Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- As Russia reels from the worst drought in nearly 40 years, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ban on grain exports.
"I think it is expedient to temporarily ban exports of grain and grain products from Russia," Putin said in a government meeting Thursday.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Pskov confirmed to CNN that the ban would be from August 15 through December 1.
Russia is the world's third largest wheat exporter, but is facing the possibility of wheat shortages. The drought has forced the country's Agriculture Ministry to slash its grain forecast from 90 million tons to between 70 and 75 million tons. CNN
