During this monitoring period, winter wheat reached the flowering stage in early May. Subsequent grainfilling was completed by late June and harvest started in July. According to the crop condition development graph, crops experienced unfavorable conditions. NDVI values were below average from April to June and attained average values in July. Agro-climatic indicators show that rainfall was below average (RAIN, -18%), radiation was above average (RADPAR, +2%) , temperature and BIOMSS were close to average. The seasonal RAIN profile presents overall below-average rainfall except for June and July.

The national average VCIx was 0.89. CALF (100%) was unchanged compared to its five-year average. The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that: (1) 31.9% of arable land, scattered around Scotland (South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, Scottish Borders), Wales, South West England (Cornwall), South East England (East Sussex), experienced average crop conditions. (2) 5% of arable land experienced slightly below-average crop conditions from April to mid-July, mainly in the East of England (Norfolk). (3) 22.2% of arable land experienced slightly below-average crop conditions, mainly in South East England. (4) 40.9% of arable land experienced below-average crop conditions from April to June, then recovered to slightly above-average crop conditions, mainly in West Midlands, East Midlands and East of England. Altogether, the conditions for wheat in the UK are assessed as below average.

Regional analysis

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

The Central sparse crop region is one of the country's major agricultural regions in terms of crop production. Crop conditions were below the five-year average according to the NDVI development graph. Rainfall was below average (RAIN -13%) with close to average temperature and radiation. Biomass was below average (BIOMSS, -2%). The VCIx was at 0.92.

In the Northern barley region, NDVI was below average or close to average. Rainfall was below average (RAIN -14%) with average temperature and radiation. Biomass was below average (BIOMSS, -2%). The VCIx was at 0.95.

In the Southern mixed wheat and barley zone, NDVI was below average according to the crop condition graph. This region experienced the largest rainfall deficit (RAIN  -26%), temperature was slightly above average (TEMP +0.2°C) and radiation was above average (RADPAR +4%). The above-average radiation and temperature resulted in the above-average biomass (BIOMSS +2%). The region had above-average VCIx (0.86).

Figure 3.17 United Kingdom crop condition, April‐July 2020

(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 3.25 United Kingdom's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April ‐July 2020

Table 3.26 United Kingdom's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, April ‐July 2020