Sunflower crop losses in Southern Russia may exceed expectations

Rostov Oblast in Russia could lose up to half of its sunflower crop due to unfavorable weather conditions. The southern, Priazov, and central zones of the region, where the majority of sunflower seed cultivation is concentrated, have been hit the hardest. According to RBC Rostov, Anatoly Kolchik, director of the region’s Grain Union of Agricultural Producers, reported these findings. He estimates that the yield could drop by a third to half compared to last year.

Experts have also noted a decline in the quality of this year’s sunflower crop. In the northern zone of Krasnodar Krai, adjacent to Rostov Oblast, sunflower seed yields are estimated at only 3–7 centners per hectare, with 6,000 hectares of crops completely lost. For comparison, according to Rosstat, last year’s average sunflower seed yield in Rostov Oblast was 16.7 centners per hectare, with a total harvest of 1.57 million tons.

Dr. Nikolai Zelensky, a professor of agricultural sciences, stated that sowing sunflowers this year was impractical due to low soil moisture levels. “How can we talk about yield when the sunflower head diameter is only 2–3 cm, and plant height is 50–60 cm? Many farms are forced to write off and disc their fields without even harvesting,” he emphasized.

In Krasnodar Krai, experts report losses of about a quarter of the wheat crop, with potential losses of grain and legume crops estimated at 2.8 million tons. Of the 497,600 hectares of sunflower fields, 143,400 hectares are in poor condition, and 5,600 hectares have been entirely lost. These issues significantly impact the region’s agricultural sector.

The drought affecting southern Russia, parts of Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Turkey has led to a rise in sunflower oil export prices in July. Prices increased by $25–45 per ton, depending on the country of origin, reflecting the impact of weather conditions on the market.

Tags: drought, sunseed, crop forecast, Russia