Agrometeorologists urge farmers in Macedonia: High temperatures require crop irrigation

Agrometeorologists recommend that farmers irrigate agricultural land, especially spring and industrial crops, and also carry out shallow tillage to retain moisture and prevent crust formation on the surface.

According to them, the current summer conditions with high temperatures also require measures to eliminate weeds, while plants should be protected from the appearance and spread of diseases and pests.

Agrometeorologists from the Hydrometeorological Affairs Administration emphasize that this is a period when all agricultural crops have high and continuous water demands. For this reason, they advise irrigating crops, particularly spring and industrial ones. According to them, agricultural producers can continue activities and care for crops, as well as fieldwork, but due to the high temperatures irrigation should be considered essential. They also underline that attention should be paid to preparing machinery for the upcoming grain harvest, while crops should be kept under regular observation.

As they recall, during the past week the weather was mostly sunny and hot, with some local cloudiness and occasional torrential rainfall.

According to the agrometeorologists, these atmospheric conditions have been favorable for the ripening of some types of fruit, such as cherries and sour cherries, as well as some types of vegetables. They have also had a positive impact on the growth and intensive development of corn, sunflower, and other spring crops. They note that grapevines are in the bunch-closing stage and that during this phenophase regular soil cultivation should be carried out in vineyards in order to destroy weeds and preserve moisture. At the same time, regular protection against diseases and pests should also continue.