The reporting period covers the over-wintering and spring green-up periods for the important winter cereals in the Western European Major Production Zone (MPZ). The sowing of summer crops started in March. Overall, crop conditions were average in most parts of the MPZ based on the interpretation of agroclimatic and agronomic indicators (figure 2.5). Crops of this region are mainly rainfed, agro-meteorological conditions play decisive role.

The precipitation deficit that had been observed during the previous monitoring period continued. On average, precipitation was below average (-21%). There were significant spatial and temporal differences in precipitation between the countries: (1) Precipitation in North central Spain, Northwestern and Central-Eastern parts of Italy, most of the Czech Republic, Southwestern Slovakia, Northeastern Austria and Western part of Hungary, covering 28.4% of the MPZ areas, was near or below average, except for mid-March; (2) Precipitation was below average on 30.9% of the MPZ. The affected area covered most of Germany, Denmark and northeastern France. Only in early January, early February, mid-March and early April was precipitation significantly above average; (3) For the rest of the monitoring area (40.8%), covering most parts of UK and France, Northern and Southeastern Italy, precipitation was significantly below average, except for slightly above-average precipitation in early January, early February, mid-March and early April. Almost all western European countries covered by the MPZ had below-average precipitation. The countries with the most severe precipitation departures included Italy (RAIN -51%), Hungary (RAIN -38%), Spain (RAIN -36%), France (RAIN -29%), UK (RAIN -21%), Austria (RAIN -20%) and Slovakia (RAIN -18%). The pronounced and intermittent precipitation deficit in the southern part of the MPZ may have negatively impacted winter crop growth.

Temperature for the MPZ as a whole was above average (TEMP +0.4%) and radiation was above average with RADPAR at +5%. As shown in the spatial distribution of temperature profiles, 62.4 percent of the MPZ areas (UK, Spain, France, northeastern Italy, most of the Czech Republic, Southwestern Slovakia, Northeastern Austria and Western part of Hungary) experienced warmer-than-usual conditions throughout the monitoring period, except for mid-late-January and early-April; 17.5 percent of the MPZ areas (Northern Germany and Denmark) experienced significant above -average temperatures throughout the monitoring period, except for early March and April; 20.1 percent of the MPZ areas (Southern Germany and Northern, Central and Southeastern Italy) experienced warmer-than-usual conditions during the monitoring period, except for the period in mid-January, late February, mid-early March and April. In addition, cold snaps swept through the MPZ in early March and early April, but had a very limited impact on winter crops, as they were not yet in the frost sensitive flowering period.

Due to the precipitation deficit, the potential BIOMSS was 6% below average. The lowest BIOMSS values (-20% and less) were observed for most parts of Spain and Italy, and the west of France. In contrast, BIOMSS was above average (+10% and more) mainly in Southeastern Spain, Northern UK, Northern Germany and Denmark.

The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached a value of 0.88 during this reporting period, whichs is at normal level. However, crops in northern area were just sown and waiter for further monitoring. More than 94% of arable land was cropped, which is same as the recent five-year average in the whole MPZ. The uncropped areas of arable land were mainly located in the southern regions of the MPZ, such as Northern Italy, Eastern and Southeastern Spain, Southeastern France and Southwestern Austria, and few pockets in parts of Germany, Northern and Southwestern France and the UK. The VHI minimum map shows that some pockets of France, Germany, Central region of UK, Spain and Italy were affected by short spells of drought conditions

Generally, the conditions of winter crops in the MPZ were favorable, but more rain will be needed in several important crop production areas to ensure an adequate soil moisture supply during the grain-filling phase of the winter cereals and growth of summer crops.

Figure 2.5 Western Europe MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January-April 2022

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles    b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles   d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (°C)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped and uncropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI minimum