This monitoring period covers the vegetative growth period of winter wheat in the Western European Major Production Zone (MPZ). The sowing of summer crops started in March. Overall, crop conditions were near average in most parts of the MPZ based on the interpretation of agroclimatic and agronomic indicators (figure 2.5).

The whole MPZ showed a drop in RAIN (-8% below average). Almost all the main agricultural production areas of Western European countries had lower-than-average precipitation during this monitoring period except for Germany and the Czech Republic. The temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of precipitation are as follows: (1) RAIN was below average in early- January and April in western Spain, most of France, Germany and UK, accounting for 59.8% of the entire MPZ areas; However, the precipitation in these areas was significantly higher than average from mid-January to early February, and in mid-March. (2) The precipitation in almost the entire MPZ areas was lower than the average level during the period from mid-February to

early March, and in late March. Countries with the most severe precipitation deficit included Denmark (RAIN -22%), France (RAIN -19%), Italy (RAIN -17%), Hungary (RAIN -11%) and Austria (RAIN -8%), while Germany had normal and the Czech Republic above average precipitation (RAIN +4%).

Temperature for the MPZ was sighltly below average (TEMP -0.3°C) while radiation was above average (RADPAR +4%). During the entire monitoring period, the characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution of temperature were as follows: (1) Temperature in most parts of southern Germany, France, Italy and Spain was above average from late-January to early-March, and in late March; (2) Temperature in northwestern France, UK, north-central Germany and Denmark was above average in late February and late March, while the temperature in those area was below average at other times during this monitoring period; (3) the entire MPZ had normal or below-average temperature during the remaining periods, especially in April, when temperature in 81.5% of the MPZ areas was significantly below average. This in turn slowed growth and development of the crops.

Despite of sunnier conditions, the potential BIOMSS was 6% below average due to the rainfall deficit and lower-than-usual temperatures. The lowest BIOMSS values (-20% and less) occurred in the central north of Spain, the west of France, and northwest of Italy. In contrast, BIOMSS was above average (10% and more) mainly in cenral Spain.

The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached a value of 0.82 during this reporting period, and more than 94% of arable land was cropped (i.e. 1% below the recent five-year average) in the whole MPZ. The uncropped areas of arable land were mainly located in Spain, south-eastern France, south-western Austria and northern Italy, with also discrete distributions in parts of southern Germany, northern France and the UK. The VHI minimum map shows that some pockets of France, Germany, the eastern part of the UK and Spain were affected by short spells of drought conditions.

Generally, the conditions of winter crops in the MPZ were near average. However, more rain will be needed in several important crop production areas to ensure an adequate soil moisture supply for a proper yield of winter wheat in the grain filling phase.

Figure 2.5 Western Europe MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January-April 2021

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles    b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles   d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (°C)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI minimum