Tuesday 27 June 2017

Latest USDA weather update for Europe

Dry, excessively hot weather adversely impacted spring grains and summer crops across the western half of the continent, while showers maintained favourable growing conditions in eastern Europe.

Temperatures during the 7-day period averaged 5 to 9°C above normal over western and central Europe. 

Daytime highs topped 40°C in central and southern Spain, while temperatures reached into the middle and upper 30s from northern Italy into France and western Germany. 

The heat was most detrimental on the Iberian Peninsula, where summer crops were approaching or progressing through reproduction 2 to 4 weeks ahead of average. 

In Spain, crops most likely impacted by the June heat wave included: vegetative (north) to reproductive corn was exposed to 14 days of highs greater than 35°C; budding to reproductive sunflowers in central and southern Spain were subjected to 13 days above 38°C; squaring to flowering cotton in southern Spain (Andalucía) was impacted by 8 days of 40-degree heat since June 12. 

As a result, heat and drought have lowered summer crop yield potential over most of the Iberian Peninsula, though the arrival of cooler weather on June 26 signalled an end to the record-setting heat wave. 

Excessive heat (36-38°C) also pushed into key summer crop areas of southwestern France, but corn had not yet reached the temperature-sensitive tassel stage. 

Warmth and dryness also cut the yield potential for non-irrigated summer crops in northern Italy, though the heat (31-37°C) has not been as widespread or intense. 

On the other hand, the sunny, hot weather facilitated winter crop drydown and harvesting, particularly over northern France and southeastern England. 

Meanwhile, widespread showers (3-20 mm, locally more) over eastern Europe moistened topsoils for vegetative summer crops in advance of the approaching heat.