2.6 Western Europe

This monitoring period covers the growth and grainfilling period of winter wheat. Summer crops had been sown in April and May in this Major Production Zone (MPZ).  Most crop production is rainfed.  Generally, crop conditions were average or below average in most parts of the MPZ due to persistent precipitation deficits and hot weather as indicated by the   agroclimatic and agronomic indicators (Figure 2.6).

The precipitation deficit, which had been observed during the previous two monitoring periods, continued. On average, precipitation was significantly below average (-31%). There were significant spatial and temporal differences in precipitation between the countries: (1) Precipitation in Spain, most of the Czech Republic, Southwestern Slovakia, Northeastern Austria and western part of Hungary, north-western, central and south-eastern Italy, covering 29.4% of the MPZ areas, was generally below average during most of the monitoring period, except for early May, late June and late July; (2) On 37.5% of the MPZ, precipitation was below average in early April and early June. The affected area covered United Kingdom, Denmark, central and northern Germany, and northern and western France; (3) For the rest of the monitoring area (33.1%), covering central, southern and eastern France, southern Germany, and northeastern Italy, precipitation was significantly below average, except for significantly above-average precipitation in early April and late June. Almost all western European countries covered by the MPZ had below-average precipitation. The countries with the most severe precipitation deficits included Hungary (RAIN -55%), Slovakia (RAIN -55%), Spain (RAIN -51%), France (RAIN -37%), Germany (RAIN -28%), UK (RAIN -27%), Italy (RAIN -21%), the Czech Republic (RAIN -21%), Austria (RAIN -17%) and Denmark (RAIN -14%). As the crops are mainly rainfed in the MPZ, the persistent precipitation deficit had a negative impact on the yield of winter crops, as well as on the growth of summer crops.

Temperature for the MPZ as a whole was significantly above average (TEMP +1.1%) and radiation was above average with RADPAR up by 7%. As shown in the spatial distribution of temperature profiles, the regions in Denmark, Southeastern Italy, most of the Czech Republic, southwestern Slovakia, northeastern Austria and western parts of Hungary, covering 22.4% of the MPZ areas, experienced slight fluctuations in temperature above and below the average during the monitoring period; 31.5 percent of the MPZ areas (Spain, most of France, northwestern Italy) experienced significantly warmer-than-usual conditions throughout the monitoring period, except for early-April and late-June; 46.1 percent of the MPZ areas (UK, Germany, northern and  entral Italy, northeastern France) experienced above-average temperatures throughout the monitoring period, except for early and late April, late May and early July. In addition, hot weather swept through the western part of the MPZ in mid-May, and two heat waves swept through France and Spain again in mid-June and mid-July; High temperatures shortened the grain filling stage of crops and accelerated the maturity, which may have reduced crop yields.

Due to the precipitation deficit and high temperature, the potential BIOMSS was 13% below average. The lowest BIOMSS values (-20% and less) were observed for most parts of Spain, most parts of UK, eastern France, Central and southern Germany. In contrast, BIOMSS was above average (+10% and more) mainly in northwestern Italy and southwestern Austria.

The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached a value of 0.86 during this reporting period. About 97% of arable land was cropped, which is the same as the recent five-year average in the whole MPZ. The uncropped areas of arable land were mainly concentrated in eastern and southeastern Spain, and a few pockets in almost all other countries of this MPZ. The VHI minimum map shows that relatively large areas of France, Germany, central regions of UK, Spain and Italy were affected by persistent drought conditions.

Generally, the conditions of crops in the MPZ were mostly below average, and 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 summer crops.

Figure 2.6. Western Europen MPZ: Agro-climatic and agronomic indicators, April to July 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 (℃)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI minimum