Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has extended a ban on grain exports deep into next year.

Putin said Thursday that Russia would consider lifting the ban only after the 2011 harvest. He said he wants to bring what he calls clarity and predictability to Russia's grain levels.

Putin announced last month that Russia would suspend grain exports until the end of the year. Wildfires and a long drought have wiped out much of the country's harvest. The ban was intended to keep domestic food prices from soaring.

The announcement in August sent wheat prices to a two-year high on the Chicago Board of Trade -- where contracts for commodities futures are bought and sold.

The price for a December delivery of a bushel of wheat rose another 5 cents Thursday after a 23 cent gain Wednesday.

The United States and other major grain wheat exporters will have to make up for the Russian ban to meet demand. But some experts say the world has a large stockpile of wheat which should keep food prices in moderation.

Some information in this story was provided by AP and AFP.