The monitoring period covers the final stages of the Maize and spring wheat cultivation and harvesting, as well as the initial planting of winter wheat in October, expected to be completed in November.

Indicators show that crop condition was less favorable than during the previous year and the 5-year average in August, but recovered in September and October. Compared with the average of the past 15 years, RAIN was up 3%, the temperature was slightly below while sunshine recorded a significant increase (RADPAR +4%). The resulting BIOMSS indicator is up 7%.

The spatial NDVI patterns compared to the five-year average indicate that NDVI was above average in 26.4 % of arable land, with just below average values in 52.3% of areas; rather negative NDVI anomalies reaching 0.2 units occurred in remaining areas.  Generally crop conditions are quite mixed over the country. However NDVI patterns and VCIx largely agree in several areas: (1) favorable crops occurred in Bretagne, Aquitaine, eastern Picardie, eastern Ile de France and western Champagne-Ardennes as well as western coastal Languedoc-Roussillon; (2) unfavorable to poor crop condition occurred in Bourgogne, eastern Languedoc-Roussillon, western Rhône-Alpes and western Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur. The average VCI nevertheless averaged 0.89, and the CALF reached 99%, a significant increase over the same period last year.

Regional analysis

Considering cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, additional sub-national detail is provided for eight agro-ecological zones. They are identified in the maps by the following numbers: (54) Northern barley region, (58) Mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the Center to the Atlantic Ocean, (55) Maize_barley and livestock zone along the English Channel, (56) Rapeseed zone of eastern France, (51) Dry Massif Central zone, (57) Southwestern maize zone,  (52) Eastern Alpes region and (53) the Mediterranean zone.

In the Northern barley region both TEMP and RADPAR were above average (by 0.7°C and 8%, respectively), while RAIN was 15% down. High VCIx values (0.98) reflect overall satisfactory crop condition.

The Maize/barley and livestock zone along the English Channel recorded 260 mm of rainfall over four months, which is average. The temperature was average as well, but RADPAR was 5% above. The  BIOMSS rose 9% compared to average. The NDVI profile confirms the conditions of crop was better than during the same period in 2018.

The Mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the center to the Atlantic Ocean experienced warm temperature (up 1.1℃), RAIN was 2% above average, while RADPAR was 5% above. According to the NDVI profile and VCIx map, crop condition was better than last year.

Mostly unfavorable climatic conditions dominated the Rapeseed zone of eastern France with rainfall was 15% below average (302 mm). Temperature was 1.2℃ above, and radiation was 6% above average.  The CALF reached almost 100% VCIx at 0.88 and with BIOMSS up 7%. The overall situation improved compared with the same period of last year.

The Dry Massif Central zone recorded a 3 rainfall increase, with above average values for both RADPAR (4%) and TEMP (1.2°C). BIOMSS for the region is 4% above the average, and VCIx is fair (0.80). Crop condition is assessed as generally unsatisfactory.

The Southwestern maize zone is one of the major irrigated maize regions in France. The rainfall was up 8% above average, the temperature was above average (+0.9°C), but radiation was above expected values (RADPAR +4%). Crop condition was a little above average according to the NDVI development graph, as confirmed by the 5% increase of BIOMSS.  The VCIx map, however, shows that the crop condition was favorable.

Generally, environmental conditions for the eastern Alpes region were close to average with the following values: RAIN +17%, TEMP +0.8°C, and RADPAR+2%. CALF was 97% during the monitoring period, the average VCIx is 0.86 and BIOMSS is up 3%. The NDVI profile confirms the generally fair crop condition.

Finally, the largest departures were observed in the Mediterranean zone, especially for rainfall  (+42%) even if other indicators remain closer to average: TEMP up 0.9°C and RADPAR up +1%. According to the NDVI profiles, crop condition remained favorable since July. BIOMSS was 10% above average, and the VCIx value reached 0.87. CALF increased 2% to 96%. Crops condition is fair.

Figure 3.13 a. France phenology of majorcrops

Figure 3.13 b. France national levelcrop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the July-October 2019period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.13 c. France maximum VCI forJuly-October  2019 by pixel

Figure 3.13 d. France spatial NDVIpatterns up to October 2019 according to local cropping patterns and comparedtothe 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles(right).

Figure 3.13 f. Northern barley region(France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Figure3.13 g. Mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the Center to the AtlanticOcean  (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13 h. Maize barley andlivestock zone along the English Channel crop condition development graphbasedon NDVI.

Figure 3.13 i. Rapeseed zone of easternFrance crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Figure 3.13 j.Dry Massif Centralzone(France)crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Figure 3.13 k. Southwestern maizezone(France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13 l. Eastern Alpesregion(France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Figure 3.13 m. the Mediterraneanzone(France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Table 3.14. France agroclimaticindicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from15YA, July - October 2019

Table 3.15. France agronomicindicatorsby sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from5YA,  July - October 2019