Wintertime has already “stepped over” the equator in terms of its calendar time frame. Starting from October media has begun to pour forth the forecasts that winter might come earlier this season and it may be the most severe in recent decades, so that is why everyone should be prepared for a long frosts down to -30°C. Although Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reassured that there is no serious ground for such forecasts, however, expectations for the most were quite alarming ones. For farmers, this anxiety has been aggravated by concern for the state of winter crops, which might got frozen in the absence of sufficient field “snow covers”.
After the first half of the winter has already passed, we can conclude that it was not as scary as some predicted, although November and December, indeed, have been colder than usual. Nevertheless, most of the other days were quite warm and sunny, even the winter crop shoots have been showing some weak signs of vegetation.
The real challenge for all was a sharp cold snap during 6-9 January. Frosts in Ukraine burst in with the Arctic cyclone, lowering the temperature down to -25°C and below. At the same time, in many areas there was virtually no snow and, clearly, autumn crops were faced with a great threat. However, with the frost, which is itself is quite rare phenomenon in Ukraine, heavy snowfalls have occurred thereafter reliably protecting the seedlings from the cold.
Sharp drop in temperature occurred at low altitude snow cover in Vinnitsa region. But starting from 8th of January due to moderate snowfalls we observed an increase in the height of the snow cover, which compensated the negative impacts of frosts. According to the survey results: 26,5% (81,4 thsd. ha) of young growth were in good shape; 38% (117 thsd. ha) in satisfactory condition; 35.5% (109,1 thsd. ha) in weak state. Additionally, 37.6% of young growth of winter rape were in good condition (25.6 thsd. ha); 35.5% (24.2 thsd. ha) were in satisfactory state; 26.9% were weak (183 thsd. ha).
Another survey in Zaporizhzhya region showed that the majority of crops are in good and satisfactory condition as well. Only some fields were marked due to formation of ice crust but it was not critical for the crops so no additional measures required.
Thus, in the South and in the East and Center of the country, the condition of winter does not raise any fear. According to farmers, if the nature of this winter will be the same as in the first half, the total loss of crops will not exceed annual average of 5%. Some heavy snowfalls occurred in spring, which provided plenty of moisture for the fields, gives a good chance for a fine harvest.
However, the first preliminary results of the Ukrainian winter crops condition will be known after the process of plants cultivation in soil monoliths, which is planned to happen in the end of this month. Upon completion of this process it will be possible to speak more in detail on the progress of the current winter crops hibernation.
