is running behind schedule due to heavy rains, as stated by Minister Lut.
  • Domestic and export: Russia fully meets its domestic demand and has strong export potential, as asserted by Minister Lut.

Perspectives

Russian Government

The Russian government, through the Agriculture Ministry and senior officials like Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patruhev and Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut, expresses confidence in the harvest campaign. They highlight the positive yield data and emphasize that despite the rain-induced delays, the country sees good physical volumes and strong export potential. Officials also note that domestic demand is fully met, underscoring stability in the agricultural sector.