While Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov is trying to reduce the financial burdens on the state, including privatizing assets, the agriculture ministry has reportedly been given the authority to raise the price paid to farmers to fill the state grain stockpile by another $15/MT. Empty Bread Basket The Russian Agriculture Ministry has reportedly been given the authority to raise the price paid to farmers to fill the state grain stockpile by another $15/MT. That may make farmers happy, but it likely displeases Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. With the government’s coffers burdened by low oil prices (oil and gas are 52 percent of government revenues), a recession now extended into 2016 plus wars in Ukraine and Syria, Siluanov is trying...