Corn and soybeans in the central black soil region of Russia: a fundamental shift in cropping patterns ahead of us?

Recent statistics show an increase in corn and soy production in the Voronezh region, one of Russia’s most important agricultural regions. This paper analyses the background of and the reasons for this development. To achieve this goal, the authors used data from agri benchmark typical farms and focus group discussions with farmers in Russia. The resulting analysis discloses the economic drivers of these changes in cropping patterns which clearly indicate a lasting shift in the Black Soil Region towards corn and soybean production.