During this monitoring period, winter wheat reached maturity in July. The planting of summer crops started in April and was completed by mid-May.  Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Germany were generally below the 5-year average.

According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, total precipitation at the national level was significantly below average (RAIN -28%), temperature was above average (TEMP +0.5°C) and radiation was also above average (RADPAR +4%). As shown in the time series rainfall profile for Germany, precipitation was below-average with the exception of early April when it was significantly above average and of mid-June, when it was close to average. Most of the country experienced warmer-than-usual conditions during this reporting period, except for April and early July, in which heatwaves swept across Germany. Due to the persistent precipitation deficits combined with warmer-than-usual temperatures, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) was estimated to decrease by 14% nationwide as compared to the fifteen-year average.

As shown in the crop condition development graph and the NDVI profiles at the national level, NDVI values were below the 5YA and last year's average, except during the period from May to early June, when it was close to average. These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: 55.3% of regional NDVI values were below average from April to early June. These observations are confirmed by lower VCI values shown in the maximum VCI map. These negative departures were due to below-average rainfall.  Overall VCIx for Germany was 0.87. CALF during the reporting period was close to the recent five-year average.

Generally, the agronomic indicators show near to or below-average conditions for most winter and summer crops in Germany. The crops are mainly rainfed crops in Germany, and irrigation rates are relatively low (7.2%). But average rainfall during the previous monitoring period had helped build up soil moisture content, thus limiting the negative impact of the rainfall deficit during this period on the winter crops. Nevertheless, production of the winter crops is estimated to be slightly below average. The effects of the rainfall deficit on the summer crops will be more severe. 

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, six sub-national agro-ecological regions are adopted for Germany. They include: the Wheat Zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast, Mixed Wheat and Sugar beet Zone of the Northwest, Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia, Sparse Crop Area of the East-German Lake and Heathland area, Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif and the Bavarian Plateau.  

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast are among the major winter wheat zones of Germany. Temperature was same as average in this region, but total precipitation was below average (RAIN -7%) and radiation was below average (RADPAR -2%). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to decrease by 3% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were below average and last year's records until early June when they recovered to the average level. However, they dropped to below-average levels again after that. The area has a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.9), indicating a large cropping area.

Wheat and sugar beets are the major crops in the Mixed Wheat and Sugar beet Zone of the Northwest. According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, temperatures and radiation were both higher than average (TEMP +0.5°C; RADPAR +5%), but rainfall was significantly below average (RAIN -30%), which led to a decrease in BIOMSS by 16%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average until early June when they recovered to the average level. However, they dropped to below-average levels again after that. The area has a high CALF (100%) and crop conditions for the region are favorable according to the high VCIx (0.87).

Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. Temperatures and radiation were both higher than average (TEMP +0.5°C; RADPAR +3%), but rainfall was significantly below average (RAIN -40%), which led to a decrease in BIOMSS by 20%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average until early June when they recovered to the average level. However, they dropped to below-average levels again after that. The area has a high CALF (100%) and the VCIx was 0.86 for this region.

Significantly below-average precipitation was recorded in the East-German Lake and Heathland Sparse Crop Area (RAIN -38%). Temperatures and radiation were both higher than average (TEMP +0.3°C; RADPAR +3%). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to decrease by 18% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average throughout the monitoring period except early June when they were close to average. The area has a high CALF (100%) and the VCIx was 0.83 for this region.

Significantly below-average precipitation was also recorded in the Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif (RAIN -41%) with above-average temperature and solar radiation (TEMP +1.0°C; RADPAR +8%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) decreased by 22% compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average in April and from late-June to late-July, and close to average from early May to early June. The CALF was 100% for the regions. The VCIx value was 0.89 for the western areas.

On average, a significant reduction in rainfall was recorded for the Bavarian Plateau (RAIN -26%), with above-average temperature (+0.5°C) and above-average radiation (RADPAR +6%). Compared to the five-year average, BIOMSS decreased by 13%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average in April and from late-June to late-July, and close to average from early May to early June. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.88).

Figure 3.13. Germany’s crop condition, April-July 2022

 (a) Phenology of major crops in Germany

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the April-July 2022 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(c) Maximum VCI for the April-July 2022 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Germany up to July 2022 according to local cropping patterns and as compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

(e) Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Germany comparing the April-July 2022 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(f) Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(g) Mixed wheat and sugarbeets zone of the north-west crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(h) Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(i) East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and  temperature (right)

(j) Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

(k) Bavarian Plateau crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

Table 3.17. Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA,  April-July 2022

Table 3.18. Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA,  April-July 2022