Additional showers further eased dryness concerns in central
growing areas and maintained favourable soil moisture in the south.
The rain, which fell both at the beginning and end of the
period, totalled 2 to 25 mm (locally more) over most of the region’s primary
growing areas.
In the south, the moisture sustained favourable prospects
for vegetative winter wheat and recently-planted summer crops.
Farther north, the rainfall further reduced lingering
long-term (since September 1) precipitation deficits from northern Ukraine into
west-central Russia; the recent, persistent wet weather in these northern
locales has continued to improve prospects for winter wheat, spring grains, and
summer crops.
However, a break from the showery weather during the middle
of the week facilitated corn and sunflower planting.
Temperatures averaged up to 6°C above normal, accelerating
crop development after last week’s chilly conditions.