MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Russia has produced some of the highest quality wheat for the first time since the start of the season, with the dry summer boosting protein content, Reuters reported, citing country officials.

About 300 tonnes of first-class wheat was registered during monitoring of the new crop in Russia’s Voronezh region, Reuters said. Hot and dry weather reduced the crop size but boosted protein content in some regions.

The inspected part of the crop so far shows 43.7% of wheat of third class, up from 32% in 2020, according to the state center in charge of grain quality assessment. The share of fourth-class wheat is at 41.8% vs 40.3% in 2020.

“We expect a harvest of exceptional quality this season,” BIO-TON Agri Corp with 450,000 hectares of land in Russia’s Volga region, told Reuters.

It said it harvested some first-class wheat with 14.5% protein content this year for the first time since 1984.