Russia Declares Emergency as Heavy Snow Destroys Crops Before Harvest

Winter struck too soon for Russian farmers—now, 7,200 hectares of grain remain trapped under snow. Can emergency aid save their livelihoods?

, and Administrator

2025 November 19 . 1:22 PM

1 min read

In this image land is covered with snow, in the background there are buildings, trees, fencing and... — In this image land is covered with snow, in the background there are buildings, trees, fencing and the sky.

Russia Declares Emergency as Heavy Snow Destroys Crops Before Harvest

A state of regional emergency has been declared in four districts of Russia’s Transbaikal Territory after heavy snow destroyed crops. Governor Alexander Osipov issued the decree to support farmers facing losses from the extreme weather.

The snowfall struck before the grain harvest could finish, damaging around 5,000 hectares of crops. As of November 6, only 89% of the harvest was complete, leaving 7,200 hectares still in the fields. The machinery needed for harvesting became inoperable under the snow, forcing work to stop entirely.

The emergency declaration will assist farmers in receiving compensation for their ruined crops. With harvesting halted and machinery unusable, the region now faces delays in completing the remaining grain collection. Authorities are working to mitigate the impact on local agriculture.