Farmers fear that if it does not snow in the near future, the grains sowed in autumn may freeze when the weather grows colder. Contacted by IPN, Nicanor Buzovoi said the grains started to sprout and snow is needed to protect the plants from frost.

“Now the plants are in a very good state and have the normal height where they were sowed on time. They gathered the sugar needed to develop. The crops that were sowed with delay are in a worse state. If temperatures continue to grow and reach plus 6-8°C on the ground, the plants will be affected,” stated Nicanor Buzovoi.

The winter wheat needs a layer of several centimeters of snow to be isolated from the cold air so as not to freeze until spring. For the snow not to melt, the temperatures must be below 0°C.

Temperatures of up to 8°C were forecast for the next few days. No precipitation is expected by January 1.

About 446,000 hectares have been sowed with winter crops this autumn.