MOSCOW, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the moratorium on grain exports could be in place for another year.

The ban on exports, triggered by a prolonged drought, began Aug. 15 and was originally scheduled to last until the end of 2010.

On Thursday, Putin said, "We shall be able to consider cancellation only after next year's harvest has been collected and there is clarity regarding the grain balance," Itar-Tass reported.