The reporting period is from January to April 2023 and covers the main growing season for winter wheat. Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Italy were close to the 5-year average.

The total rainfall in this period was below 15YA (RAIN ‐19%). The proportion of irrigated arable land in Italy is 39.7%. However, the prolonged drought in the Po Valley has caused alarmingly low water levels and thus limited the availability of river water for irrigation. The temperature and RADPAR are slightly above average (TEMP +0.9°C, RADPAR +1%) and BIOMSS is unchanged. CALF was 98%. The national VCIx was even 0.92. The crop condition development graph indicates that NDVI was near 5YA in the reporting period. 

The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that 34.6% (blue and deep green) of arable land experienced above-average crop conditions, scattered in the Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Apulia and Sicily. 20.7% (light green) of arable land experienced slightly below average crop conditions, mostly  in Lazio and Sicily. 2.9% (yellow) of the arable land had NDVI values well below the mean in January and February. This is consistent with the maximum VCI map, which shows a relatively high VCI of more than 0.8 (green and blue) in the Islands and Western Italy region. In the four sub-national zones, the VCIx was above 0.85. The crop production index was 1.20. All in all, the conditions were better than last year. 

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, four sub-national zones can be distinguished for Italy. These four regions are East coast (108), Po Valley (105), Islands (107) and Western Italy (106).

East coast (mainly in Puglia, Marche, and Abruzzi) experienced slightly below-average rainfall (RAIN -9%), while temperature was slightly higher (+0.1°C) and RADPAR was above 15YA (1%). The potential biomass production was below average (BIOMSS -3%). VCIx was 0.94 and crop production index was 1.12. The crop condition development graph indicates that NDVI was close to average over the past five years. The above indicators suggest that the crops in the region are growing in a normal way.

Rainfall in Po Valley (mainly in Piemonte, Lombardia and Veneto) was 27% lower on average, the lowest of the four AEZs. But BIOMSS was above the 15YA by 7%. VCIx reached 0.96, which was the highest among the four AEZs in Italy. The Po Valley is the main wheat producing region in Italy, the high BIOMSS as well as VCIx indicate close to normal conditions for wheat, despite the rainfall deficit. 

The Islands recorded below-average precipitation (RAIN -6%) and temperature (TEMP +0.4°C). RADPAR was above average (+5%). BIOMSS decreased by 11% compared with the 15YA. The maximum VCI was 0.92 and crop production index was 1.12. NDVI was very close to average. The crop production in this region is expected to be close to average.

In Western Italy, RAIN (-15%) was below average, while  TEMP (+0.7°C) and RADPAR (+2%) were above average. The maximum VCI was 0.89 with unchanged BIOMSS. The NDVI was close to average. CropWatch expects a near‐average production.

Figure 3.24 Italy’s crop condition, January - April 2023

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b)  Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, RAIN and TEMP (Italy).  

(c) Maximum VCI

(d)Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles.    

(e) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, RAIN and TEMP (East Italy).

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, RAIN and TEMP (Po Valley).

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, RAIN and TEMP (Islands).

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, RAIN and TEMP (West Italy).

Table 3.45 Italy’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2023

Table 3.46 Italy’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January - April 2023