Late frosts devastate Russian crops as farmers weigh replanting options

Farmers should wait for warmer weather before replanting damaged crops, an agronomist has advised.

The sudden cold snap and record snowfall in early May may have affected newly sown fields in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, but taking action now would be pointless, Vladimir Vikulov, an agronomy expert and agricultural specialist, told RIAMO in an interview.

The expert cautioned against covering or watering the crops at this stage. Instead, he recommended waiting for warmer temperatures, assessing the condition of the plants, and then resowing them. While the harvest will come later than usual, he stressed that this is not a cause for concern.

Vikulov noted that central Russia lies in a risky farming zone, where late frosts and snow can persist well into the growing season. Both small-scale gardeners and large agribusinesses must factor this unpredictability into their planning.