MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia anticipates its 2026 grain harvest will reach approximately 140 million tonnes as farmers draw the season to a close. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev reported that farmers had gathered more than 126 million tonnes by October 2, with roughly 90% of the planted grain area already threshed. The government also forecasts oilseed output to be around 35 million tonnes for this year, positioning the latest figures close to the official full-year projection.
Throughout the autumn harvest period, the national grain total has steadily increased, with Russia having collected 113.5 million tonnes by early September and over 120 million tonnes by September 18, which included more than 90 million tonnes of wheat. Oilseed production has now reached approximately 15 million tonnes, and in the organized farming sector, nearly 4.5 million tonnes of potatoes and a similar amount of vegetables have also been harvested. Officials highlighted that yield levels across most crop categories remain higher than those recorded in 2025.
The Ministry of Economic Development estimates a slightly higher 2026 grain harvest at about 141.8 million tonnes. Rosstat’s data shows a 2025 harvest of 141.2 million tonnes within its territorial coverage, while Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut cited a separate figure of 144.6 million tonnes at an April government meeting, making it the country’s third-largest grain harvest to date. Russia produced nearly 130 million tonnes of grain in 2024, serving as another recent benchmark for this season’s performance.
Progressing harvest activities support crop expectations
Patrushev indicated that the current pace of harvest work aligns with the government’s projections for the season, emphasizing that several support measures remain in place during this critical period. Authorities have allocated approximately 10 billion rubles to subsidize grain transportation from key production regions, while also suspending grain export duty payments until the end of 2026. Additionally, export duties on vegetable oil and meal are capped at August levels. These measures form part of the ongoing policy framework guiding the final stages of the 2026 harvest.
Winter planting has already covered over half of the planned area for the upcoming agricultural cycle, with officials urging regional authorities to closely oversee the sowing process, particularly for winter grains. The Agriculture Ministry previously stated that farmers intend to plant more than 19 million hectares with winter crops and underscored the importance of machinery, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies during this seasonal operation. Meanwhile, farmers continue their preparations and work toward completing the remaining harvest of 2026 in the regions producing grain, oilseeds, vegetables, and potatoes.
Recent production levels remain comparatively high
In recent years, Russia’s grain output has maintained close to record levels, with about 143 million tonnes harvested in 2023 and a peak of 157.676 million tonnes in 2022. The current forecast of approximately 140 million tonnes is below these figures but still surpasses the nearly 130 million tonnes collected in 2024. Since harvesting is ongoing in some regions, officials have yet to finalize the 2026 total; the ultimate figure will depend on complete reports from all remaining harvest zones.
The broader 2026 crop season also encompasses oilseeds, vegetables, and potatoes. The official outlook suggests oilseed production will reach around 35 million tonnes for the year, while harvesting of vegetables and potatoes continues as regions finish their seasonal fieldwork. Simultaneously, farmers are expanding winter planting efforts for the upcoming cycle. The Russian government has not yet issued an official final grain total, but its current projection remains near 140 million tonnes for 2026, with already reported harvest figures exceeding 126 million tonnes.
}**}**