During this monitoring period, winter wheat reached the flowering stage in mid to late May. Subsequent grainfilling was completed by early July. According to the crop condition development graph, crops experienced average conditions from April to June and unfavorable conditions in July  due to below-average rainfall and high temperatures.  Agro-climatic indicators show that rainfall was below average (RAIN -27%), temperature was above average (TEMP +0.8°C) and radiation was slightly above average (RADPAR +1%) . BIOMSS was estimated below average (BIOMSS -12%) because of rain deficit and high temperatures. The seasonal RAIN and TEMP profiles presents below-average rainfall in May and July, and large positive temperature departure in mid-July. 

The national average VCIx was 0.93. CALF (100%) was unchanged compared to its five-year average. The crops are mainly rainfed crops in United Kingdom, irrigation rate is low (2.0%). The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that: (1) 17% of arable land, mainly in East Midlands and East of England, experienced slightly above-average crop conditions from April to early June, after then below-average crop conditions in late June and July. (2) 62.9% of arable land experienced average crop conditions before June and then decreased to below-average crop conditions in July. (3) 15.9% of arable land experienced slightly below-average crop conditions in this monitoring period, scattered in South of England and Scotland. (4) crop conditions in 4.2% of arable land, mainly in East of England, were average in April and May, and decreased to below average in June, then recovered to slightly below average in July.  

Although rainfall was generally below average, it was quite evenly distributed. NDVI started to decline in mid-June, when wheat was at the mid-grainfilling stage. Thus, the drier-than-usual conditions in late June and early July may have had a limited negative impact on wheat yields and conditions can be assessed as average for wheat. 

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions can be distinguished: Central sparse crop region, Northern barley region, and Southern mixed wheat and barley region. All three sub-regions were characterized by unchanged fractions of arable land (CALF) compared to the 5-year average.

The Central sparse crop region is one of the country's major agricultural regions for crop production. Crop conditions were close to the five-year average from April to June, and below the five-year average in July according to the NDVI development graph. This region experienced the large rainfall deficit (RAIN -31%). Temperature was above average (TEMP +0.7°C) and radiation was slight below average (RADPAR -4%). Biomass was below average (BIOMSS, -13%). The VCIx was at 0.94.

In the Northern barley region, NDVI was similar to the Central sparse crop region. Rainfall and radiation were below average (RAIN -13%, RADPAR -4%) ,  and temperature was above average (TEMP +0.5°C). Biomass was below average (BIOMSS, -4%). The VCIx was at 0.96.

In the Southern mixed wheat and barley zone, NDVI was also similar to the other sub-national regions. This region experienced the largest rainfall deficit (RAIN -40%). Temperature and radiation were significantly above average (TEMP +1.0°C, RADPAR +6%). Biomass was significantly below average due to severe rainfall deficit and high temperature (BIOMSS -19%).  The VCIx was at 0.93.

Figure 3.17 United Kingdom crop condition, April‐July 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 agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April ‐July 2022

Table 3.26 United Kingdom's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, April‐July 2022