Russia. Hail hit one of the key wheat-producing regions

Heavy hail has hit Russia’s third-largest wheat-producing region, Stavropol Krai, damaging grain crops, the local governor said.

“The crops have been damaged, experts are currently assessing the extent. We will determine further steps based on the results,” Governor Vladimir Vladimirov wrote on his Telegram messenger.

The local Ministry of Emergency Situations in Krasnodar, Russia’s largest grain-producing region, where temperatures rose above 20 degrees Celsius in March, warned that frost and sub-zero temperatures were approaching this week.

“Due to the freezing of the soil surface, the risk of damage and death of crops, including flowers and buds of stone and seed crops, as well as heat-loving plants, is increasing,” the regional ministry said.

The Agriculture Ministry’s analytical center said on Tuesday that after an unusually warm winter, the overall level of crop losses did not exceed 3% nationwide, despite reports late last year that at least 37% of winter crops were in poor condition.

Most analysts still expect Russia’s grain harvest to be around 130 million tonnes, but the Grain Union has estimated this year’s harvest potential at 125 million tonnes.

“In the event of maximum risks, such as a severe drought like in 2010, the drop in volumes could increase to 30% of this level,” said Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Grain Union.