During the third ten-day period of May, for winter cereals well-supplied with moisture, grain formation and filling will occur.

After the cool-for-the-season weather in mid-May, during the third ten-day period  of the month, a significant increase in temperatures, normalization of thermal conditions, and activation of vegetation processes in agricultural crops are forecast.

The expected rainfall at the end of the second and beginning of the third ten-day period in most of the field regions will maintain soil moisture reserves within optimal limits in the 50 and 100 cm layer - over 85% of FC. During the period, for winter cereal crops well supplied with moisture, grain formation and filling will occur. In the southeastern regions (Karnobat agrostation), for barley, earlier than usual, the milky ripeness phase will also be observed.

Leaf formation will occur in corn and sunflower. At the end of the period, for sunflower sown within the agrotechnical period, the beginning of inflorescence formation will also be observed.

The forecasted unstable weather with frequent rainfall during the next period will maintain an increased infectious background from fungal pathogens: late brown rot on ripening fruits of early cherry varieties, gray mold on strawberries, downy mildew on vines and vegetable crops, scab on pome fruit species, etc.

Cherry fly

During the third ten-day period of May, the cherry fruit fly causes damage to mid-early cherry varieties. To limit damage from this pest, treatment is recommended at the beginning of the fruit ripening phase (when cherry fruits begin to slightly pinken) with an insecticide with a short withholding period.

In vineyards, surveys should continue for the presence and harmful activity of the first generation larvae of the grape berry moth,  and in fruit  crops – for the codling moth, plum fruit moth, and oriental fruit moth.

During the period, the increased moisture content in the upper soil layers will limit seasonal soil cultivation and the fight against competitive weed vegetation.

Source NIMH