Warm and dry weather in Europe helped to accelerate sowing of winter crops – MARS

Warmer and drier than usual weather in most European countries helped farmers complete harvesting and accelerate sowing of winter crops, according to a report by the European MARS agency. In October and the first half of November, the weather favored the development of crops in most of Europe.

However, in large parts of Spain, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria, weather conditions were unfavorable. Large areas in eastern Spain were affected by intense rains followed by flooding. The direct impact on arable land was limited. Autumn sowing is delayed, but so far without serious problems, as temperatures are still in the optimal range for sowing winter crops.

In northern Italy, heavy precipitation lasted mainly until mid-October, causing localized flooding and delaying the completion of the spring crop harvest. The sowing of winter crops was delayed, starting only in the first days of November. In the south, in Sicily, soils remain very dry due to dry conditions during the summer. This raises serious concerns about the durum wheat sowing, which is due to be completed in December.

Dry conditions in southwestern Romania and in several parts of Bulgaria have negatively affected the germination and initial development of rapeseed and winter cereals.

Tags: EU