April 10, 2001

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE: COOL WEATHER PUTS THE BRAKES ON WINTER GRAINS

A cooling trend during late March interrupted development of winter grains that had gotten off to a relatively quick start this year. Above-normal temperatures during the first three weeks of March caused winter crops to break dormancy earlier than usual in southern Ukraine and southern Russia. Temperatures then dipped during the remainder of the month, slowing winter crop development. (View average daily temperatures for western, central, and eastern Ukraine, Russia's North Caucasus and lower Volga Valley.) Average temperatures for the month of March, however, indicate that winter grain development is still ahead of last year and ahead of normal

The warm March weather facilitated spring planting, which is underway in both Ukraine and Russia. According to agricultural officials cited by the Bridge news agency, spring crops had been planted on 2.4 million hectares in Ukraine against a target of roughly 7.0 million, and 0.7 million hectares in Russia against a target of 34.5 million. Sowing progress is ahead of last year's pace in both countries. The area of 2001/02 winter grains, which were sown last fall, increased significantly from the previous season in both Russia and Ukraine. In Russia, a reported 14.7 million hectares of winter grains were sown, up 1.0 million from 2000/01. Winter grain area in Ukraine also jumped by 1.0 million hectares, to a reported 8.9 million.

On May 10, the USDA will release its initial estimates of world grain production for 2001/02 .

For more information, contact Mark Lindeman with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 720-0888.