Russia’s grain belt region at risk for wildfires

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Hot and dry weather is expected to persist in Russia’s agricultural regions, which may prompt wildfires in the coming days.  The Federal Hydrometeorological Centre said that the Southern District faces a very high possibility of wildfires, while Central and Volga Districts are under watch as temperatures are expected to rise.

Russia is the world’s third-largest grain exporter and the Southern District is the country’s grain belt, which accounted for 40% of the wheat crop in 2012. Experts have said that  a lack of rain will likely cut spring grain yields, but if the weather persists for a long period of time it could also cut yields of winter grains. In 2010, wildfires in the region cut a third of the country’s feed crop harvest.

Russia’s wheat export prices have fallen in the past week – ahead of its new crop expected for next month. Grain farmers are hoping for a good harvest this year after many lost about a quarter of last year’s crop due to drought in late May and early June of 2012.