Russian Wheat Planting Going Well

Russia’s farmers begin to plant their winter wheat crop in September for harvest the following spring. Current satellite measurement of evapotranspiration indicates conditions suitable for successful planting, and if regional weather continues to cooperate, the world will face a bumper Russian crop in 2018. The USDA already expects a record crop and record exports, but local commentators are calling for an even larger surplus. Anecdotally, they say that Russian farmers have taken advantage of low costs to plant greater acreage than previously. If their 2018 predictions pan out, wheat farmers worldwide will have to compete with a wave of cheap Black Sea exports in the spring and summer next year. Watch weather conditions on Gro as Russian wheat goes into dormancy for the winter, and again when it emerges next year.