Western FSU
Additional,
well-placed rainfall further eased dryness concerns in central growing areas
and boosted soil moisture in the south.
Lingering
early-spring dryness in northern Ukraine was alleviated by 10 to 40 mm of rain,
benefiting recently-planted corn as well as vegetative winter wheat.
Meanwhile,
widespread showers and thunderstorms (10-25 mm, locally more) further improved
soil moisture for winter and spring grains as well as emerging summer crops
over much of western Russia.
However, favourably
drier weather along the Black Sea Coast facilitated fieldwork and winter crop
development; southern wheat areas have benefited from near- to above-normal
precipitation since crops were planted in autumn.
Temperatures
averaged near normal, though slightly warmer conditions (1-3°C above normal) in
southern Ukraine contrasted with readings up to 2°C below normal in Belarus.
Eastern FSU
Drier weather
promoted fieldwork in central and eastern spring wheat areas, while warm,
showery conditions promoted winter wheat and cotton development in the south.
Mostly sunny skies
accelerated spring wheat planting and emergence from northcentral Kazakhstan
and south-central Russia eastward into the Siberia District.
However, moderate to
heavy showers (10-45 mm) continued to hamper sowing in northwestern Kazakhstan
and southwestern portions of the Urals District.
Across southern crop
areas, above-normal temperatures (3-6°C above normal) and rainfall (10-30 mm)
accelerated winter wheat toward maturity and promoted the development of
recently-planted cotton over Uzbekistan and neighbouring growing areas.