Russian Agriculture Ministry reports gross grain crops

The gross grain crop will be at least 85m tons in Russia this year, SeniorDeputy Agriculture Minister Anatoly Mikhalyov reported today at the publichearings of the Russian Trade and Industrial Chamber. The Senior DeputyAgriculture Minister was quoted as saying a total of 63.8m tons has alreadybeen produced this year, while the average grain crop was 0.95 tons/acre.In the Krasnodar region of Russia 8.15m tons of grain were produced withthe average grain crop of 1.91 tons/acre, in the Stavropol region - 6.15tons with the average grain crop of 1.30 tons/acre, in the Rostov region -6.4m tons with the average grain crop of 1.08 tons/acre. The AgricultureMinistry official reiterated that in 2001 the gross grain crop was 85.2mtons in Russia, and 5m tons of grain were exported. Mikhalyov also pointedout in 1913 Russia produced 80 tons and exported 10.5m tons of grain.According to the data of the Grain Union of Russia, Russia's cultivatedarea was 116.6m acres in 2001, while this figure is expected to rise up to119.6m acres in 2002. The cost of a ton of grain was RUR1,200 in 2001,while the selling price was RUR1.810. The rate of return was 42 percentlast year. .