This monitoring period covers the overwintering of fall-sown crops and the sowing of spring crops. In late April, winter wheat and barley were at the late vegetative stages, and spring wheat and maize were being planted. Generally, the crop conditions in Germany were near average in most regions based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators.

At the national level, total precipitation and solar radiation were above average (RAIN, +5%; RADPAR, +0.9%), whereas temperatures were below average (TEMP, -0.9°C). High rainfall occurred from mid-January to early February and in mid-March, whereas negative rainfall departures were observed from mid-February to early March and in late-March. Most of the country experienced cooler-than-usual conditions during this reporting period, except for late-February and late-March. Due to cooler-than-normal temperatures, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) is estimated to decrease by 8% nationwide as compared to the fifteen-year average.

As shown in the crop condition development graph and the NDVI profiles at the national level, NDVI values were below average due snow cover in January. These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: 54.6% of regional NDVI values were below average in late January, and 91.9% of the area dropped to below average in early February. Overall VCIx for Germany was 0.84. CALF during the reporting period was 1% below the recent five-year average.  

Generally, the agronomic indicators show that the crops developed more slowly than usual, due to below-average temperatures. But prospects for crop production are favorable.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, six sub-national agro-ecological regions are adopted for Germany. They include: the Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast, Mixed wheat and sugar beets zone of the North-west, Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia, Sparse crop area of the east-German lake and Heathland area, Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif and the Bavarian Plateau.

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast are among the major winter wheat zones of Germany. The region experienced cooler weather (TEMP, -0.6°C), below-average radiation (RADPAR, -1%) and rainfall (RAIN -13%). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to decrease by 6% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period, and then improved to close to average from late February to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.86), indicating a highly cropped area. 

Wheat and sugarbeets are the major crops in the Mixed Wheat and Sugarbeet Zone of the Northwest. According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators,   temperature was below average (TEMP -0.8°C), while rainfall and radiation were both above average (RAIN +5%; RADPAR +11%), which led to a decrease in  BIOMSS by 7%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in early January and early February, and then near average from late February to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) and crop conditions for the region are favorable according to the high VCIx (0.88).

Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. RAIN was above average (+9%) , but TEMP and RADPAR  were below average (-1.2°C and -2% respectively) . Mostly due to cooler-than-normal temperatures and less sunshine, the biomass potential (BIOMSS) decreased by 8% as compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period, and remained below average from late February to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) and the VCIx was 0.85 for this region.

Average to above-average precipitation was recorded in the East-German Lake and Heathland Sparse Crop Area (RAIN +7%). TEMP and RADPAR  were below average (-1.2°C and -5%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) decreased by 10% as compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period, and remained below average from late February to late April. The area has a high CALF (98%) and the VCIx was 0.82 for this region.

Crop conditions were also unfavorable in the Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif. Average to above-average precipitation was recorded in this region (RAIN +6%), with below-average temperature (TEMP -0.8°C) and above-average solar radiation (RADPAR +2%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) decreased by 6% compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period, and stayed below average from late February to late April. The VCIx values was 0.81 for the western areas.  The CALF was 99% for the regions.

On average, almost normal rainfall was recorded for the Bavarian Plateau (RAIN -4%), with below-average temperature (-0.9°C) and above-average radiation (RADPAR +5%). Compared to the five-year average, BIOMSS decreased by 9%. The area had a high CALF (97%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.82). As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period, and remained below average from late February to late April. 

Figure 3.13. Germany’s crop condition, January-April 2021

 (a) Phenology of major crops in Germany

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the January-April 2021 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(c) Maximum VCI for the January-April 2021 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Germany up to April 2021 according to local cropping patterns and as compared to the 5YA (left) and associated NDVI profiles (right)

(e) Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Germany comparing the January-April 2021 period to the previous season and the fifteen-year average (15YA) and maximum

(f) Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(g) Mixed wheat and sugarbeets zone of the north-west crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(h) Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(i) East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and  temperature (right)

(j) Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

(k) Bavarian Plateau crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

Table 3.17 Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA,  January-April 2021

Table 3.18 Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA,  January-April 2021