Late October and early November featured a temperature upturn in Bulgaria. The temperature increase against the background of sufficient topsoil moisture reserves caused winter crops to resume their active growth. Exceptions are some parts of South Bulgaria where soil moisture shortages hamper development of winter cereals and rape.
Plants of winter wheat and barley seeded in late September or early October are at tillering stage. Those seeded in the latter half of October are at third-leaf stage. Winter cereals planted in early November are at emergence stage.
Rapeseed crops planted within the agronomical optimal period are at leaf rosette stage (5-7 leaves per rosette).
In early November the country enjoys favorable weather conditions for completing autumn seeding works.
According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, as of October 27, winter wheat had been sown at 667.7 thousand ha. The pace of sowing is 3.8% less than in 2015. On the same date in 2015 winter wheat had been sown at 694.4 thousand ha.
The pace of winter barley sowing is 29.7% behind. As of the reporting date winter barley had been sown at 82.2 thousand ha against 116.9 thousand ha in 2015. (UkrAgroConsult/Business World Magazine)