Niklolai M. Dronin lectures at Moscow State University and is involved in a number of international projects concerning environmental problems in Russia. The current book evolved from work with Kassel University (Germany) on climate change and food security in Russia.Edward G. Bellinger was Head of Environmental Sciences Department at the Central European University, Budapest,

• List of Figures List of Tables Preface Chapter 1. Introduction: climate and agriculture in Russia Chapter 2. The availability and reliability of statistical agricultural data for Russia 2.1. The pre-revolutionary period (before 1916) 2.2. The post-revolutionary decade (1917–28) 2.3. The Stalin era (1929–53) 2.4. The post-Stalin period (after 1953) 2.5. Summary Chapter 3. The pre-revolutionary period (1900–16) 3.1. Major developments in agriculture 3.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 3.3. Food problems 3.4. Summary Chapter 4. The post-revolutionary period (1917–28) 4.1. Major developments in agriculture 4.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 4.3. Food problems 4.4. Summary Chapter 5. The collectivization of Soviet agriculture (1929–40) 5.1. Major developments in agriculture 5.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 5.3. Food problems 5.4. Summary Chapter 6. The post-war recovery period (1945–54) 6.1. Major developments in agriculture 6.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 6.3. Food problems 6.4. Summary Chapter 7. The virgin lands campaign (1955–64) 7.1. Major developments in agriculture 7.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 7.3. Food problems 7.4. Summary Chapter 8. Period of intensification of the Soviet agriculture (1965–75) 8.1. Major developments in agriculture 8.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 8.3. Food problems 8.4. Summary Chapter 9. Period of stagnation of the Soviet agriculture (1976–90) 9.1. Major developments in agriculture 9.2. Weather variations and agricultural production 9.3. Food problems 9.4. Summary Conclusion Glossary References

"The book's most important contribution is its thorough and systematic overview of climatic changes, year by year, and their impact on the performance of Russian and Soviet agriculture. Given the profound impact of food supply problems at so many critical junctures in Russian and Soviet history, this thorough and rigorous survey deserves to be welcomed by all historians of Russia and the Soviet Union."