Agrometeorological Service

the supplying by the Hydrometeorological Service of the results of meteorological observations, agrometeorological forecasts, and growth conditions of crops and yield predictions to various agricultural organs and enterprises.

Bulletins form the basic agrometeorological service in the USSR. The ten-day bulletin contains information on weather and crops for the previous ten days. It is issued by the USSR Hydrometeorological Center and by all agrometeorological subdivisions, and reflects the results of observations by a wide network of hydrometeorological stations. The five-day bulletin gives information on meteorological (weather) conditions and the course of field operations. The daily bulletin contains information on weather and the condition of crops for the previous day. The most effective form of agrometeorological service, however, is personal interaction between ag-rometeorologists and agroclimatologists on the one hand and agricultural workers on the other, who are engaged in planning and organizing agricultural measures to be taken under the specific meteorological conditions of a given year. Sovkhozes and kolkhozes are served by the agro- and hydrometeorological stations located nearest to them. Of great assistance to agricultural workers are the agroclimatic manuals compiled by the Hydrometeorological Service for all oblasts and krais of the USSR and also the special manuals of the meteorological stations for the individual districts they serve. These manuals contain information on heat and moisture resources, fluctuations of weather elements, phases of crop development, risk of frost damage, overwintering, and other such data.