The planting of winter wheat, winter barley and rapeseed took place between September and November. The NDVI development curves were close to the 5-year average in the monitoring period except for late December，which may be caused by cloud or snow.  Rainfall for the country was below average (RAIN -15%), while temperature (TEMP +0.5°C) and (RADPAR +1%) were above average. The below-average rainfall resulted in a slightly below-average biomass (BIOMSS -1%). The seasonal RAIN profile shows that the rainfall was fluctuating in the monitoring period. The TEMP profile shows that temperature was overall above or close to average except late November and early December.

The national average VCIx was 0.95. CALF (100%) was unchanged compared to its five-year average. The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that: (1) 51.7% of arable land experienced average crop conditions, mainly in East of England and North East England. (2) 5% of arable land, mainly in East Midlands  had average crop conditions during most of the monitoring period, except for early January when they were above average. (3) 43.4% of arable land experienced average crop conditions from October to early December before a marked drop in mid-December, and subsequently recovered to average in January, mainly in Southeast England and Southwest England. Most likely, the large drops of NDVI can be attributed to cloud cover in the satellite images and snow. Altogether, the conditions for winter wheat in the UK are assessed as normal.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions are described below: Northern barley region, Central sparse crop region and Southern mixed wheat and barley region. All three sub-regions are characterized by an unchanged fraction of cropped arable land (CALF) compared to the 5YA.

In the Northern barley region, NDVI was close to average or below average. Rainfall (RAIN -9%) and radiation (RADPAR -12%) were below average , and temperature (TEMP +0.7°C) was above average. Biomass was above average (BIOMSS +5%). The VCIx was 1.

The Central sparse crop region is one of the country's major regions for crop production.  NDVI was close to average or below average except for late January. Rainfall (RAIN -12%) and radiation (RADPAR -3%) were below average ,  and temperatures (TEMP +0.6°C) were above average. Biomass（BIOMSS +4%）was above average. The VCIx was 0.98.

In the Southern mixed wheat and barley zone, NDVI was close to average except for early January. This region experienced the largest rainfall deficit (RAIN -24%), while radiation (RADPAR +9%) and temperature (TEMP +0.3°C) were below average. The below-average rainfall resulted in the below-average biomass (BIOMSS -6%).  The VCIx was 0.92.

Figure 3.17 United Kingdom crop condition, October 2021-January 2022

(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 (left) and temperature profile (right) 

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Northern Barley region (left) and Central sparse crop region (right))

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Southern mixed wheat and Barley zone)

Table 3.25 United Kingdom's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2021-January 2022

Table 3.26 United Kingdom's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, October 2021-January 2022