RUSSIAN DROUGHT TAKES ITS TOLL

The products previouly exported are now barely enough to meet domestic consumption. Farmers hope that prices will go up. Russia's Ulyanovsk region exported 1 million tonnes of wheat last year, though this year's figures are ominous as the drought of 2011 is expected to cut back that production by 33 percent. The level of production only barely over domestic consumption worries farmers. A region the size of Germany meets one percent of Russia's need and many other regions suffer from poor production.

One of the world's leading wheat exporters, Russia is expected to restrict its exports this year. That is bound to lead to increased wheat prices all over the world.