Between April and July, maize and winter wheat are the major crops in the field. Maize was planted in May and winter wheat was harvested in July.

Rainfall  was above average (338 mm, +15%) with both TEMP and RADPAR approximately average. Most cropland was cultivated (CALF 100%) and maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx) reached to 0.96. As a result, potential biomass increased to 584g DM/m², 6% above average.

At the national level, NDVI was generally close to 5-year-average, even if June and July were slightly below.  18.7% of cropland concentrated in the South and East dropped dramatically in June and July. Mostly in the West, NDVI rose in June ( 24.3% of cropland). VCIx was above 0.8 in most areas with low values below 0.5 occurring only around Odessa. On the whole, crop condition was favorable.

Regional analysis

Regional analyses are provided for four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) defined by their cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions. They are referred to as Central wheat area with the Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad Oblasts; Northern wheat area with Rivne; Eastern Carpathian hills with Lviv, Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts and Southern wheat and maize area with Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblasts.

The Central wheat area had sufficient rainfall (327mm,+16% compared with average) while no significant change occurred for temperature (16.4℃,+0.4℃) and radiation (RADPAR 1250MJ/m²,+2%). The BIOMASS (587 g DM/m²) increased 6%, and the CALF reached 100% with a favorable VCIx (0.96).

The Northern wheat area received 398 mm of rainfall, +27% compared to but both TEMP and RADPAR were closer to average (15.5℃, up 0.3℃; 1210 MJ/m², 3% higher than the average). Because of favorable conditions, the BIOMASS indicator reached 538 g DM/m2, 7% above average. The CALF was 100% and maximum VCIx was 0.97. Overall crop prospects are favorable.

The conditions in the Eastern Carpathian hills differed little from those in the previous two AEZs: adequate rainfall (474mm,+12%), normal temperature (14.3℃, +0.1℃) and RADPAR (1203MJ/m², 0%), good CALF (100%) and VCIx at 0.96. Resulting from favorable agro-climatic and agronomic condition, BIOMASS reached 523g DM/m², +4% above average.

The Southern wheat and maize area had normal rainfall (243mm) and RADPAR (1283MJ/m²,+1%) and slightly above average temperature (17.8℃, +0.5℃) and RADPAR. With CALF at 100%, favorable VCIx value at 0.95 and a biomass production potential up 6%, a good crop is expected.

Figure 3.40. Ukraine's 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 (Central wheat area)

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Northern wheat area)

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Eastern Carpathian hills)

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Southern wheat and maize area)

Table 3.55. Ukraine agroclimatic indicators by agroecological zones, current season values and departure from 15YA, April- July 2019

Table 3.56. Ukraine agronomic indicators by agroecological zones, current season values and departure from 5YA/15YA,  April- July 2019