In 2024, Orlov region’s agricultural sector has achieved remarkable success with grain quality that outperforms previous years. According to the local office of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the region’s farmers have harvested exceptional quality wheat, exceeding expectations in terms of both quantity and safety.
Orlov region has consistently produced high yields, with around 5 million tons of cereals, oilseeds, and legumes harvested annually in recent years. However, quality has not always matched quantity. In 2024, the region has seen a significant improvement in grain quality, particularly wheat, as the weather conditions—hot and dry—proved beneficial to the crops. Wheat of the third class has seen a record-breaking harvest of 33.4%, amounting to 685,100 tons. This is the highest figure in the history of Orlov agriculture, compared to previous years where it accounted for much smaller proportions, such as 5.62% in 2020 and 6.31% in 2023. Furthermore, the yield of fourth-class wheat reached 973,100 tons (47.5%), a notable increase from just 133,100 tons in 2023.
The hot and dry conditions of 2024 have turned out to be favorable for the quality of wheat, especially for third-class wheat, which is typically high in demand for baking and flour production. This quality improvement in Orlov wheat has set the region apart from its neighboring areas like Kursk, where the third-class wheat only made up 27% of the harvest.
Safety and quality control are at the forefront of Orlov’s agricultural practices. The region’s grains undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet safety standards. With the introduction of Russia’s Federal State Information System “Grain,” since 2022, all grain produced in Russia must be logged and accounted for before it can be legally sold, transported, or processed. The system also tracks pesticide and agrochemical usage through the “Saturn” system, ensuring transparency in agricultural practices.
Orlov’s accredited testing laboratory conducts extensive checks for heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, GMOs, and other harmful substances. For example, in the 2024 harvest, no traces of arsenic, mercury, or GMOs were found in the wheat. However, the laboratory previously identified cadmium in flax in 2023 and pesticide traces in buckwheat in 2022 due to improper handling during the rainy season.
Another critical component of grain traceability is the certification process. Since 2013, every grain shipment in Russia must be accompanied by a declaration of conformity. This ensures that all grain, from local producers to exporters, meets quality and safety standards. However, some producers have attempted to bypass this system, with issues such as falsified documents or incomplete safety checks. In 2024 alone, 1,052 declarations were suspended, and over 16 million tons of potentially unsafe grain were prevented from entering the market.
Export of Orlov grain is also thriving, with wheat being shipped to various global destinations, including the European Union, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The export process, however, can sometimes involve intermediary markets, making it difficult to trace the final destination of some shipments. The largest Orlov wheat exporter is OOO “Avangard-Agro-Orl,” but many other companies act as intermediaries, purchasing grain from local producers and selling it abroad.
In addition to wheat, other crops like soy, rapeseed, and flax are increasingly popular exports, particularly to Belarus and European countries such as Poland and Belgium, where flax is processed into oil.
Orlov’s 2024 grain harvest stands out not only for its record-breaking quantity but also for its high quality and safety. The region’s commitment to rigorous testing, traceability, and quality control ensures that its agricultural products meet global standards. For farmers, agronomists, and agricultural engineers, this success serves as a reminder of the importance of both climate conditions and stringent agricultural practices in producing high-quality crops. With advanced monitoring systems in place, Orlov region is setting a benchmark for agricultural excellence that other regions may soon follow.
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