From April to July, the condition of crops in Germany was generally below the 15 year average and worse than in 2018. This applies to already harvested winter wheat and spring wheat  and maize which are nearing harvest. 

At the national level, total precipitation was significantly below average (RAIN, -18%), temperature was slightly above (Temp, +0.2°C) and radiation more significantly above (RADPAR, +4%). Above average precipitation occurred in most of Germany from late-April to mid-May, mid-June and mid-July, except in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schieswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Baden-Wurttemberg in mid-May and mid-July. Warmer-than-usual conditions prevailed over the entire country during late June and late July. Due to favorable temperature and radiation conditions, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) is expected to increase 8% over average nationwide.

As shown by the NDVI development graph at the national scale, the reporting period experienced crop conditions that were below those of the longterm average and the last year, especially during June and July. These observations are confirmed by the spatial NDVI profiles. Conditions for more than 62.5% of cropland  were below average at some time between April and July. Only 17.1% had crops that were above average during the entire monitoring period. On about 80% of arable land summer crops were below average after June according to the NDVI, as a result of warm temperature coupled with a persistent rainfall deficit. Areas where crop growth was less than average are mostly distributed in Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, which had low VCIx value. Overall, the above-mentioned spatial pattern of crop growth is also reflected by VCIx. Its value reaches 0.93 countrywide. CALF during the reporting period was the same as the recent five-year average. 

Generally, the values of agronomic indicators show somewhat unfavorable conditions for winter crops and the sowing of summer crops in the northern-east  of the country, with a rather  favourable situation in the remaining areas, especially the south. 

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, six sub-national agro-ecological regions are adopted for Germany. They include: the Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast, Mixed wheat and sugar beets zone of the north-west, Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia, Sparse crop area of the east-German lake and Heathland area, Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif, and the Bavarian Plateau.  

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast are among the major winter wheat zones of Germany. The region experienced warm weather (TEMP, +0.3°C), above average  radiation (RADPAR, +2%) and severe rainfall deficit (RAIN, -28%). BIOMSS is expected to increase by 6% compared to average. Two heat waves affected this region in late June and late July, and the highest temperature was close to or exceeded the historical maximum temperature. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were close to or below average during the whole reporting period. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.93), indicating a high percentage of cropped area. 

Wheat and sugar-beets are major crops in the Mixed wheat and sugar-beets zone of the north-west. Compared to average, this area showed a serious precipitation deficit (RAIN, -25%), temperature was slightly above average (TEMP, +0.3°C). Radiation was well above average (RADPAR +5%). These factors caused an increase of BIOMSS by +9%. Due to the two heat waves, the NDVI values were below average during this monitoring period based on the crop condition development graph. The area had a high CALF (100%)  and a high VCIx (0.90).

Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. RAIN was below average (RAIN, -19%),  temperature was slightly above average (TEMP, +0.3°C) and radiation was above average (RADPAR, +4%). Mostly due to favorable temperature and radiation, and adequate precipitation in mid-April and mid-July, the biomass potential (BIOMSS indicator) increased by 9% above average. The mentioned heat waves led  NDVI values to be below average during this monitoring period based on the crop condition development graph. The area had a high CALF (100%)  and the VCIx of 0.92.

Crop condition was fair in the East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area, with a serious rainfall deficit (RAIN, -27%) but with above average temperature (TEMP, +0.5°C), radiation (RADPAR,+6%) and BIOMSS (+12%). The heat wave changed the NDVI values from average to below average. The area had a high CALF (100%) and a high VCIx (0.89).

In the Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show average precipitation, slightly above average temperature (TEMP +0.1°C), above-average radiation (RADPAR, +5%) and BIOMSS (+10%). Significantly above average precipitation in affected this region in early-April, from late-April to mid-May and mid-June, while the heatweaves occurred  in late June and late July.  As in the previous AEZ, NDVI changed from above average (winter crop harvest) to below average (summer crop time). The area had a high CALF (100%) and a high VCIx (0.97).

Next to wheat, two summer crops (maize and potato) are the major crops on the Bavarian Plateau. The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators showed that close to normal weather was recorded for RAIN (-14%), TEMP (+0.1°C) and RADPAR (+3%). Compared to average, BIOMSS increased by 6%  in spite of the two heat waves. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.95) with equally favorable crop prospects.

Figure 3.15. Germany’s crop condition, April-July 2019

Figure 3.15a. Germany phenology of major crops

Figure 3.15b. Germany national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the April-July 2019 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.15c. Germany maximum VCI for April-July 2019 by pixel

Figure 3.15d. Germany spatial NDVI patterns up to July 2019 according to local cropping patterns and compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

Figure 3.15e. Time series rainfall pofile (left) and temperature pofile (right) of Germany comparing the April-July 2019 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.15f. Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Figure 3.15g. Mixed wheat and sugarbeets zone of the north-west crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Figure 3.15h. Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Figure 3.15i. East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Figure 3.15j. Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Figure 3.15k. Bavarian Plateau crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and time series temperature profile (right)

Table 3.17. Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2019

Table 3.18. Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA/15YA, April-July 2019