Sept. 29, 2025Russia’s southern Rostov region, which accounts for roughly 10% of Russia’s national wheat output, has declared a federal-level agricultural emergency level after being hit by spring frosts and its worst summer drought in years. The sharply contrasting weather conditions have damaged or destroyed 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres) of the Rostov region’s crops this year, according to government estimates. A frost-related emergency has been in place in parts of the Rostov region since May, and a drought-related emergency since June. Local officials anticipate the Rostov region’s harvest will be the smallest in a decade, with volumes potentially down 20% year-on-year. The Rostov region is expected to cede its position as Russia’s top wheat-producing region to the neighboring Stavropol region for the first time since 2015, Reuters cited the Sovecon consultancy as saying.