More than 40 days of scorching heat without rainfall have taken a heavy toll on grain crops in the Pavlodar Region. According to the regional agricultural department, about 78% of sown areas are in satisfactory condition, 15% are in good shape (mostly early crops), while roughly 5–10% are assessed as poor. Officials note that only fields officially inspected and documented by special commissions are classified as completely lost and subsequently excluded from the harvest area. Despite the stress, most crops are currently in the grain-filling, heading, and flowering stages, while oilseeds have entered budding and early flowering.
Due to the extreme heat, this year’s grain yield is forecast to be significantly lower than last year’s – an estimated 5–6 centners per hectare, compared to the 2025 regional average of 12.9 centners per hectare. Heat stress has reduced tillering, resulting in sparse, low-growing plants, which means farmers will likely resort to direct combine harvesting. The harvest is expected to begin around August 10–15, with mass operations starting August 20 and continuing through September, provided favorable weather holds – though autumn rains are now unwelcome. Meanwhile, early potatoes of the “Colomba” variety are already being dug in the Pavlodar district, with field prices ranging from 190 to 220 tenge per kilogram, and harvesting will begin next week in the Aksu agricultural zone. These potatoes are not intended for storage but are being sold fresh.
