Winter wheat had reached maturity by July while the planting of maize and spring wheat was completed in May. Their harvest of the three crops starts in July and extends into September for summer crops such as maize, rice, potatoes and sunflower. CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show  an 11% drop in RAIN compared to average, about average temperature, and a 5% increase in RADPAR at the national level.

Based on NDVI,  crop condition was slightly below average. Values were mostly below those for 2018, but close to the five-year average from April to May. The national NDVI values began to drop slightly below average from Jan to Feb, at a time which recorded abundant of rainfall. NDVI was consistently above average in 35.9% of cropped areas. This spatial pattern is reflected by VCIx, which reached 0.94 on average. Generally, despite a decrease in rainfall, RADPAR increased in most regions and the resulting BIOMSS is up 9%.

Regional analysis

Considering cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, additional sub-national detail is provided for eight agro-ecological zones. They were identified as Northern barley region; Mixed maize, barley and rapeseed zone from the Center to the Atlantic Ocean; Maize, barley and livestock zone along the English Channel;  Rapeseed zone of eastern France; Dry Massif Central zone; South-western maize zone; Eastern Alpes region and the Mediterranean zone. 

In the Northern barley region both RAIN and TEMP were below average (27% and 0.2°C, respectively), while RADPAR 14% above. Although rainfall was below normal, VCIx was high (0.99), land was fully cropped (100%) and BIOMSS increased, pointing at favorable crops.

The Mixed maize, barley and rapeseed zone RAIN was 17%  below average, temperature about average and RADPAR up 8%. According to the NDVI profile and VCIx map, crop condition was good in the region. Overall, the situation is considered to be close to average.

Mostly unfavorable climatic conditions dominated the Maize, barley and livestock zone. Rainfall was 22% below average. Temperature and radiation (RADPAR) were normal. The dry conditions have hampered crop growth.

The Rapeseed zone recorded 309 mm of rainfall over four months (RAIN -27%).Temperature was average but RADPAR was 7% above. The increase in BIOMSS was 12% compared to the five-year average. The NDVI profile confirms the condition of crop was close average.

The dry Massif Central zone had a light rainfall deficit (RAIN -7%), with above average values for both RADPAR and TEMP. BIOMSS for the region was 8% above the five-year average, and a high VCIx value reflected the generally favorable crop condition. That overall crop condition was generally comparable with the previous five years, as confirmed by the crop condition development graph, in this minor agricultural region.

The Southwestern maize zone is one of the major irrigated maize regions in France. Rainfall increased by 5%, temperature was average, but radiation was above expectations. Crop condition was below average according to the NDVI development graph, in spite of an observation confirmed by the increase of BIOMSS by 3% compared to average. The VCIx map, however, showed that the crop condition was unsatisfactory, in spite of a high VCIx value recorded for the region as a whole (0.92).

Generally, crop condition for the Alpes region was above average with the following agro-climatic indicator values: RAIN +8%, TEMP -0.4°C, and RADPAR, +2%. Almost all arable land in this region was cropped during the monitoring period, and the average VCIx is 0.90. The NDVI profile confirmed the favorable crop.

Finally, the best weather conditions were observed in the Mediterranean zone (RAIN +13%) even if other indicators remained close to average. According to the NDVI profiles, crop condition has been continuously deteriorating since June. BIOMSS was 4% above its fifteen-year average.

France crop condition, April ‐July 2019

                                                                (a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                                            (c) Maximum VCI

   (d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                                                   (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Northern barley region (left) and Mixed maize, Barley and Rapeseed zone (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Maize, barley and livestock zone (left) and Rapeseed zone (right))

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Dry Massif Central zone (left) and Southwest maize zone (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Eastern Alpes region (left) and Mediterranean zone (right))

France's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season'svalues and departure from 15YA, April -July 2019