Drier weather promoted spring grain planting in the north,
while locally heavy showers and cooler temperatures in the south eased heat
stress on winter wheat.
A passing cold front triggered light to moderate showers (2-25
mm) over northern Kazakhstan and central Russia, slowing early spring wheat
planting efforts.
However, sunny skies during the latter half of the period
allowed producers to resume field preparations and spring wheat sowing
operations.
Farther south, moderate to heavy showers (10-50 mm) in
eastern Uzbekistan and neighbouring environs hampered late cotton planting but
eased stress on heading to flowering winter wheat caused by last week’s heat.