In the Rostov region, approximately 679 thousand hectares of winter crops have either not sprouted or are in poor condition, according to Olga Gorbaneva, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the region, during a pre-sowing meeting within the framework of the Agro-Industrial Forum of the South of Russia, as reported by RBC Rostov.
The total sown area for the 2025 crop is 2.84 million hectares. Thus, about 24% of the areas have either not sprouted or are in poor condition.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the region, seeds have not sprouted on 210.9 thousand hectares, and on another 467.8 thousand hectares, plants are in poor condition.
Olga Gorbaneva noted that plant development lags behind the average annual norms, and the weather conditions of the spring will play a significant role in crop formation.
"Considering that the main accumulation of moisture in the soil occurs from November to February, the fallen snow has a positive effect. Unfortunately, in some areas, a snow cover on the fields has not formed," the Deputy Minister stated.
Currently, top dressing of winter crops has begun in the region's farms, and mineral fertilizers have been applied to 106.2 thousand hectares, which is 3.7% of the total area sown with winter cereals.
Earlier, Governor Yuri Sliusar, at a pre-sowing meeting, shared information that 92.6% of winter crops in the Rostov region have sprouted.