Latest USDA weather update for western FSU

Rain in the north contrasted with increasingly dry weather in key southern winter wheat areas. 

A storm system tracked across the northern tier of the region, producing a large area of moderate to heavy rain (10-35 mm) from Belarus and northern Ukraine into northern Russia. 

The wet conditions slowed or halted small grain and summer crop harvesting but maintained favourable soil moisture for winter crops. 

However, the region's primary winter wheat areas — which extend from southern Ukraine into Russia’s Southern District — reported little (if any) rain. 

Dryness has been particularly acute in Krasnodar Krai (southwestern Southern District), where the last significant rain was September 7. 

Rain will be needed soon to ensure proper wheat establishment before seasonally colder weather arrives.

Latest USDA weather update for Europe

Wet, cool weather prevailed over much of the continent, though heat and drought persisted on the Iberian Peninsula. 

A series of Atlantic storm systems paraded eastward across the continent, producing a large swath of moderate to heavy rainfall (5-50 mm, locally more) from England and France into Poland and the Baltic States. 

Later in the period, a stalled frontal boundary over the southern Balkans triggered 15 to 60 mm of rain from Croatia into the lower Danube River Valley. 

The widespread rainfall was beneficial for winter crop establishment, though corn and sunflower harvesting was delayed by the wet conditions.  

Temperatures from France into Poland and the Balkans averaged 1 to 3°C below normal, though there were no season-ending freezes reported. 

In contrast, dryness and heat (31-36°C) accompanied the start of Spain’s cool wet season, which marked the second consecutive year the Iberian Peninsula began the typically wet autumn and winter growing season mired in drought. 

While it is still early in Spain for barley and wheat (typically planted in November), water supplies and soil moisture remained very limited following last year’s drought and this past summer’s excessive heat.

Latest USDA weather update for western FSU

Dry albeit chilly weather promoted fieldwork but further reduced soil moisture for winter wheat establishment. 

An area of high pressure initially over northwestern Russia drifted westward, bringing sunny skies and cooler-than-normal temperatures (up to 4°C below normal) to much of the region. 

As a result, summer crop harvesting and late winter wheat planting proceeded without delay. 

However, soil moisture was in very short supply for wheat establishment, particularly from southern and eastern Ukraine into southwestern Russia. 

Despite the drier weather pattern, variable early-week showers (1-25 mm) in central and western Ukraine slowed soybean maturation and harvesting.

Latest USDA weather update for Europe

Drier weather returned to eastern Europe, while showers arrived in western and northern growing areas by week’s end.

A large area of high pressure over western Russia early in the period drifted westward, bringing drier conditions to most major growing areas from the Baltic States into the northern and central Balkans.

The respite from recent heavy rain allowed summer crop harvesting and winter crop sowing to resume.

However, light to moderate showers (3-20 mm) lingered in southern and western Poland and surrounding environs, further delaying fieldwork in these locales.

Likewise, moderate to heavy rainfall (10-75 mm) in the southern Balkans interrupted summer crop harvesting.

By week’s end, a strong cold front generated widespread showers (5-50 mm) from France and the United Kingdom into Germany, maintaining favourable moisture supplies for wheat and rapeseed establishment.

Meanwhile, dry conditions lingered in Spain and Portugal; cool-season rain typically commences on the Iberian Peninsula in late-September and early October, and rain will be especially welcome following this past year’s drought and heat.