Russia’s ‘Huge’ Spring Wheat Delays Risk Lowering Harvests

Heavy rains and colder-than-usual weather in Russia have resulted in the worst start to spring planting in many years, risking lower wheat harvests in the world’s top exporter of the grain.

Some 1.3 million hectares of spring wheat were planted in the country’s southern region as of last week, less than half of what was planted at the same time last year, according to agriculture ministry estimates obtained from two local traders. They asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak to the media.