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.