MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia anticipates its 2026 grain harvest to reach approximately 140 million tonnes as farmers wind down the season. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev noted that farmers had gathered over 126 million tonnes by October 2, with about 90% of the planted grain area already threshed. The government also projects oilseed production to total around 35 million tonnes this year. These latest figures align closely with the official full-year forecast.
Throughout the autumn harvest period, the national grain yield has steadily increased. By early September, Russia had collected 113.5 million tonnes, rising to 120 million tonnes by September 18—a figure that included more than 90 million tonnes of wheat. Oilseed output has now climbed to roughly 15 million tonnes. Additionally, farmers in the organized sector have harvested nearly 4.5 million tonnes of potatoes and an equivalent amount of vegetables. Authorities have stated that crop yields across most categories remain above their 2025 levels.
The Ministry of Economic Development forecasts a slightly higher 2026 grain crop of approximately 141.8 million tonnes. Meanwhile, Rosstat’s data for 2025 records a harvest of 141.2 million tonnes within its defined territorial coverage. Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut separately cited a 2025 total of 144.6 million tonnes at an April government meeting, designating it as the country’s third-largest grain harvest. Russia’s grain output in 2024 was nearly 130 million tonnes, serving as a recent benchmark for the ongoing season.
Progressing Towards Harvest Completion
Patrushev stated that the pace of harvesting aligns with the government’s current expectations for crop yields. During the autumn field season, several support measures have remained in effect. Authorities allocated around 10 billion rubles to subsidize grain transportation from key producing regions. Additionally, the government extended the suspension of grain export duty payments through the end of 2026 and maintained export duties on vegetable oil and meal at August levels. These policies continue to underpin the final stages of the 2026 harvest campaign.
Winter sowing has already covered over half of the planned area for the upcoming agricultural cycle. Officials have urged regional authorities to monitor planting closely, especially for winter grains. The Agriculture Ministry previously indicated that farmers intend to sow more than 19 million hectares with winter crops. They also emphasized the importance of machinery, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies during this seasonal work. Farmers are actively preparing for the next cycle while completing the remaining harvest of 2026 across grain, oilseed, vegetable, and potato regions.
Production Levels Remain High by Recent Standards
In recent years, Russia’s grain output has remained close to record highs. The 2023 harvest was approximately 143 million tonnes, while 2022 saw a peak at 157.676 million tonnes. The current forecast of around 140 million tonnes is below these totals but still above the nearly 130 million tonnes collected in 2024. Since harvesting is ongoing in some regions, officials have not yet finalized the 2026 total. The ultimate figure will depend on the reports from the remaining harvest areas.
The overall 2026 crop includes oilseeds, vegetables, and potatoes. Oilseed production is expected to reach about 35 million tonnes for the full year. Harvesting of vegetables and potatoes continues as regions complete seasonal field operations. Simultaneously, farmers are expanding winter planting efforts for the upcoming cycle. The final national grain total has not been officially released, but the current projection remains around 140 million tonnes, with already reported harvests surpassing 126 million tonnes.