Western FSU
From southern and eastern Ukraine into southern Russia,
mostly sunny, occasionally hot weather accelerated winter wheat drydown and
promoted a rapid harvest pace.
While daytime highs approached or topped 35°C, there was
little - if any - negative impact on vegetative corn and sunflowers; corn will
likely enter the tassel stage during the first or second week of July in
southern Russia.
Farther west and north, showers and thunderstorms (10-50 mm)
from Moldova into Belarus and Russia’s Central District benefited spring grains
and vegetative summer crops.
Eastern FSU
Widespread albeit highly variable showers continued over the
region’s primary spring wheat areas, while cooler, unsettled conditions settled
over southern portions of the region.
For the third consecutive week, showers and thunderstorms
across northern Kazakhstan and central Russia boosted soil moisture for crop
establishment.
Rainfall totals varied from 1 to 51 mm, though most crop areas
reported more than 5 mm.
Easternmost spring wheat areas received moderate to heavy
rainfall (15-100 mm), easing moisture demands brought on by last week’s heat.
Farther south, showers (2-40 mm) provided supplemental
moisture for irrigated cotton and resulted in cooler-than-normal temperatures
(up to 3°C below normal) from northern Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan into
eastern Kyrgyzstan.