Bulletin

wall bulletin
United KingdomMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: 超级管理员 | Edit: tianfuyou

During this monitoring period, winter wheat reached the flowering stage in mid to late May. Subsequent grainfilling was completed by mid July. According to the crop condition development graph, crops experienced average or below-average conditions in most of the monioring period.  Agro-climatic indicators show that agro-climatic indicators were favourable (RAIN +2%, TEMP +0.6°C, RADPAR +6%). Favourable agro-climatic conditions resulted in above average biomass (BIOMSS +7%). The seasonal RAIN and TEMP profiles presents above-average rainfall in most of the monitoring period, except for a dry spell from May until early June. 

The national average VCIx was 0.90. CALF (100%) was unchanged compared to its five-year average.  Crop production index was 1.09. The NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate that: (1) 62.3% of arable land experienced average crop conditions (blue line and red line), mainly in south of England(2) 23% of arable land experienced decreased crop conditions from above-average in April to below-average in July. (3) 14.6% of arable land experienced average crop conditions (dark green line and orange line) experienced average crop conditions in most of the monitoring period with a marked drop of crop conditions in late July or late April, mainly in the east of England. Most likely, the large drops in NDVI can be attributed to cloud cover in the satellite images. Altogether, the conditions for wheat in the UK are assessed to be average.


Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions can be distinguished: Northern barley region(84)Central sparse crop region(83), and Southern mixed wheat and barley region (85). All three sub-regions were characterized by unchanged fractions of arable land (CALF) compared to the 5-year average.

In the Northern barley region, NDVI was below or close to average. Rainfall was below average (RAIN -10%),  temperature and radiation were above average (TEMP +0.7°C, RADPAR +10%). Above-average temperature and radiation resulted in above- average biomass (BIOMSS, +5%). The VCIx was at 0.93. Crop production index was 1.09. Altogether, the output of wheat is expected to be average.

The Central sparse crop region is one of the country's major agricultural regions for crop production. Crop conditions was similar with Northern barley region. This region experienced above-average agro-climatic indicators ( RAIN +6%, TEMP +0.7°C, RADPAR +6%). Favourable agro-climatic conditions result in above-average biomass (BIOMSS, +4%). The VCIx was at 0.90. Crop production index was 1.08. Altogether, the output of wheat is expected to be average.

In the Southern mixed wheat and barley zone, NDVI was also similar to the other sub-national regions except early April and mid-April. above-average agro-climatic indicators ( RAIN +10%, TEMP +0.4°C, RADPAR +4%). Favourable agro-climatic conditions result in above-average biomass (BIOMSS, +10%). The VCIx was at 0.89. Crop production index was 1.08. Altogether, the output of wheat is expected to be average. 


Figure 3.17 United Kingdom crop condition, April‐July 2023


(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 2023

RegionRAINTEMPRADPARBIOMSS
Current   (mm)Departure from 15YA (%)Current (°C)Departure from 15YA (°C)Current (MJ/m2)Departure from 15YA (%)Current (gDM/m2)Departure from 15YA (%)
Northern Barley region(UK)390-1010.70.71004108215
Central sparse crop region (UK)410611.90.7101868464
Southern mixed wheat and Barley zone (UK)3381012.80.41100483510

Table 3.26 United Kingdom's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, April‐July 2023

RegionCropped arable land   fractionMaximum VCI
Current   (%)Departure from 5YA (%)Current
Northern Barley region(UK)10000.93
Central sparse crop region (UK)10000.90
Southern mixed wheat and Barley zone (UK)10000.89