The Russian Ministry of Agriculture estimates that area sown to spring grains and legumes in 2001 will be 35.8 million hectares, including 14.0 million hectares sown to wheat, 11.0 million hectares of barley, 3.0 million hectares of oats, 0.9 million hectares of corn for grain, and 2.8 million hectares sown to legumes, buckwheat and millet. Thus, excluding the re-sowing of winter grain, total planted area is estimated at between 49.0 million to 50.0 million hectares for the 2001 crop year, a 6 percent increase from record low levels in 2000. Final production is expected to be strongly related both to the weather and the effectiveness of regional agricultural policies and farm management. Given normal weather, grain production is forecast to be stable or to expand in Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais, in Tatarstan, and in West and East Siberia. The spring sowing already started in Krasnodar Krai, in Stavropol and in some republics of the Northern Caucasus.
Early indications are that farmers are well-prepared for sowing.
Total grain production increased by 20 percent from 1999. 2000 total rice production was 586,000 tons, up from 1999 s 444,000 tons. Area sown to grains and legumes in 2000 was 45.6 million hectares, the smallest area in the post war period, and 2 percent lower than in 1999. However, production of grain and legumes increased by 20 percent, reaching 65.5 million tons. The total harvested area was 42.2 million tons, based on data provided for the first time by the State Statistical Committee.