In Zhytomyr region, only half of the planned winter crop areas have been sown, the optimal sowing period has ended.

In Zhytomyr region, the optimal sowing period for winter cereals for the 2026 harvest has passed. Almost daily rains delayed the release of fields from predecessors, which prevented timely sowing. According to the Department of Agro-Industrial Development, as of October 10, half of the planned area has been sown with winter cereals. This is reported by the Zhytomyr Regional Hydrometeorological Center. The reserves of productive moisture in the arable soil layer in most parts of the region were within good and optimal limits, 27-46 mm, while in the north-western areas, moisture supply was insufficient, 18-19 mm. The moderate temperature regime and good moisture supply in the first decade of October generally created favorable conditions for the emergence, development, and rooting of winter cereals. However, rainy weather negatively affected unharvested late crops, especially sunflower, with rotting of the baskets observed on some fields. The heat supply of the decade is lower than ...