Winter Crops in Odesa Region Show Good and Satisfactory Condition in January

According to observations by the Institute of Climate-Oriented Agriculture, from January 9 to 15, frosty weather persisted in the Odesa region, occasionally accompanied by snowfall. The maximum air temperature reached +1°C, while the minimum values at night and in the early morning dropped to -6 to -7°C. In the northern districts, temperatures reached -9 to -11°C. The average daily temperature in Odesa was -3.4°C, which is 3.4°C below the long-term average for the second decade of January.

This is reported by AgroReview

Climate Conditions and Precipitation

At the end of the reporting period, snow of varying intensity fell in the Odesa region, resulting in a snow cover of 1 to 4 cm. The depth of soil freezing reached 7 to 9 cm, occasionally increasing to 13 to 19 cm. In the first decade of January, 16.3 mm of precipitation was recorded in the Odesa district, which is 116% of the climatic norm. During the second decade of January, light snowfall was observed only on January 15.

Condition of Winter Crops

The agro-meteorological conditions for the wintering of winter crops in the first half of January were assessed as satisfactory. During the drop in temperature, the minimum soil temperatures at the depth of the tillering node (3 cm) ranged from -4°C to -7°C, which does not exceed the critical freezing thresholds for most winter crops.

“Under such weather conditions, winter crops were in a state of winter dormancy. According to the calculations of agro-meteorologists, the critical freezing temperature for winter wheat in the tillering phase was -15 to -16°C, while for winter barley it was around -12°C. In the majority of areas, winter crops are in good and satisfactory condition.”

Thus, in most areas of the Odesa region, the condition of winter crops is assessed as good and satisfactory, creating favorable conditions for their further development in spring.