Putin praises farmers for Russia's strong grain harvest
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President Vladimir Putin has praised farmers for making Russia's grain harvest this year the highest in post-Soviet times.
Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev reported to Putin on Tuesday that this year's harvest is expected to reach 110-115 million metric tons, the largest yield in a quarter century.
Tkachev didn't specify what the wheat harvest would be, but experts forecast production of about 72 million tons, of which 30 million tons could be exported.
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Putin said Russia shouldn't hurry to boost its grain exports but wait for global prices to rise.
A mild winter and a warm, wet summer have contributed to the good harvest as Russia bounces back from a 2010 drought. Russian agricultural output has gradually recovered from its tough Soviet times, when the nation had to import American wheat.