The recent late-April and early-May hard freezes were mostly a threat to flowering rapeseed in northeastern France and reproductive winter wheat in northwestern Spain.
However, whether the recent freezes caused any burnback or damage remained unknown, as it can take weeks for crops to exhibit the full extent of freeze injury.
During the past week, freeze concerns were reduced as temperatures moderated somewhat, with freezes (-3 to -1°C) mostly confined to northeastern Germany and northwestern Poland.
More importantly, much-needed rain (5-40 mm, locally more) returned to southeastern England, France, and northwestern Spain, improving soil moisture for reproductive wheat and rapeseed after a dry start to the spring.
Farther east, widespread showers (2-30 mm, locally more) sustained good to excellent prospects for vegetative to reproductive winter grains and oilseeds from Germany and Poland into the Balkans.
The wet weather also sustained favorable soil moisture for recently-planted corn, soybeans, and sunflowers, but slowed late sowing efforts.