This report covers the vegetative growth period of winter wheat, winter barley and rapeseed. According to the crop condition development graph, NDVI values were below average from January to April. Although the temporal NDVI graphs showed below average conditions, the agroclimatic conditions were favorable.  Rainfall (RAIN, +13%), temperatures (TEMP, +0.8°C) and radiation were above average (RADPAR, +9%). Favorable agroclimatic conditions resulted in above-average biomass (BIOMSS, +11%). The seasonal RAIN profile presents overall above-average rainfall except in April. Rainfall surpassed the 15YA in February and may have been excessive in some parts of the kingdom. 

The national average VCIx was 0.82. CALF (99%) was unchanged compared to its five-year average. The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that: (1) 48.8% of arable land, scattered around  East Midland ( Leicestershire), Southeast England (West Sussex, Hampshire) and Southwest England (Devon), experienced slightly above-average or average crop conditions,. (2) 14.7% of arable land experienced significantly below-average crop conditions in January and subsequently recovered to average crop conditions. It covered mainly Southeast England (East Sussex). (3) 23.3% of arable land  experienced below-average crop conditions except average crop conditions in January. This was the case for East Midlands (Lincoinshire), East of England (Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire), and Southeast England (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire). (4)13.2% of arable land  experienced below average crop conditions, mainly in the east and south of the United Kingdom, including Scotland (Aberdeenshire)，Yorkshire and the Humber (East Riding of Yorkshire), East of England (Norfolk), Southwest England (Dorset) and Southeast England (Hampshire and Kent). 

Altogether, the conditions for wheat in the UK are assessed to be slightly above average.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions can be distinguished: 1) Central sparse crop region, 2) Northern barley region, and 3) Southern mixed wheat and barley region. The fractions of arable land (CALF) in all subregions are average compared to the 5-year average.

The Central sparse crop region is one of the major agricultural regions in terms of crop production. Rainfall, temperature and radiation were above average (RAIN +17%; TEMP, +0.7°C; RADPAR, +11%)，which resulted in biomass estimates that were above average (BIOMSS, +12%). NDVI values were slightly below or near average according to the region's crop condition development graph in this reporting period. The VCIx was at 0.90. Altogether, the conditions for wheat are expected to be above average. 

Northern barley region experienced above-average rain, temperature and radiation (RAIN +9%; TEMP, +0.5°C; RADPAR, +12%). Biomass was above average (BIOMSS, +13%). NDVI was slightly below or near average according to the crop condition graphs in this reporting period. The VCIx was 0.86. Altogether, the output of wheat is expected to be slightly above average. 

Southern mixed wheat and barley zone experienced similar agroclimatic conditions as the other regions. Rainfall, temperature and radiation were above average (RAIN +14%; TEMP, +1.0°C; RADPAR, +8%)，which resulted in the biomass estimates that were above average (BIOMSS, +8%). NDVI was below average according to the crop condition graph in this reporting period. The VCIx was 0.79, slightly less than the other regions. Altogether, the output of wheat is expected to be around average. 

(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) Time series rainfall pofile (left) and temperature pofile (right) 

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

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Southern mixed wheat and Barley zone)

Table 3.xx. United Kingdom's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2020

Table 3.xx. United Kingdom's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, January - April 2020