MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia projects its 2026 grain yield to reach approximately 140 million tonnes as farmers wind down the season. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev reported that farmers had collected more than 126 million tonnes by October 2, having threshed about 90% of the planted grain area by then. The government also expects oilseed output to hit around 35 million tonnes this year. These latest figures indicate the harvest is nearing the official full-year forecast.
Throughout the autumn harvest period, the national grain collection has steadily increased. By early September, Russia had gathered 113.5 million tonnes, and by September 18, the total had risen to 120 million tonnes, which included over 90 million tonnes of wheat. Oilseed production has now reached roughly 15 million tonnes. Additionally, farmers in the organized sector have harvested nearly 4.5 million tonnes of potatoes and a similar amount of vegetables. Officials noted that yields across most crop categories continue to surpass their 2025 levels.
The Ministry of Economic Development in Russia estimates a slightly higher 2026 grain crop at about 141.8 million tonnes. Rosstat’s data shows a 2025 harvest of 141.2 million tonnes within its designated territorial coverage. Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut separately mentioned a total of 144.6 million tonnes for 2025 at an April government session, marking it as the country’s third-largest grain harvest. Last year, Russia produced nearly 130 million tonnes of grain in 2024, serving as a recent comparison for the current season.
Harvest activities advance toward completion
Patrushev highlighted that the current harvesting pace aligns with the government’s crop expectations. To support the autumn fieldwork, authorities have maintained several measures. They allocated about 10 billion rubles to subsidize grain transportation from major production regions and suspended grain export duty payments through the end of 2026. Additionally, export duties on vegetable oil and meal remain capped at August levels. These policies continue to underpin the final stages of the 2026 harvest season.
More than half of the planned area for winter sowing has already been covered. Officials have urged regional authorities to monitor planting closely, especially for winter grains. The Agriculture Ministry previously indicated that farmers plan to sow over 19 million hectares with winter crops. They also emphasized the importance of machinery, seeds, fertilizers, and other supplies during this period. Farmers are actively preparing for these tasks while finishing the remaining harvest of 2026 across various grain, oilseed, vegetable, and potato regions.
Recent standards indicate high output levels
In recent years, Russia’s grain output has remained near historic highs. The country harvested around 143 million tonnes in 2023 and reached a record 157.676 million tonnes in 2022. The current forecast of about 140 million tonnes is below these totals but remains above 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 reporting from the remaining harvest areas.
The broader 2026 crop includes oilseeds, vegetables, and potatoes. Officials expect oilseed production to reach roughly 35 million tonnes for the full year. Meanwhile, vegetable and potato harvesting continues as regions complete their seasonal fieldwork. Farmers are also expanding winter planting for the upcoming cycle. The Russian government has yet to release an official final grain total, but its current projection remains about 140 million tonnes for 2026, with the latest harvest already surpassing 126 million tonnes.