Cold spring hits wheat and barley yields in Russia

The Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) has lowered its forecasts for wheat and barley production in Russia for the 2026/2027 season due to delays in fieldwork caused by adverse weather conditions. The most significant challenges are reported in the central regions and the Volga area, where farmers were unable to start the planting campaign on time.

According to IKAR CEO Dmitry Rylko, the wheat production forecast has been revised down from 91 million to 90 million tonnes. At the same time, export potential has been reduced from 47.5 million to 46.5 million tonnes, which could affect Russia’s position on the global market.

Barley production estimates have also been cut — from 19 million to 18 million tonnes, while exports are expected to decline from 5.5 million to 4.5 million tonnes. The main reason for the downgrade remains the significant delay in fieldwork due to unfavorable weather, increasing risks for yields in the current season.

Tags: barley, wheat, crop forecast, Russia