Spring Sowing 2026: Sowing Pace of Spring Crops in Malting Barley Growing Regions (Russia)

Sowing campaign progress in key malting barley growing regions as of April 26, 2026

In most regions of the Central Federal District, intermittent precipitation was observed: from light rain and wet snow in the middle of the period (April 22–23) to heavier rainfall toward the weekend (April 26). In most regions, sowing progress is being constrained by cool weather and periodic precipitation.

In 2025, weather conditions favored an earlier start of fieldwork, whereas in 2026 many regions experienced a noticeable delay due to weather factors.

Voronezh and Lipetsk regions started later in 2026 than in 2025, while Tambov and Belgorod regions began at roughly the same time.

In the Tambov region, as of April 22, 2026, prolonged rains had over-saturated the soil and halted fieldwork.

In the Lipetsk region, as of April 26, 2026, it was reported that only three days of fieldwork had been possible due to weather conditions.

The delay in the 2026 sowing campaign, caused by unfavorable weather conditions, is having a complex negative impact on both physical yield indicators and the technological characteristics of malting barley.

Experts from the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) have already revised their forecast for Russia’s barley harvest in the 2026/2027 season from 19 million to 18 million tons due to the shift in sowing dates.

When sowing is delayed by 10–30 days from the optimal window, yield reductions for some barley varieties can reach 12–44%. Late emergence makes poorer use of soil moisture and exposes crops to harsher conditions during the tillering stage.

For brewing, it is critical to obtain grain with low protein content (typically no more than 12%) and high uniformity. Late sowing dates significantly worsen these indicators.