Short-term rains observed last week did not replenish soil moisture stocks considerably and moistened only the upper soil layer. The situation is better in the 10-cm soil layer and sowing campaign is coming to the end in quite good conditions. Plants sown in the first half of September are at the stage of first-third leave formation and early sowings are at tillering stage.
Still, strong soil drought is observed in the Southern part of the country, slowing grain germination and emergence and the most unfavorable is the situation in the South-Eastern part – in the major part of Gomel region.
Due to retaining drought, agro meteorological conditions in this region will remain difficult in the nearest time.
According to Belarusian AgMin as of October 3, 1311.2 thousand ha or 99.6% of the plan had been seeded. On the same date in 2015 1229.2 thousand ha had been sown (101.5%). (UkrAgroConsult/Business World Magazine)