Deficit deficits in Ukraine and the southern plains of the United States worsen the state of winter crops

The war in Ukraine has been going on for 44 days, and remains the main topic of all world news. Particular attention is paid to the importance of Ukraine as a global food supplier, especially given the blocked ports and exports from Ukraine. Military action in the south of Ukraine does not allow for a sowing campaign, as a result of which sowing areas may be reduced by 10-20%. This year's spring weather also supported Ukraine, as cold and frosty March made life difficult for Russian troops, wet Ukrainian chernozems prevented the occupier's heavy machinery from advancing, and sowing of early grain due to frosts had to be postponed for several weeks.

According to the Ukrhydrometeocenter, there has been a significant deficit of precipitation in Ukraine for 2 months, which could lead to drought in most parts of the territory. In February - March, the average rainfall in the country was 20-40% of normal, in the western regions - 50-70%. In the period from March 20 to 22, the average daily temperature in almost the whole territory of Ukraine exceeded +5 ^o С, which corresponds to the average long-term terms in the southern oblasts and is 1-2 weeks ahead of the indicator for other territories. This indicates the beginning of the meteorological spring. The vegetation of winter crops has resumed throughout Ukraine, in the south - 1-2 weeks later than usual, in other regions - according to the average annual terms.

Conditions for fertilizing winter crops were satisfactory, but the extremely low humidity for the early spring period against the background of strong and moderate winds and sometimes dry winds had a negative effect on plants. There will be rains in Ukraine in the coming days, which will reduce the impact of the drought, but no precipitation is expected next week.

In the United States, drought continues to worsen crops in the winter wheat growing area of most of the Southern Plains. There was no significant rainfall this week, and the next one will be a cold front that could bring rain. During the week, the number of winter wheat crops in the United States in good or excellent condition decreased to 30%.

In the US corn belt, soil moisture is quite high, and farmers have started sowing. Rains are expected next week, which will stop work in some areas due to excessive humidity.

There will be light rain in central Brazil next week, but most of the areas sown with second-harvest corn will remain without precipitation, which will reduce soil moisture reserves. Crops now need rain, as the dry season begins in May, which can damage plants, as happened last year.