Hot weather and irregular rains accompanied by hail and thunderstorms in some regions were observed during last ten days of June. In some districts of the southern and central regions, where rains were the most intense, the daily maximum precipitation amount was sometimes higher than two-week norm. The average daily air temperature was 20-28 C above zero, which is 5-7 C higher than norm.
Sunflower plants are in different development stages. The early seeded sunflower is in the stage of inflorescence emergence, while plants of later sowing terms – in the stage of third or fourth pair of true leaves formation. Sunflower is mostly 70-180 cm high. Plants condition is good. Productive moisture reserves in one-meter soil layer are satisfactory and range 67-72 mm in the southern and central regions and 77-105 mm in the rest of the territory. (UkrAgroConsult/Business World Magazine)