Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Latest USDA weather update

Volume 101, no. 24, full report here.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms improved yield prospects for wheat and summer crops across much of the region.

A slow-moving area of low pressure and its attendant cold front generated periods of moderate to heavy rainfall (5-40mm, locally more per satellite data) from central Ukraine into southern and western Russia.

In addition, the storm brought an end to the recent spell of heat, with highs in the lower 30s (degrees C) replaced by readings in the lower 20s by week’s end.

The wet, cooler weather improved the already-favorable outlook for winter wheat and eased heat and dryness concerns for spring wheat.

In addition, key corn and sunflower areas in southern Russia and eastern and central Ukraine benefited from the recent wet, cooler weather.

Localized moisture shortages lingered, however, in eastern portions of the Volga District, where more rain will be needed as vegetative spring wheat advances toward reproductive stages of development.