Agricultural meteorological review: hot weather and drought have a negative impact on agriculture in various regions of Russia.

According to the Roshydromet Center report,

In the European part, in the Central, Volga and most districts of the Northwest federal districts, warm weather was observed. The average air temperature was 2-5° above normal during the decade, in the western regions of the North-Western Federal District – about normal. In the Central and Volga Federal Districts, except for the northern regions, the maximum air temperature reached 30° and above for 5-9 days, adversely affecting the flowering of plants, including grains, sunflowers, and rapeseed. In these areas, drought conditions were also noted, worsening the conditions for grain filling in cereal crops. Due to hot weather and lack of precipitation, the average daily soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm in chernozem regions and in the Middle Volga region reached 26-31° at the end of the decade, which was unfavorable for the root growth of sugar beets and potato tubers. Agricultural crops were also observed to be damaged by drought.

In the western regions of the North-Western Federal District, there were rains for 5-8 days, with precipitation amounts of 35-85 mm and more. Lodging of spring barley and tall grasses was noted in the Leningrad region.

Agrometeorological conditions for the growth, development, and crop formation of most agricultural crops were satisfactory. In the northern regions, the grain filling of winter grain crops continued, while in chernozem regions and in the south of the Volga Federal District, they reached wax ripeness. Early spring grain crops in the northern regions continued to form grains and flowers, while in the southern regions, some fields of early-sown spring barley reached milky ripeness and some fields reached wax ripeness. In chernozem regions and in the Middle Volga region, corn leaf growth continued, sunflower inflorescence growth progressed, and beet root growth continued. Moisture levels in plants decreased in most areas but remained sufficient, and in some areas, satisfactory.

In the Southern and North Caucasus federal districts, LNR, DNR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, hot and dry weather persisted, with drought conditions observed in some places. For many days of the decade, the maximum air temperature reached 35-42°.

In most fields, winter crops reached full ripeness and spring crops reached wax and sometimes full ripeness. Conditions for cereal crop yield were good under favorable farm conditions. In some areas of the North Caucasus Republics, rains (20-30 mm and more) interfered with grain harvesting.

Corn continued leaf formation, flowering, and ear development; sunflowers were in the flowering stage, and beets continued root growth. Significant precipitation was absent in most regions. Agrometeorological conditions for the growth, development, and formation of late crops were unsuitable in some areas due to lack of moisture. The condition of agricultural crops continued to deteriorate, with plants wilting slowly, leaves yellowing and drying, especially during daylight hours; corn cobs, soybean flowers, and pods dried up, while sunflower flowers developed rapidly and dried out.

Asian part

In the agricultural areas of the Ural Federal District, hot and dry weather persisted. The maximum air temperature in most areas reached 30-34°, which was unfavorable for grain formation and flowering of spring crops. Soil moisture levels dropped slightly but remained sufficient.

In most districts of the Siberian Federal District, there was rain (from 15 to 70 mm of precipitation during the decade) which replenished soil moisture reserves. Agrometeorological conditions for the formation of cereal spikelets improved. In some areas of the Novosibirsk and Irkutsk regions, the Republics of Khakassia and Tyva, where there was previously a soil drought, the situation became less tense, but in some fields, there was still a lack of soil moisture.

In the northwest regions of the Altai Territory, there was little rainfall, so the moisture level of crops remained low.

In the Urals and Western Siberia, spring wheat entered the heading and flowering stage; in the Altai Territory, the buckwheat and sunflower began flowering. The condition of agricultural crops was mostly good, except for moisture levels affecting growth in the fields.

In most districts of Transbaikalia and the Amur Region, there was little rainfall. Soil drought persisted in some agricultural lands of the Transbaikal Territory and the Republic of Buryatia. Agrometeorological conditions for the growth and development of spring cereal crops were satisfactory, and in the Amur Region, they were favorable.

In other agricultural areas of the Far East, rainfall decreased, with 20-60 mm of precipitation falling for 3-5 days. In some areas of the Primorsky Krai, conditions for field work improved. According to hydro-meteorological stations, the soil condition was soft for 3-7 days, with only Novoselskoye and Astrakhanke showing sticky and slimy soil throughout the decade.

By the end of the decade, in the south of the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krais, early spring cereal crops reached milky ripeness, while in other areas, they reached the grain forming stage. The plant condition was predominantly good.

Forecast of agrometeorological conditions for the second decade of July 2024

European part

Favorable conditions for the ripening of spring cereals and harvesting of winter cereals are expected in the southern half of the territory. Grain harvesting in the North Caucasus Republics will be hindered by rain.

In the Chernozem zone, the conditions for forming crops will be unfavorable due to persistent drought, while in the Central, Southern, North Caucasus federal districts, LNR, DNR, and Kherson region, they will be affected by high air and soil temperatures.

In the Non-Chernozem zone, conditions for the ripening of winter cereals will be good, and for the formation of potato and vegetable crops will be satisfactory.

Asian part

The Ural and Siberia regions expect warm and moist conditions favorable for plant growth, beneficial for the formation of the main agricultural crops. Heavy rainfall is expected in Eastern Siberia and Transbaikalia, which may hinder haymaking and forage harvesting.

In the Primorsky Krai, the stress conditions are expected to decrease due to soil waterlogging.