The storms and hailstorms at the end of the second and the beginning of the third ten-day period of July caused serious, and in some places in the southern and eastern regions - irreparable damage to agricultural crops.

During the first half of the week, agrometeorological conditions will be determined by unstable weather. In the middle of the period, hailstorms are again forecast – another trial for agricultural crops.

Stabilization of the weather and improvement of conditions for carrying out seasonal agrotechnical activities, the most important of which is completing the wheat harvest, is expected at the end of the month.

The development of agricultural crops during the last week of July will proceed at temperatures around and above the climatic norms, and in part of the eastern regions of the country also with the presence of good soil moisture reserves - due to the significant rainfall during the past seven-day period, which in some places exceeded the monthly norms (Tutrakan - 66 l/m², Novi Pazar - 74 l/m², Dobrich - 67 l/m², Varna - 57 l/m²).

During the period, in maize, depending on its early maturity, different phases will occur: milk ripeness in early hybrids, grain formation and filling – in medium-early ones, tassel flowering and silking in late maize hybrids. In sunflowers, seed filling will take place. At the end of the month, in some places in the far southern regions, the beginning of the ripening phase will also be observed in sunflower crops sown within the agrotechnical period.

Do not underestimate the second generation of fruit worms

More suitable conditions for carrying out plant protection spraying will be created during the second half of the period. Vegetable crops, fruit trees and vines affected by hail should, at the first opportunity, be treated with copper-containing fungicides to reduce the risk of secondary infections with pathogens.

larva

In June, caterpillars from the first generation of the codling moth (Laspeyresia pomonella=Cydia pomonella) cause damage. The damage often remains unnoticed due to the June drop of young fruits. After feeding, the caterpillar leaves the damaged fruit. It lowers itself with a silk thread or crawls down the trunk and in bark crevices makes a cocoon in which it pupates. The caterpillars of the second generation of fruit worms are extremely dangerous for fruit trees in July and August. They usually cause mass worminess of the fruits.

In fruit crops at the end of July, the fight against the second generation of fruit worms should not be underestimated. Plant protection spraying should be carried out during the cooler hours of the day with products having an appropriate pre-harvest interval, consistent with the ripening period of the crops.