Unsettled weather hampered early spring wheat planting but
sustained abundant soil moisture for crop emergence.
With the region’s primary spring wheat areas of northern
Kazakhstan and south-central Russia devoid of snow cover, producers will be
able to commence spring wheat sowing once drier weather arrives.
However, widespread showers (5-25 mm) slowed early planting
efforts, though drier conditions by week’s end likely enabled some fieldwork
operations in the spring wheat belt.
Farther south, dry, hot conditions (30-36°C) in Uzbekistan
and neighbouring environs accelerated cotton planting but increased stress on
heading to flowering winter wheat.