During this reporting period, maize and spring wheat were sown, while winter wheat was harvested in July. At the national level, rainfall was 6% above average, average temperature was 0.9℃ lower and radiation was slightly below average (-1%). With lower temperature and radiation, biomass decreased by 9%. The CALF of Romania remained unchanged (100%) and current maximum VCI is at 0.88, which is fair for production. The rainfall time series shows that it was far below average in April, close to average in May and far above average in June, while temperature was around average.  The VHI map shows that at the beginning of the reporting period, drought conditions were observed in April and May, until heavy rainfall occurred in June. According to the NDVI development curve, crop conditions were below average during April to June and reached close to average levels in July. Crop conditions are assessed as generally unfavorable. 

Regional analyses

More details are provided below for three main agro‐ecological zones: the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (160), the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (161) and the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (162).

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, compared to the 15YA, rainfall increased by 6%, while temperature and radiation were both down (TEMP -1.0℃ , RADPAR -3%) and BIOMSS decreased by 12%. According to the NDVI development, crop conditions were below the average from April to June but improved and were above average in July. The regional average VCI maximum was 0.97. The NDVI spatial distribution shows that the NDVI was decreasing in April to May and increased since June. As this region occupies only a small part of cropland in Romania, the low biomass is not significant for Romania's crop production.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains all weather related parameters decreased: Rainfall (-1%), temperature (-0.6 ºC), radiation (-1%). This resulted in a reduced estimate of  biomass (-4%). The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions dropped to  below average starting in April. The VCI max value of this region was 0.84, much lower than the other two sub regions. According to the distribution map, the light green NDVI profile line region in the southeast  (counties of Tulcea and Constanta) droped largely in April to May and increased in June and July, meanwhile the VCI maximum values in this area were very low, some even below 0.5. Spatial NDVI patterns show that the NDVI values in most areas of the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains were decreasing since April (red line), which indicates unfavorable crop conditions.

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was higher than average by 16%, temperature lower than average by 1.3℃, radiation was a bit lower (RADPAR -3%) and biomass decreased by 15%.  Maximum VCI of this region was 0.94 and the spatial distribution was between 0.5 and 1.0, a bit better than the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains.  Spatial NDVI pattern shows that NDVI slightly increased during May to July (yellow and blue line), which indicates that crop conditions were improving for this region.

Overall, crop conditions were not satisfactory in Romania during this reporting period, as indicated by the low biomass and VCI. Currently, the outlook is unfavorable for the 2020 winter wheat, but rather promising for the maize crops.

Figure 3.37 Romanias 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

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (left) and Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau)

(h) Time series rainfall profile

(i) Time series temperature profile

(j) Proportion of NDVI anomaly categories compared with 5YA

(k) Proportion of VHIn categories compared with 5YA

Table 3.65 Romania's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April – July 2020

Table 3.66 Romania's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April – July 2020