Volume 101, No. 15, full report available here.Early-week cold gave way to more seasonable temperatures, while unfavorable dryness persisted in parts of Ukraine.
Temperatures
during the beginning of the period dropped as low as -8°C across central and
eastern Ukraine and -5°C in Russia’s Southern and North Caucasus Districts.
Winter wheat in the coldest areas was likely in the tillering to early jointing stages (G.S. 30-31) of development, and consequently could withstand temperatures as low as -9°C. However, more advanced winter grains in Ukraine may have been susceptible to burnback in the coldest locales. By week’s end, temperatures rebounded into the teens and lower 20s (°C), mitigating any further freeze threat.
More importantly, the first significant rain of the spring (locally up to 25 mm) arrived in Ukraine, providing much-needed soil moisture for vegetative winter crops and recently-planted small grains. Despite the rain, longer term deficits persists, with north-central portions of Ukraine - a key corn area - reporting less than 50 percent of normal precipitation over the past 90 days.
In contrast, additional light to moderate rain and wet snow (2-20 mm liquid equivalent) in Russia, Belarus, and Moldova maintained adequate soil moisture for winter wheat development and upcoming summer crop planting.
Winter wheat in the coldest areas was likely in the tillering to early jointing stages (G.S. 30-31) of development, and consequently could withstand temperatures as low as -9°C. However, more advanced winter grains in Ukraine may have been susceptible to burnback in the coldest locales. By week’s end, temperatures rebounded into the teens and lower 20s (°C), mitigating any further freeze threat.
More importantly, the first significant rain of the spring (locally up to 25 mm) arrived in Ukraine, providing much-needed soil moisture for vegetative winter crops and recently-planted small grains. Despite the rain, longer term deficits persists, with north-central portions of Ukraine - a key corn area - reporting less than 50 percent of normal precipitation over the past 90 days.
In contrast, additional light to moderate rain and wet snow (2-20 mm liquid equivalent) in Russia, Belarus, and Moldova maintained adequate soil moisture for winter wheat development and upcoming summer crop planting.