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- Unfavorable conditions: 21 regions of the Russian Federation may face the threat of locust infestation
Unfavorable conditions: 21 regions of the Russian Federation may face the threat of locust infestation
Locust infestation is expected in 21 regions of Russia this year due to the warm winter. This is 1.5 times more than in 2024. Such a forecast is contained in the report of the federal Rosselkhozcenter under the Ministry of Agriculture, "Izvestia" learned. In general, due to the abnormally warm winter in Russia expect a 30-50% increase in agricultural pests, plant diseases and weeds, which may pose a threat to the new harvest. How agrarians are preparing for such a situation - in the material of "Izvestia".
How warm winter will affect the growth of pests
Because of the abnormally warm winter, one of the main threats to the new harvest in Russia will be locusts, to combat which in Russia will be created special units. This year it will have to be fought in 21 regions, they will be in the zone of maximum risk. Such a forecast is contained in the report of the federal Rosselkhozcenter under the Ministry of Agriculture, which was presented at one of the last meetings in the Ministry. Izvestia has familiarized itself with it.
We are talking about Astrakhan, Volgograd, Orenburg, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk regions, the document says. In addition, the republics of Kalmykia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Bashkiria, Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Khakassia and Yakutia, as well as Krasnodar, Stavropol and Altai Territories may suffer from locust infestation.
In 2024 there were 14 such regions: Voronezh, Ulyanovsk, Orenburg, Astrakhan, Chelyabinsk and Novosibirsk regions, the republics of Kalmykia, Adygea, Chechnya, Bashkortostan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania and Altai Krai.
This year agrarians will need to treat 100 thousand hectares more from pests than last year. According to the document, it is especially important for the regions that border with Kazakhstan. According to the order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Br85.8 million has been allocated for the creation of a special unit in this territory and the purchase of ground sprayers, the document says. In addition, a number of Russian regions have already held special exercises to combat the spread of locusts, and coordination centers have been established to analyze the situation and take measures to protect crops.
- Rosselkhozcenter conducts phytosanitary monitoring of locusts and other pests on the territory of the Russian Federation. To protect crops, a set of measures is applied, including agrotechnical, biological, chemical and other methods of protection," Alexander Malko, Director of Rosselkhozcenter Federal State Budgetary Institution, explained to Izvestia the importance of taking measures.
He noted that multivorous pests of agricultural crops always pose the greatest threat to the agro-industrial complex, as they are capable of affecting a wide range of plants and crops. These pests can cause significant economic damage, reducing yields and product quality, the expert said. The voraciousness and omnivorousness of locusts is one of the main reasons for their high harmfulness, he explained.
Sanitation of fields against locusts
At the same time, Alexander Malko noted that in some subjects there will be other threats. Thus, in the risk zone with the meadow moth were Voronezh, Kursk, Novosibirsk, Penza, Omsk, Volgograd, Belgorod, Kurgan, Tyumen regions, Tatarstan, Kabardino-Balkaria, as well as Altai, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Primorsky and Krasnoyarsky Krai.
Another 18 regions have to fight against rodents. These are Tambov, Rostov, Lipetsk, Volgograd, Belgorod, Voronezh and Saratov regions. The list also includes Ingushetia, North Ossetia-Alania, Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Chechnya, DNR, Dagestan, Crimea, Kalmykia, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories.
At the meeting in the Ministry of Agriculture Alexander Malko said that in total in Russia today there are 1182 harmful factors (529 pests, 219 diseases, 434 weeds), and any of them can eliminate the crop. According to him, now Rosselkhozcenter notes an increase in all objects of observation from 30% to 50%. Therefore, this year the phytosanitary situation will be difficult and it is necessary to prepare for it in advance.
In the Ministry of Agriculture "Izvestia" reported that they are ready to eliminate the emergency with pests.
- The Ministry of Agriculture pays much attention to the prevention and control of locust pests. Information about monitoring of locust pests on a regular basis in the operational period will be posted on the official website of FGBU Rosselkhozcenter," the Ministry's press service explained to Izvestia.
They also noted that the regions were sent letters on the need to reserve funds in budgets for pest control.
- For the timely carrying out of protective treatments on federal lands against locust pests in 2025 in order to eliminate the emergency on the balance of FGBU "Rosselkhoztsentr" there is a reserve of insecticide "Imidor" in the amount of 8.3 tons to treat 110 thousand hectares. Authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation independently at the expense of their budgets carry out protective measures against locust pests, - explained in the Ministry.
How agrarians protect crops from pests
In recent years, the number of natural and climatic cataclysms has increased significantly, said the chairman of the Union of Organic Farming Sergei Korshunov. He said that the agrarians will take into account the forecast Rosselkhozcenter.
- Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything. We will decide on the situation. The state has enough means to resist threats. However, they will not reach everyone. Small and medium-sized companies that do not insure their crops are the least protected," an industry representative told Izvestia.
According to him, locusts are a group of especially dangerous pests.
- This year, the overwintering conditions are favorable for their reproduction. It is important to have time to make preventive treatments on larvae with biological insecticides, they are quite effective. And follow the signal messages of Rosselkhoznadzor, - explained Sergey Korshunov.
It is important to treat locusts with insecticides at the moment when this pest has not yet started flying, explained Babken Ispiryan, Deputy Chairman of the "People's Farmer" Association. He noted that during the long summer season the generations of these insects become more numerous and they multiply more actively. According to him, these insects can cause significant damage in places where there is no developed agriculture and, as a consequence, the use of plant protection means. In this case, the insect will multiply and raid the already cultivated active lands of farmers.
At the same time, he believes that the increase in agricultural pests, weeds and diseases in the context of an abnormally warm winter is not an obvious thing.
- Right now, the plants are open. There are concerns that at this temperature they will start vegetation earlier. The next two months are unpredictable: it is unknown whether snow will fall and whether there will be frosts. And in such a situation, crops may freeze. As for diseases, in general, there are also under the snow cover. These are various fungal diseases. For example, snow mold," Babken Ispiryan explained to Izvestia.
According to Tatyana Gubina, Chief of Staff of the Union of Potato and Vegetable Market Participants (Potato Union), the main concern is that the ground will not freeze and this will give many parasites and dangerous bacteria a chance to survive. This risk is primarily relevant for Central Russia, where most of the potatoes are produced, she said.
- This year we will have to buy more pesticides, monitor the soil more often and be more vigilant. It is also obvious that we will have to increase expenditures on plant protection with preparations. Naturally, in the end this may affect the cost of potatoes," she said.
As for locusts, according to her, it is a very serious threat to agricultural producers. It is especially relevant for the south of Russia and regions bordering Kazakhstan, but as the climate changes, it may spread to other subjects as well.
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