In March, mild, mostly dry weather eased winter crops out of
dormancy in southern Russia and accelerated spring grain planting farther
north.
Soil moisture remained limited for spring growth in the
driest locales of central Russia, though showers returned to southern and
western Russia by month’s end.
In contrast, abundant rain boosted soil moisture for dormant
to vegetative winter grains and oilseeds in Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus.