During this reporting period, maize and spring wheat were sown, while winter wheat was harvested in July. At the national level, rainfall was 16% below average, average temperature was 0.8℃ lower and radiation was slightly above average (+1%). Higher radiation compensated for the negative impact of lower temperature and rainfall, resulting in an average biomass production. The CALF of Romania remained unchanged (100%) and the maximum VCI was at 0.94, which was fair for production. The rainfall time series shows that it was around average in April, far below average in May, early June and July, impacting the growth of maize and wheat. The temperature was below average in April and above average in July.  The VHI map shows that drought conditions were not serious during the reporting period. According to the NDVI development curve, crop conditions were below average from April to June and reached close-to-average levels in July. Crop conditions are assessed as generally favorable. 

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 decreased by 20%, temperature was down by 0.7℃, radiation was above average (RADPAR +1%) and BIOMSS increased by 2%. According to the NDVI development, crop conditions were below average during the reporting period. The regional average VCI maximum was 0.92. This region occupies only a small part of cropland in Romania, thus the below-average vegetation conditions have little impact on Romania's crop production.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall decreased by 12%, temperature was 0.9 ºC lower than average and radiation remained average. This resulted in a reduced estimate of biomass (-2%). The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions dropped to below average in April and then improved. The VCI max value of this region was 0.95. According to the distribution map, the blue NDVI profile line region in the southeast (counties of Tulcea and Constanta) dropped largely in June and July, meanwhile the VCI maximum values in this area were between 0.8 and 1.0. All indicators show that the crop condition in this region was fair.

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was lower than average by 19%.Temperature was also lower than average by 0.6℃, radiation was a bit higher (RADPAR +3%) and biomass increased by 4%. Maximum VCI of this region was 0.89 and the spatial distribution was between 0.5 and 1.0.  Spatial NDVI pattern shows that NDVI increased in the central region from May to July (red line) and NDVI of the western region was constant (green line), which indicates that crop conditions were fair for this region.

Overall, crop conditions were fair and close to average in Romania during this reporting period. Currently, the outlook is favorable for wheat and maize.

Figure 3.37 Romania's crop condition, April–July 2021

(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 2021

Table 3.66 Romania's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April – July 2021