In the beginning of the monitoring period, negative departures from average were recorded for both precipitation and the agronomic indicators. These then continued in the south and southeast of the country, where long periods with rainfall scarcity (RAIN at -30% comparing to the fifteen-year average) and higher than average temperatures were recorded for July-September.

Across the monitoring period, NDVI profiles indicated worse than average crop condition for 13.8% of the total area, located mainly in the above mentioned regions. As such, this could negatively affect yield of spring barley grown in the south of the country. Although maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) values varied across the country, they were all above 0.5, with a national value of 0.91.

At the national level, precipitation was 12% below the fifteen-year average, whereas temperature (TEMP, +0.4°C) and radiation (RADPAR, +4%) were above average. In July and August, crop condition development (as indicated by the NDVI patterns) was clearly below the five-year average and last year’s values as a result of rainfall deficit and higher than usual temperatures. A biomass reduction of 9% compared to the five-year average is foreseen, which could affect also tuber crops and grasslands.

Summer crop condition was generally good, but more moisture will be needed for winter crops.

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI   

(b) Maximum VCI

(c) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA and the coresponding NDVI departure profiles