The reporting period includes the harvest of wheat (which started in July), the sowing of the 2020-21 winter wheat (which started in September) and also the harvest of maize and other summer crops in September. Overall, crop conditions were fair. Rainfall was 38% lower than average; TEMP (-0.5°C) was below the 15YA, whereas RADPAR (+3%) was a bit higher than average and BIOMSS (-18%) was below average. The nationwide NDVI profile shows that crop conditions were a bit lower than average from July to early October and above average in late October. The temperature fluctuated around above-average levels and rainfall was below average in August. The southeast suffered from drought conditions, which had started already in the previous reporting period. The CALF of Romania during the reporting period was 99%, 1% lower than average and the maximum VCI was 0.84, which was fair. According to the spatial distribution of VCIx, the eastern subregion has higher values (0.8-1.0) than the western and central subregion  (0.5-0.8). The NDVI pattern profile shows that regions marked with blue color located in the western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau experienced a sharp decrease during July-October. NDVI was also far below average in the eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plain, shown in light green and red. Conditions improved in October, but all major summer crops grown in that region had reached maturity by then. These crops suffered from drought conditions, which had been observed already in the previous report. Hence, production prospects for this important region of Romania are unfavorable, while they are closer to normal for the other regions.

Regional analysis

More spatial detail is provided below for three main agro-ecological zones: Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (106), the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (104) and the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (105).

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was lower than average by 39%, temperature was average (-0.4℃) and radiation was a bit higher (RADPAR +2%), and biomass decreased 17%, due to a decrease in rainfall. Spatial NDVI profiles show that crop condition was worse than average during July to early September, covering the growing periods of maize and spring wheat. Maximum VCI of this region was 0.80, a bit low and the spatial distribution was between 0.5 and 1.0. Also, the NDVI development decreased from July to October, consistent with the VCI values. The cropping intensity is 110, 9% higher than last year.

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, rainfall decreased by as much as 41% below average while temperature decreased 0.6℃ and radiation increased 3%, and BIOMSS decreased 21%. The maximum VCI map shows values above 0.8, with the regional average at 0.84. The NDVI spatial distribution shows that NDVI was below average from July to August. As this AEZ occupies only a small fraction of cropland in Romania, a small patch of irrigated land in Transylvania, its fair NDVI cannot represent much of Romania's crop production. The cropping intensity is 108, 8% higher than last year.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall decreased 38%, temperature decreased 0.5℃, radiation increased by 4% and biomass decreased 18%. The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions were close to, yet a bit lower than average. The decrease of precipitation in this period caused drought conditions. VCIx value of this region was 0.86 and according to the distribution map, VCIx values were between 0.8-1.0 in most of the central and middle region (counties of Tulcea and Constanta), representing about 14.3% of national cropland. The cropping intensity was 129, 19% higher than last year.

Overall, the widespread lack of rainfall has caused a negative impact on crop conditions and the production prospect is unfavorable.

Figure 3.38. Romania’s crop condition, July-October 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, July-October 2021

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