EkoNiva Group, Russia’s largest dairy holding, announces the start of cash crop and commercial seed harvesting. The enterprises of the Voronezh, Kursk and Ryazan oblasts have made the most progress so far.

In early July, machine operators of EkoNivaAgro-Left Bank Operation commenced harvesting winter wheat, including for seeds. The enterprises of EkoNivaAgro-Right Bank and EkoNivaAgro-South operations were the next to join the campaign. Later, action began at the Zaschitnoye-South farm, Kursk branch, which specializes in seed growing, and OkaMoloko-South from Ryazan oblast. In addition, spring barley harvesting has started in Voronezh oblast, and growers in Kursk oblast are bringing in their oats.

'‘The weather was favorable at the start of the harvest, this made way for smooth productive work. Some winter crops got, to a small extent, affected by the spring recurring frosts in the Black Soil region. Still, we are content with the yield: at the moment, it matches our expectations, and the grain quality is higher than last year. We are waiting for the other crops to be ready for harvesting and now work is beginning in the other regions of our presence. In the coming week, the harvesting campaign is expected to reach Kaluga oblast’, says EkoNiva Group Crop Production Director Aleksandr Posukhovskiy.

In the current season, EkoNiva has allocated more than 243,000 hectares for cash crops and commercial seeds in 13 regions of its presence. In addition to wheat, barley and oats, the group's farms grow triticale, corn, peas, sorghum, buckwheat, soya beans, lentils, faba beans, rapeseed, flax, sunflower and sugar beet.

In 2025, the gross yield of cash crops in EkoNiva farms is expected to exceed 1 million tonnes in total weight (2024: 1.08 million tonnes), including seeds. In addition, the group expects to harvest over 1 million tonnes of dry feed (excluding straw) (2024: 972,000 tonnes).

Since the beginning of May, all EkoNiva enterprises have been carrying out forage harvesting. The second cut of forage grasses is currently ongoing in all the regions of the group's presence. The Voronezh branch has also started the third cut of alfalfa stands established in the previous years.