Harvest in Ukraine May Start Earlier or Be Delayed Due to Weather Anomalies

Abnormal weather conditions are leading to significant regional differences in the development of grain crops this year.

This is reported by AgroReview

South and East: Risk of Early Harvest Due to Drought

According to Vladislav Cherchely, director of the Institute of Grain Crops, the drought and heat stress observed in the South and East of Ukraine may cause an early end to the growing season for agricultural crops, which, in turn, will lead to the start of the harvest earlier than usual. In conditions of acute moisture deficiency in the soil, plants are forced to accelerate their development, which may negatively affect yield and grain quality.

West and North: Delayed Ripening Due to Abnormal Cold

In the western and northern regions, on the contrary, the weather conditions were characterized by unusually low temperatures. May was the coldest in the last twenty years — the temperature was 4–6°C lower than normal. Frequent frosts slowed the pace of vegetation, causing a delay in the ripening of grains and, consequently, may shift the start of the harvest to a later date.

Vladislav Cherchely emphasizes:

“The combination of drought and cold has caused sharp regional contrasts in the development of grain crops”.

Additionally, Ukrainian meteorologists are warning of the approach of heat waves with temperatures up to +40°C and possible tornadoes. Such weather phenomena create additional risks for the cultivation of key crops, including corn, soybeans, and sunflowers, especially during critical phases of their development.