Farmers have already planted 5.5 Ml ha of sunseed

It was mostly moderately warm but somewhat cooler than usual after May 10. The average daily air temperatures were 1.5-4.5°С below normal, being close to normal towards May 18, within 12.0-18.0°С. The highest air temperatures were registered at +26-28°С (May 17), while the ground surface heated to +46-53°С. The lowest temperatures were at +6-8°С (May 12).

Effective air degree-days accumulated by May 10 were higher than their multi-year averages: those above +5°С and +10°С were up 125-215°С and 105-175°С, respectively.

The drop in temperature was accompanied by rainfalls of various types (thundershowers and incessant rains) and various intensities. Since May 10, the majority of the northern regions, as well as Lviv, Rivne, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv regions have received 40-65% of normal precipitation rates. At the same time, 70-95% of normal precipitation (6-15 mm) was registered in Odesa and Kherson regions and 8-25% (1-5 mm) in the rest of Ukraine.

Winter rape was at the blooming stage; the massive formation of first pods started in the southern and western regions. The height of blooming plants ranged from 58 cm to 123 cm. Crop condition was mostly good and fair. Pest-damaged plants were seen in some southern fields.

Farmers continue seeding soybeans and sunflower. Previously seeded crops are at the stages of germination, emergence, and leaf formation. Their condition is mostly good.

According to Agrarian Ministry of Ukraine, about 5.5 Ml ha of sunflower planted by May 24, 2018 that is 99% of the projected 5559.5 Th ha (the official figure was increased by 4 Th ha). A year ago 5.3 Ml ha was seeded of this crop.

IC UAC