Unstable weather and increased likelihood of hail at the end of May and the beginning of June

On most days at the end of May and the beginning of June, agrometeorological conditions will be determined by unstable weather and average daily temperatures below the climatic norms for this period.

In many parts of the country, precipitation of agronomic significance is forecast. In the far eastern regions, where soil moisture reserves in the 50 cm layer during the second half of May were the lowest, in places below 65% of field capacity, such as at the agrometeorological stations Sliven and Karnobat, an improvement in moisture reserves and in the conditions for the development of agricultural crops is expected. The precipitation during the next period will be of major importance for the winter cereal crops, in which grain filling will be taking place, and in the southern regions – also the milk ripeness stage. During the period from grain filling to milk ripeness, serious damage to wheat is caused by the larvae of the sunn pest, which necessitates monitoring of the stands for the presence of the pest and, when population density exceeds the economic threshold of harm, which is 2 larvae/m², insecticidal treatment should be applied at the first opportunity.

During the period, leaf formation will be taking place in maize and sunflower. At the beginning of June only a small part of the sunflower stands, mainly those sown within the agrotechnical time frame, will enter the inflorescence formation stage.

Frequent precipitation during the period will impede the implementation of plant protection spraying and will create conditions for the development of a number of fungal diseases: downy mildews on vegetable crops and vines, brown rot on the fruits of earlier cherry varieties, grey mould on strawberries, scab on fruit trees, etc.

At the end of May and the beginning of June, an increased probability of hail is again forecast, which causes serious damage to agricultural crops and losses to the fruit harvest of currently ripening orchards.

We remind that yesterday a devastating hailstorm destroyed agricultural production in several villages in the municipalities of Sopot and Karlovo. According to preliminary estimates, nearly 70% of the production has been destroyed by the disaster. The damage to the rose plantations, which are in the fruit-bearing stage, is extensive.

Source: NIMH