Russia may declare emergency due to frost impact on crops: Farm minister

Several Russian regions have already declared local emergencies because of the frosts, which have hit crops ranging from grains to apples.

The Sovecon agricultural consultancy said last week it expected Russia’s wheat crop to slip to 82.1 million metric tons this year, below a previous forecast of 85.7 million tons.

Lut said the extent of damage had not yet been calculated in cash terms.

The head of Russia’s Grain Union said on May 27 that some 1.5 million hectares of crops had been damaged.

TASS news agency separately quoted Lut as saying Russia would find other markets for its grain after the European Union said last week it would impose prohibitive tariffs on cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus from July 1, a move the bloc said would halt imports of these products.