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.