Snowfalls Soften Frost for Don Crops

Heavy snowfalls in the Rostov region helped protect winter crops from the impact of severe frosts this season.

Anna Kasyanenko, the regional Minister of Agriculture, said: «The fallen snow softened the impact of low temperatures, and the brief warming did not damage the crops.»

The condition of the crops is assessed as satisfactory. Seedlings were observed on 99.8% of all sown areas.

Experts note that the fall–winter period of the 2025–2026 season is shaping up to be more favorable for agriculture than last season. Precipitation reached 101 millimeters, higher than the previous year«s figure of 84 millimeters.

An additional positive factor was a snow cover ranging from 2 to 14 centimeters (0.8 to 5.5 inches) high, which helped accumulate productive moisture in the soil.

Recall that in 2025, the Rostov region harvested the lowest grain crop in the last 10 years. The cause was May return frosts, followed by a summer drought. Damage to farmers exceeded 4 billion rubles ($40 million at current rates).

Starting in 2026, regional authorities hope to restore annual grain harvests to 14.5 million tons. At the same time, the profitability of wheat cultivation in the region has, according to experts, decreased tenfold in recent years.