Russia is bracing for a potential mass invasion of locusts in 21 regions, including Tatarstan, anticipated in the summer of 2025 due to an abnormally warm winter. The phenomenon may complicate life for farmers but is not expected to lead to a catastrophe, according to Izvestia.
"A warm winter contributes to better survival of insects. This year, conditions for wintering are favorable for the reproduction of locusts, with a 30–50% increase in agricultural pests expected," said Mikhail Vorobyov, a biologist and agronomist, according to TatarInform.
The regions under threat include Astrakhan, Volgograd, Orenburg, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, and Novosibirsk Oblasts, as well as the republics of Kalmykia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Khakassia, and Yakutia, and the Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Altai Krais, according to Izvestia.
According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, specially created task forces will combat locusts in Russia, with exercises already held in several regions to address the threat.
RBC reported that to combat the locust invasion, 85.8 million rubles will be allocated for creating special squads and purchasing ground sprayers.
According to TatarInform, experts emphasize that the risk of locust invasions will be especially relevant for regions of Russia bordering Kazakhstan, and locusts usually inhabit the southern regions of Russia but are migrating north due to warm weather.
TatarInform reported that coordination centers have been established in several regions to analyze the situation and take measures to protect crops.
"The phytosanitary situation this year will be complicated, and it is necessary to prepare in advance, especially in regions bordering Kazakhstan," noted Izvestia.
"Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything. We will solve the situation as it arises. The state has enough funds to counter the threats. However, they may not reach everyone. The least protected are small and medium companies that do not insure their crops," said Sergey Korshunov, chairman of the board of the Union of Organic Agriculture, according to Kommersant.
"Locusts are a group of especially dangerous pests. This year, the conditions for overwintering are favorable for their reproduction. It is important to make preventive treatments on larvae with biological insecticides in time," explained Korshunov, as reported by Izvestia.
Izvestia reported that in some regions of Russia, there will be other threats besides locusts. Voronezh, Kursk, Novosibirsk, Penza, Omsk, Volgograd, Belgorod, Kurgan, and Tyumen Oblasts, Tatarstan, and Kabardino-Balkaria are at risk from the meadow moth.
Russia expects a 30–50% increase in agricultural pests, plant diseases, and weeds that may threaten the new harvest, and earlier.
"Now the plants are open. There are fears that at such a temperature they will begin to vegetate earlier. The next two months are unpredictable: it is unknown whether snow will fall and whether there will be frosts. In such a situation, the crops may freeze. As for diseases, in general, under the snow cover, they are also present. These are fungal diseases. For example, snow mold," said Babken Ispiryan, deputy chairman of the Association People's Farmer, as reported by RBC.
RBC reported that, according to scientists' forecasts published in the journal Science Advances, large-scale locust invasions in different regions of the world are expected due to strong winds and rains.
"Significant damage can be caused in places where there is no developed agriculture and, consequently, the use of plant protection products. In this case, the insect will reproduce and make raids on already treated active lands of farmers," noted Ispiryan, according to Izvestia.
"In recent years, the number of natural and climatic disasters has noticeably increased," observed Korshunov, as reported by Izvestia.
"The main concern is that the ground will not freeze, allowing many parasites and dangerous bacteria to survive," noted Tatiana Gubina, head of the apparatus of the Union of Potato and Vegetable Market Participants. "This year we will have to buy more pesticides, monitor the soil more often, and be more vigilant. It is also obvious that our costs for plant protection products will increase. Naturally, in the end, this may affect the cost price of potatoes," she explained to Izvestia.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.