The head of the Ministry Alexander Tkachev expects that if the weather is good in 2018 will be able to collect "fairly decent" harvest of over 100 million tons of grain.

"With good weather, if all goes well, I think that we will reach a decent enough crop [of grain] this year, over 100 million [tonnes]", - he said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Minister reported that the spring field work is carried out in full. "In the southern territories of the spring is included in all of law: and the Crimea, Stavropol and Kuban, don and the North Caucasus republics", - he added. "We increase the volume of areas under crops, 200 thousand plus last year - said Tkachev. - We increased the volume of sowing: barley, linseed, rapeseed, soya are very important vegetables. Will wait for a decent enough harvest for next year." According to the Minister, 25% of winter field sown with fertilizers.

Speaking about the support of small forms of managing on village, the head of the Ministry noted that the mechanism of preferential crediting operates in full. "We now have 114 billion rubles, which provided loans on preferential terms, - said the Minister. Here I must pay tribute to the agricultural Bank is very active".

Putin asked Tkachev issues of assistance to farmers, financing of the current work relating to fertilizers and combustive-lubricating materials. "Today, our economy is almost completely worse than last year, for some positions better: fuel and lubricant, you correctly pointed out, and seeds, and, of course, according to the technique," - said the Minister. He noted that this year, reduced the cost of fertilizers. "We were able to negotiate with manufacturers of fertilizers, - said Tkachev. - So, I think the situation this year with the provision of logistical issues fairly well resolved".