In the United Kingdom crops showed favorable conditions during this reporting period. Currently, summer crops have been harvested, while winter crops (wheat and barley) are at the sowing stage.  According to NDVI development graphs, crop condition was below average from July to October. Rainfall, radiation and biomass for the country as a whole were above average (RAIN +17%, RADPAR +4%, BIOMSS +6%) with about average temperature. 21.5% of arable land had above average crop condition at the time of reporting, including most of  eastern Leicester, northern Swindon, Southampton, and parts of Dundee. About 21.5% of the region with below average NDVI includes East  Norwich, some areas in eastern Lincoln and in eastern Canterbury. The VCIx (0.98) for the country was above average and CALF is unchanged compared to its five-year average, while the Cropping Intensity (CI -5%) was below average.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions are described below: Northern barley region, Central sparse crop region and Southern mixed wheat and barley region. All three sub-regions are characterized by unchanged fraction of arable land (CALF) compared to 5-year average.

In the northern barley region, NDVI was below average from early July to late August and close to average from late August to October. Compared to average, rainfall, sunshine and temperature were all relatively high (RAIN +6%, RADPAR +2%, TEMP +0.1℃). The biomass production potential was up 5% compared to average. The VCIx was above average at 0.97, CI (CI +2%) was above average as well. Although the winter crops season just started, no negative impacts are currently envisaged.

The central sparse crop region is one of the country's major agricultural regions in terms of production. NDVI was mostly close to average except for low values at the end of July and during early September. Rainfall (RAIN+20%) was above average, temperature  was average and radiation (RADPAR +6%) was above average, which resulted in above average BIOMSS (+8%). The CI (CI -4%) for this region was below average, while VCIx at 1.0 indicates favorable crop condition.

In the southern mixed wheat and barley zone, rainfall was above average (RAIN +27%), and temperature (TEMP -0.1℃) was about average. NDVI was below average according to the crop condition graph. The region had above average radiation (RADPAR +4%) and VCIx (0.98), close to other regions, while its CI (CI -6%) was below average. Crop condition is currently neutral.

United Kingdom crop condition, July ‐October 2019

(a) Phenology map

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

(d) Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles         (e)NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Northern Barley region (left) and Cental sparse crop region  (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Southern minxed wheat and Barley zone)

United Kingdom’s agroclimatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and  departure from 15YA, July ‐October 2019

United Kingdom’s agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and  departure from 5YA, July ‐October 2019