The reporting period covers the core of the winter crops season of the continental Western European MPZ: winter crops were overwintering or beyond dormancy and summer crops have been planted, and will continue to be planted in the cooler areas. Crop condition was generally above average in most parts of MPZ based on the integration of agroclimatic and agronomic indicators (figure 2.5).

A large contrast is observed among countries in relation to rain. The whole MPZ showed a large drop in RAIN (9% below average), quite larger than in the other major agricultural zones in the world (Table 2.1). The spatial distribution of rainfall profiles indicates that the poor precipitation was observed in 50% of the entire MPZ (most of France, Italy, Spain, south-eastern Czech Republic, eastern Austria, southern Slovakia and Hungary) almost throughout the monitoring period. The most severely affected countries were Austria (RAIN -25%), Italy (RAIN -24%), Spain (RAIN -19%) and France (RAIN -18%). Crop growth in of the major winter wheat producing areas (eastern Hungary and central France) was impacted by continuous dry weather conditions. The other half of the cropland in the MPZ recorded above average precipitation in early February and late February to early March.

Temperature (TEMP) for the MPZ as a whole was above average (+0.3°C), and radiation was well above average with RADPAR at +5%. Most parts of MPZ experienced warmer-than-usual conditions from February to March, while below the average temperature mostly occurred in January; frost damage had very limited impact on crop growth. Planting of spring crops is well advanced in most regions based on the agroclimatic indicators but in the region that was affected by the persistent dry weather, only 94% of arable lands were cropped (i.e. 1%  below average) in the area including Hungary, Austria, Italy, central France and Spain. More rain is needed in the coming months to raise soil moisture levels, and create favorable conditions for the growth of winter crops.

Due to more than 50% of the region experiencing persistent dry weather and overall warmer-than-usual conditions for the MPZ, the biomass accumulation potential BIOMSS was 6% below average. The lowest BIOMSS values (-20% and below) occurred in Hungary, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and UK, and this spatial distribution is consistent with the above-mentioned precipitation deficit region. In contrast, BIOMSS was above average (sometimes exceeding a 10% departure) over Germany and Denmark. The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached 0.91.

Generally,  crop  condition  of winter crops in Western  Europe  was  favorable,  but  more  rain  will be  needed  in  several important crop production areas to ensure an adequate soil moisture supply for the ongoing winter.

Figure 2.5. Western EuropeMPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January to April 2019.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles              b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles     d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (mm)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI minimum