Experts note that the crops went into winter not in the best condition, but there is still hope that their harvest will be good.
The harvest of winter crops this season may be good or even record-breaking, many experts believe.
However, the situation is complicated by the fact that before wintering, in some fields, the germination of winter crops was not good enough, and in a number of regions that occupy leading positions in grain production in Russia, it has warmed up this winter, and the snow has melted in the fields.
This creates certain risks.
Firstly, frosts may well set in before the end of winter, which are dangerous for crops in the absence of snow cover and can lead to the death of a significant part of them.
Secondly, the absence of snow in the fields in winter usually means insufficient moisture in the spring, which can lead to drying out of the soil and difficulty in plant vegetation.
At the same time, an even more significant problem, as analysts note, is the decline in grain prices. It has led to many large agricultural producers abandoning the idea of sowing a significant amount of winter crops, as a result of which the area under them has decreased.
For this reason, the harvest this season may be significantly smaller than in the previous one, even under favorable weather conditions.
There are also additional risks.
For example, there are reports that in the southern regions of Russia there was a late sowing of winter crops, and the fields were not treated with herbicides, so there is a risk that the crops may be damaged by weeds.
In addition, a warm winter leads to the fact that weeds begin to grow, and by spring they may well enter a phase that will be resistant to further treatment with herbicides. The crops themselves also begin vegetation, spending vital energy on this, which may reduce their strength by spring.
There is also information that in some regions, a significant number of rodents are observed in the fields where winter crops are grown.
This can also worsen the condition of crops and ultimately reduce the yield.
Experts emphasize that the current situation is quite ambiguous and can easily change for the better or for the worse.
For example, if frosts hit the central part of Russia, a significant part of the harvest may freeze.
At the same time, experts note that the germination of winter crops on the eve of winter was still better than in many previous years, so there is still hope for a good harvest.
But, as always, a lot will depend on the weather conditions in the spring and summer, which are very difficult to predict.
