EkoNiva Group, Russia’s largest dairy holding, announces the start of cash crop and commercial seed harvesting. The Group’s Voronezh subdivision is at the forefront of the 2026 campaign.

The first to proceed with harvesting winter wheat were EkoNivaAgro-Left Bank and EkoNivaAgro-South operations once favourable conditions set in after a spell of rainy weather. A few days later, they were joined by other Voronezh subdivision enterprises. At the same time, perennial grass seed harvesting also got underway at Voronezh and Siberian subdivisions.

‘We have observed no serious adverse factors that could have significantly affected the plants’ growth. The crops have developed under normal conditions since the regions where we operate have experienced more or less favourable weather throughout the entire vegetation period. So far, we see strong indications of an abundant yield. In the coming week, the cash crop harvesting is expected to reach Kursk and Ryazan oblasts’, says Aleksandr Anpilov, Chief Agronomist, EkoNiva Group.

In the current season, EkoNiva has allocated more than 270,000 ha for cash crops and commercial seeds, with over 63,600 ha sown with winter varieties. In addition to wheat, the Group’s operations grow oats, barley, triticale, maize, peas, soya beans, lentils, faba beans, sunflower, rapeseed, flax and sugar beet.

In 2026, the gross yield of cash crops across EkoNiva’s enterprises is expected to exceed 1.2 million tonnes in standard weight (2025: 1.24 million tonnes), including seeds. In addition, the Group expects to harvest over 1.1 million tonnes forage on a dry matter basis, excluding straw (2025: over 1 million tonnes).

Meanwhile, EkoNiva’s facilities are pushing forward with fodder preparation. The first cut of forage grasses is now complete across the Group’s subdivisions, and the second cut is entering its final stage.