MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia forecasts its 2026 grain harvest will reach approximately 140 million tonnes as the season concludes. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced that farmers had collected more than 126 million tonnes by October 2. By that date, they had threshed about 90% of the planted grain area. The government also anticipates oilseed production to total around 35 million tonnes for the year. These latest figures suggest the harvest is close to the official full-year projection.
Throughout the autumn harvest period, the national grain volume has steadily increased. Russia had gathered 113.5 million tonnes by early September and 120 million tonnes by September 18, with over 90 million tonnes of wheat included in that amount. Oilseed output has now reached roughly 15 million tonnes. In addition, farmers in the organized sector have harvested nearly 4.5 million tonnes of potatoes and a similar amount of vegetables. Officials highlighted that yields across most crop categories remain above their 2025 levels.
The Ministry of Economic Development projects a slightly higher grain yield for 2026, estimating around 141.8 million tonnes. Rosstat’s data shows a 2025 harvest of 141.2 million tonnes within its territorial coverage. Additionally, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut cited a 2025 total of 144.6 million tonnes during a government meeting in April, marking it as the third-largest grain harvest in the country’s history. Russia produced nearly 130 million tonnes of grain in 2024, offering a recent benchmark for this season.
Harvest activities near their end
Patrushev noted that the pace of harvesting aligns with the government’s current expectations for the crop. Throughout the autumn fieldwork, authorities have maintained several support measures, including allocating about 10 billion rubles to subsidize grain transportation from major production regions. Export duties on grain have been suspended through the end of 2026, and export duties on vegetable oil and meal are capped at August levels. These policies are still in effect during the final phase of the 2026 harvest.
Winter sowing has already covered more than 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 stated that farmers aim to sow over 19 million hectares with winter crops. They also emphasized the importance of machinery, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies during this seasonal period. Farmers are actively preparing while completing the remaining 2026 harvest across grain, oilseed, vegetable, and potato-growing regions.
Production levels remain high by recent standards
Russia’s grain output has been near historically elevated levels in recent years. The country harvested approximately 143 million tonnes in 2023, and in 2022, production peaked at 157.676 million tonnes, a record figure. The current forecast of about 140 million tonnes is below those totals but still exceeds the nearly 130 million tonnes collected in 2024. Since harvesting is still ongoing in some regions, officials have not finalized the 2026 figure. The ultimate national total will depend on reports from the remaining harvest areas.
The overall 2026 crop includes oilseeds, vegetables, and potatoes. Production of oilseeds is expected to reach around 35 million tonnes for the full year. As regions complete seasonal fieldwork, vegetable and potato harvests continue. Meanwhile, farmers are expanding winter planting efforts for the next cycle. The Russian government has yet to publish a definitive grain total, but its current projection remains about 140 million tonnes, with the latest reports already surpassing 126 million tonnes.