Sunflower crop losses in Southern Russia may exceed expectations

Rostov Oblast in Russia could lose up to half of its sunflower crop due to unfavorable weather conditions. The southern, Priazov, and central zones of the region, where the majority of sunflower seed cultivation is concentrated, have been hit the hardest. According to RBC Rostov, Anatoly Kolchik, director of the region’s Grain Union of Agricultural Producers, reported these findings. He estimates that the yield could drop by a third to half compared to last year. Experts have also noted a decline in the quality of this year’s sunflower crop. In the northern zone of Krasnodar Krai, adjacent to Rostov Oblast, sunflower seed yields are estimated at only 3–7 centners per hectare, with 6,000 hectares of crops completely lost. For comparison, according to Rosstat, last year’s average sunflower seed yield in Rostov Oblast was 16.7 centners per hectare, with a total harvest of 1.57 million tons. Dr. Nikolai Zelensky, a professor of agricultural sciences, stated that sowing sunflowers this ...