In the Ukraine, maize, winter wheat and canola were the major crops in the field between April and July. Maize was planted in May and winter wheat was harvested in July.

At the national level, rainfall was abundant (RAIN 374 mm, +24%) during this monitoring period, while temperatures were cooler (TEMP 15.4 ℃, -0.7℃ ) with close-to-average RADPAR (-2%). Agroclimatic conditions results in close to average potential biomass is normal (-1%) as compared to the 15YA. Almost all cropland was cultivated (CALF 100%) and the maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx) reached 0.97. NDVI at the national level recovered from below-average levels in April to normal levels in late May and subsequently exceeded the 5YA maximum in July.  NDVI on 84.6% of the cropland was at or higher than the 5YA at the end of July, which indicated most of the crops were in good conditions. However, the remaining 15.4% of cropland, mainly concentrated in southern areas, especially in Odessa and Crimea experienced a depression in July. According to its spatial pattern, the VCIx of most cropland in this period was between 0.8 and 1, confirming the favorable crop conditions. 

In summary, weather conditions were positive for crop growth, resulting in favorable conditions for winter wheat and maize. 

Regional analysis

Regional analyses are provided for four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) defined by their cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions. They are referred to as Central wheat area with the Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad Oblasts; Northern wheat area with Rivne; Eastern Carpathian hills with Lviv, Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts and Southern wheat and maize area with Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblasts.

The Central wheat area and Southern wheat and maize area experienced similar conditions in this period. They recorded abundant rainfall (384 mm, +34% and 381 mm, +55%, respectively). Both had cooler temperature (-0.8℃) and less sunshine (-4%) as compared to the 15YA. Potential biomass for both regions was estimated 4% lower than the 15YA average. CALF reached 100% for both areas with a favorable VCIx (0.96 and 0.99 respectively). Crop development based on NDVI also showed near or above average levels starting in June. Based on the above information, above average production of wheat and maize in these two zones can be expected. 

The other two AEZs, Eastern Carpathian hills and Northern wheat area, generally showed normal conditions during this season, near average rainfall (-7 and+8%, respectively) and normal sunshine (0 and +1%, respectively) with cooler temperatures (-0.7 and -0.4℃). The BIOMSS indicator reached 493 and 531 gDM/m² respectively, which were very close to the 15YA average (+1% and +4%) as compared to the 15YA. The agronomic indicators show a very good CALF (100%) and VCIx (0.94 and 0.95). The NDVI development profile also confirmed favorable conditions starting in mid-June, when they started to surpass the 5YA. Conditions for the crops were favorable.

Figure 3.41 Ukraine'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                        (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Time series rainfall profile

(g) Time series temperature profile

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central wheat area)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Eastern Carpathian hills)

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Northern wheat area)

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Southern wheat and maize area)

(l) Proportion of drought categories from January-July 2021

Table 3.73 Ukraine's agro-climatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA,  April-July 2021

Table 3.74 Ukraine's agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's valuesand departure from 5YA, April-July 2021