Russia declares farm emergency in Tomsk region because of crop damage

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MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has introduced a state of emergency for the farm sector in the Tomsk region of Siberia because of weather damage to crops, the regional governor said on Friday.

Vladimir Mazur said damp, cold weather had caused waterlogging, and crops had been destroyed on almost 3,000 hectares.

He said announcing a state of emergency would enable farmers to claim for compensation. Russia declared similar emergencies in a number of other regions earlier this year after damage from May frosts.

Mazur ordered local officials to clarify the extent of damage and “do everything possible to complete the harvesting campaign”.

“When good weather sets in, harvesting should continue around the clock,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said on Aug. 20 that Russia may harvest less wheat than forecast – the first cautious official acknowledgment of the weather damage earlier in the year.

Lut said the ministry maintained the official forecast of 132 million metric tons for the total grain harvest, including 86 million tons of wheat, but the wheat forecast could be lowered as the harvesting campaign draws to a close.

Agricultural consultancy Sovecon said on Aug. 30 it had cut its forecast for Russia’s 2024 wheat crop to 82.5 million metric tons from 83.3 million.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan and Anastasia Teterevleva; Editing by Mark Potter)