Russia: grain production in clean weight to total 60.35 mln tonnes

The rates of agricultural production volumes decrease in Russia become slower, stated the monitoring of the social-economic situation in the Russian Federation, published by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation on December 22.

It is announced that in November 2010, agricultural commodities production in the country decreased by 4% compared to the November 2009, according to the preliminary data. The production volumes faced an increase during the third month in a row, excluding the seasonal and calendar factors. In November, the increase totaled 4.5% compared to October, stated the estimation of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

According to data of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in January-November of 2010, there was slowdown of the increase of agricultural commodities production rates. Thus, production of agricultural commodities volumes totaled 256.9 bln RUR at the current prices in farming enterprises of all the categories in November 2010, and decreased by 4% compared to the same period of the last year. During the period of January-November of 2010, the index decreased by 12.4% (2289.5 bln RUR).

Plant growing production volumes decrease also effected at agricultural commodities production volumes decrease, caused by the summer droughts in the essential part of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

According to data of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, in 2010 grain and leguminous plants were harvested throughout 33.3 mln ha (98.7% of the general harvesting areas, and 78% by 2009). The average yield totaled 19.3 c/ha (23.9 c/ha in 2009), grain production volumes totaled 64.2 mln tonnes, and decreased by 37.7 mln tonnes, or 37% compared to the last year level. Winter and spring wheat production volumes totaled 43.6 mln tonnes, the yield reached the level of 20.3 c/ha.

Grain production volumes in clean weight will possibly total 60.35 mln tonnes in the current year.

Barley, millet, buckwheat production decrease was caused by the yield decrease in the terms of the harvested areas decrease; sunflower, sugar beet and maize fall of production – caused by the yield decrease; rapeseed – caused by harvesting areas decrease.

Rice production volumes increased by 160 thsd tonnes, which was caused by the yield increase and sowing area increase.

Winter grains were sowed throughout 15.5 mln ha, which totals 99.7% to the forecasted sowing areas for the harvest-2011, and 82.4% to the areas, sowed by winter crops last year.

It is also noted that rather unfavorable weather conditions in 2009-2010 negatively effected the financial condition of agricultural producers, which caused the decrease of machinery renewing rates.

Ukraine: Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers regarding export issues of the certain varieties of agricultural products comes into force

The Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No2274-r “Certain issues of exports of several varieties of agricultural commodities” dd. November 29, 2010, came into force. The document was published in the newspaper Uriadovyi Courier dd. December 23, 2010.

According to the Decree, as it was previously announced, the Cabinet of Ministers ordered to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the State Customs Service to coordinate export processes of grains to the CIS countries, Georgia and Macedonia, which have the signed agreements about free trade with Ukraine.

Previously, the Ministry of Economy offered to cancel grain export quotas to the countries, having the signed agreements about free trade with Ukraine, till 2011.