February 15 2005, 08:19 APK-Inform

Ukraine: frosts did not damage winter crops

Frosts on all the territory of Ukraine had not considerably damaged Ukrainian winter crops, as Hydrometeocenter of Ukraine informed on February 15.

Experts of Hydrometeocenter suppose that there is no reason to worry about the state of winter wheat plantings. The fall of temperature was gradual and it was preceded by the forming of firm snow cover and by gradual soil freezing. All these contributed to creation of safe conditions for winter crops in case of further fall of temperature.

At the same time some thinning of undeveloped rapeseed and barley crops is possible, which is caused by their low frost-resistance. But this feature is of local character and is seen only in few South regions.

Yet there is no exact information about crops state after frosts. According to monolith growing tests of January 25, 2005 there was no considerable crops damage. In total plantings thinning from 1 to 10 percent is seen in 64 percent of tested samples - this is within the norm.

In the near future further rise of temperature and mixed precipitations are expected. As far as soil has not frozen deeply there are good prospects for moisture stocks.