Drought Emergency Declared in Southern Russia and Crimea Amid Harvest Concerns

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

“Farmers are facing extremely challenging weather conditions this year,” Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar stated on Telegram on Wednesday.

His office reported that drought has resulted in the loss of over 500,000 hectares (approximately 1.24 million acres) of crops across nearly half of the region. Currently, ten of Rostov’s 43 districts, similar to U.S. counties, are under an emergency regime.

This agricultural emergency enables affected farmers to seek compensation and raises awareness about potential threats to harvest expectations. Harvesting in Rostov is anticipated to commence in the latter half of June.

In the adjacent Krasnodar region, the regional governor mentioned last week that he is contemplating a similar emergency declaration for northern districts that adjoin Rostov.

Authorities installed by the Kremlin in the annexed Crimea announced an agricultural emergency on Tuesday in at least five towns and districts impacted by late frosts.

The Rostov region was also affected by spring frosts, though they are reported to be less severe than last year, when the harvest declined by over 20% due to harsh weather conditions. A frost-related emergency has been active since May 19 in this area.

According to a report from the European Drought Observatory at the end of May, southern Russia, Belarus, and much of Ukraine are still under drought warnings, citing ongoing deficits in precipitation.

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

Russia holds the position of the world’s largest grain exporter.