This reporting period covers the overwintering and spring green-up phases of the winter cereals. In late April, winter wheat and barley were at the late vegetative stages, and spring wheat and maize were being planted. Generally, the crop conditions in Germany were above average in most regions based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators.

CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that both total precipitation (RAIN, +20%) and temperature (TEMP, +0.5°C) were above average, while radiation (RADPAR, -14%) was below the average of the past 15 years. As can be seen from the time series of the rainfall profile, Germany experienced above-average precipitation except for early January, late January and February. Most of the country experienced warmer conditions during the monitoring period, except for late January, February and April, which were cooler than average. Early January was even above the maximum of the past 15 years. Due to plenty of precipitation and warmer-than-usual temperatures, the biomass accumulation potential (BIOMSS) increased by 4% at the nationwide level as compared to the 15YA. Sufficient precipitation in March and April favored the growth of summer crops in Germany. 

CropWatch agronomic indicators based on NDVI development graph at the national scale show that NDVI values were slightly above average in October and near the 5-year maximum level in April. Subsequent drops in NDVI can be attributed to either fog, cloud cover or snow on the ground. These factors also caused large negative departures in the spatial NDVI profiles. These observations were also confirmed by VCI values in the spatial distribution of maximum VCI map. It reached 0.91 at the national scale. Crop production index (CPI) was 1.17, higher than 1, further suggesting favorable crop conditions.

Overall, the agronomic and agroclimatic indicators show favorable conditions for most winter crops in Germany.

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 (56), Mixed Wheat and Sugar beet Zone of the Northwest (57), Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia (55), Sparse Crop Area of the East-German Lake and Heathland area (54), Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif (59) and the Bavarian Plateau (58).  

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast is the major winter wheat zone of Germany. Compared to the s average of the past 15 years, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators RAIN (+26%) and temperature (TEMP, +0.9°C) were above average, while radiation (RADPAR, -12%) was below average. Due to favorable precipitation and temperature during the green-up period of wheat, biomass (BIOMSS) was increased by 6%. The area had a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.90), indicating favorable crop prospects. CPI was 1.06. The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

Wheat and sugar-beets are major crops in the Mixed wheat and sugar-beets zone of the north-west. RAIN (+27%) and temperature (TEMP, +0.9°C) were significantly above average, while radiation (RADPAR, -13%) was below average. Due to favorable precipitation and temperature during the germination of wheat, biomass (BIOMSS) was 5% above average. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average except for January and mid-March, which were below the 5-year average. The area had a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.85). CPI was 1.06.  The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

The Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that this region experienced above average precipitation (+29%) with warmer weather (TEMP, +0.6°C), while radiation was below average (RADPAR, -16%), which led to above average biomass (BIOMSS, +7%). As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or near average except in late January and mid-March. The area has a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.90). CPI was 1.12. The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

In the East-German Lake and Heathland Sparse Crop Area, significantly above-average precipitation was recorded (RAIN, +25%). Temperatures (TEMP, +0.6°C) was higher than average, while radiation (RADPAR, -16%) was below average. As a result, BIOMSS is expected to increase by 4% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or close to average except in late January and mid-March. The area has a high CALF (100%) and the VCIx was 0.97 for this region. CPI was 1.20. The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

The cropland in the Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif also experienced above average precipitation (+23%) with warmer weather (TEMP, +0.9°C), while radiation was below average (RADPAR, -15%), which led to a biomass (BIOMSS) increase by 7%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or close to average except in January and mid-March. The area had high CALF (99%) and a high VCIx (0.88). CPI was 1.08. The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

Above average precipitation was recorded for the Bavarian Plateau (RAIN +11%), with above-average temperature (+0.2°C) and below-average radiation (RADPAR -15%). Compared to the fifteen-year average, BIOMSS decreased by 1%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or close to average except in late January. The area had a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.94). CPI was 1.16. The crop production in this region is expected to be above average. 

Figure 3.13. Germany’s crop condition, January-April 2023

(a) Phenology of major crops in Germany

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the January-April 2023 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(c) Maximum VCI for the January-April 2023 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Germany up to April 2023 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 January-April 2023 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 3.18. Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2023

Table 3.19. Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA, January-April 2023