Russia: 18.9 mln ha of spring grain sown as of May 19, 2009

According to Russia’s agriculture ministry, Russian farmers have sown 18.9 mln ha with spring grain as of May 19, 2009 which represents 61% of the intended 31.0 mln ha. At the same date last year, 20.0 mln ha or 63% had been sown.
Corn sowings stood at 1.3 (last year 1.4) mln ha or 61% of the intended 2.1 mln ha. Sunflower sowings were done on 4.3 (4.8) mln ha or 81% of the intended 5.3 mln ha. Spring rapeseed has been sown on 270,000 (312,000) ha and soybeans on 162,000 (200,000) ha.
(Reuters, May 19, 2009)