Russian Grain Markets: 16-20 April 2012 GRAINS AND PRODUCTS Planting UpdatesAs of 24 April, spring crops were planted on 4,322,900 hectares (76 percent more than the same period last year). Spring grains were planted on 2,688,500 hectares (77.4 percent more than the same period last year).The Russian market showed different trends during the week in review. Grain prices in European Russia began to increase because the actual grain transfers from the intervention fund to buyers will only be possible in May. Thus, in the next week sellers will want to benefit from the temporariy grain deficit and sell their products at higher prices. On the other hand, buyers' activity was low, as most preferred to wait until May. Intervention commodity t...