Meteorological forecast for the second half of August

As a result of the high temperatures during the first half of August in the southwestern regions of the country (the Petrich area), the grape harvest of the white wine varieties Muscat Ottonel and Chardonnay started earlier than the usual dates. 

During the first half of the period, the forecast above-normal temperatures will accelerate the final stages of development of the late agricultural crops. At the end of the second ten-day period, wax and full maturity will be observed in medium-early maize hybrids. During the period, in medium-late hybrids, the milk stage and transition to wax maturity will take place, and in late hybrids – grain filling. In sunflower, technical maturity will predominate in the field areas. At the beginning of the third ten-day period, the ripening stage will be observed in soybean, the beginning of boll opening in cotton, and the milk maturity stage in rice. Part of the early white wine grape varieties in Southern Bulgaria will enter technological maturity. 

As a result of the high temperatures during the first half of August in the southwestern regions of the country (the Petrich area), the grape harvest of the white wine varieties Muscat Ottonel and Chardonnay started earlier than the usual dates. 

During the second half of the period, a substantial decrease in temperatures and a change in agrometeorological conditions are forecast. The expected precipitation, belated for part of the spring crops in the eastern and southern regions of the country, will improve the water-physical condition of the soil in the arable layer, which is a prerequisite for higher-quality execution of deep ploughing and pre-sowing tillage of the areas intended for sowing with rapeseed. During the third ten-day period of August, the agrotechnical time frames for sowing winter rapeseed begin.

Favourable conditions for carrying out the sunflower harvest, which has started in places in Southern Bulgaria, will occur during the first half of the period.

Source: NIMH-BAS