Drought and Frost Prompt Agricultural Emergencies in Southern Russias Key Grain Regions

Several key grain-producing areas in southern Russia and the annexed Crimea have declared emergencies in their agricultural sectors due to severe drought conditions and late spring frost.

“Farmers are facing exceptionally harsh weather this year,” wrote Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar in a Telegram message on Wednesday.

His office reported that over 500,000 hectares (1.24 million acres) of crops have been impacted by drought across nearly half of the region’s territory. Ten out of the 43 districts in Rostov, similar to U.S. counties, are currently under an emergency status.

This agricultural emergency permits affected farmers to seek compensation and raises awareness of potential risks to harvest yields. The harvest in the Rostov region is expected to commence in the latter half of June.

Meanwhile, the governor of the neighboring Krasnodar region indicated last week that he is contemplating a similar emergency declaration for northern districts that border Rostov.

Authorities appointed by the Kremlin in the annexed Crimea announced an agricultural emergency on Tuesday affecting at least five towns and districts due to late frosts.

In the Rostov region, while spring frost has also been an issue, it has reportedly been less intense than last year, when adverse weather caused a harvest decrease of over 20%. A frost-related emergency has been in effect in Rostov since May 19.

Southern Russia, along with Belarus and much of Ukraine, remains under drought alerts, as noted in a late-May report from the European Drought Observatory, which highlighted ongoing precipitation deficits.

Despite these weather-related challenges, Russia’s grain harvest is still anticipated to reach 135 million metric tons this year, an increase from 130 million in 2023, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev on Tuesday.

Russia is recognized as the world’s largest grain exporter.