Ukraine’s crop condition was unfavourable duringthis monitoring period. The winter wheat’s harvest was completed before Augustand seeding began in September, while the maize harvest started in August.Weather conditions were characterized by poor rainfall from July toOctober (down 49% compared with average), while PAR was above average (+7%).The resulting potential biomass drop is 38%. According to the spatial NDVIpatterns compared to the recent five years, most pixels' VCIx value in Chernihivs'ka,Sums'ka, Poltavs'ka and Cherkas'ka in central Ukraine is larger than 1,which indicates rather good crop condition in this area.

Western Ukraine, however, underwentunfavorable conditions from July to September, including Vinnyts'ka,Khmel'nyts'ka, Ternopil's'ka and Zhytomyrs'ka, then recovered to average inOctober. As shown in the crop condition development graph, theJuly-October NDVI was lower than the recent five years due to the continuousdrought. As most of the winter wheat has been harvested before August, theyield of wheat wouldn’t be affected. The maize yield of 2015 is expected todrop in Ukraine.

 Figure 3.30. Ukraine cropcondition, July-October 2015

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(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI               (b) Maximum VCI

c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                                     (d) NDVI profile