Very cold weather as for this time of year, with insignificant precipitation persisted on October 21-31.
As of October 28, productive moisture reserves in the plow soil layer (0-20 cm) under winter wheat were within 14 to 35 mm in the East (against multi-year averages of 22-31 mm), 58 to 61 mm in the West, and 24 to 55 mm in the North. The one-meter soil layer contained 77 to 149 mm; 277 to 305 mm; 109 to 175 mm, respectively.
According to a crop survey conducted in late October, winter wheat sown after black fallow from September 5 to 30, is in the best condition. Such crops have 3-4 leaves per plant and are predominantly in transition to the tillering stage. Winter crops of optimum planting terms placed after non-fallow predecessors are also in good condition, their development progress varies from the two-leaf stage to tillering and their plant height ranges within 12-17 cm. Winter crops planted after October 10, are in the most difficult situation, as no seedlings are seen.
Overall, weather conditions are currently unfavorable for emergence and growth of winter cereals. If this cool weather keeps on, plants will very likely fail to accumulate enough effective warmth for their development and late-sown crops will finish the autumn growing season in underdeveloped condition. (UkrAgroConsult/Business World Magazine)
