MOSCOW - Weather conditions have improved for Russia's 2021 grain crop after it rained in several regions last week, Sovecon, a leading agriculture consultancy in Moscow, said in a note on Monday.
Farmers in Russia, one of the world's largest wheat exporters, have been sowing winter wheat in dry soil this year, increasing risks for the 2021 crop.
"Weather conditions are improving gradually," Sovecon said, adding that good rains were observed in Russia's southern, Black Earth and Volga regions last week.
This week is expected to be relatively dry with light rains in several regions.
"The temperature forecast remains very friendly for farmers. With temperatures of 2-4 Celsius above normal in the next two weeks, winter wheat has more precious time to germinate before winter," Sovecon added.
Earlier in October Sovecon said the dry weather could reduce Russia's winter wheat sowing area by 10-15%, though weather conditions have improved since then.
Farmers have already sown winter grains for next year's crop on 94% of the planned area, or on 18.0 million hectares, up from 17.6 million hectares around the same date a year ago, according to the agriculture ministry.
(Reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by Tom Balmforth, Kirsten Donovan) ((Polina.Devitt@thomsonreuters.com))
