During this monitoring period, the harvest of summer crops was mostly completed by the end of October, whereas the sowing of canola and winter wheat started in September. Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Germany were generally close to average in most regions.

According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, total precipitation  (ΔRAIN +13%) and temperature (ΔTEMP +1.3°C) were above average, while radiation was average at the national level. As shown in the time series rainfall profile for Germany, precipitation was overall above average, but significantly below average in September and early October. Most of the country experienced warmer-than-usual conditions during this reporting period, except for late July and early August. The biomass production potential (BIOMSS) was estimated to increase by 3% nationwide as compared to the fifteen-year average.

As shown in the crop condition development graph and the NDVI profiles at the national level, NDVI values were below the 5YA in July and October, but otherwise above or in line with the average.  A notable decrease in precipitation from mid-May to mid-June significantly impacted winter wheat growth, leading to low NDVI values in July.  These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: all regional NDVI values were below average in July and October, and over a quarter of the regional NDVI values were below average from August to September.  These negative departures were due to below-average rainfall in the early stages of growth.  Overall VCIx for Germany was 0.87. CALF was 100%  during the reporting period. The cropping intensity decreased by 4% compared to the recent five-year average.

The crops are mainly rainfed crops in Germany, and irrigation rates are relatively low (7.2%). Adequate precipitation in late July and early August mitigated the impact of early drought conditions on summer crops. The Crop Production Index (CPI) is 1.0, which represents the basic normal agricultural production situation in the current season. Frequent rainfall during the harvest period in October negatively impacted grain quality.

All in all, crop conditions in Germany for this monitoring period can be assessed as fair.

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 are among the major winter wheat zones of Germany. Radiation was close to average in this region. Total precipitation was above average (ΔRAIN +28%) and temperature was above average (ΔTEMP +0.8°C). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to increase by 14% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were below average during this monitoring period, except for August, when NDVI was above average. The area has a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.88). The cropping intensity decreased by 3% as compared to the average.

Wheat and sugar beets are the major crops in the Mixed Wheat and Sugar beet Zone of the Northwest. According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, radiation was close to average in this region. Total precipitation was above average (ΔRAIN +20%) and temperature was above average (ΔTEMP +1.1°C). BIOMSS is expected to increase by 8% as compared to the average.  As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average except in July and October, when they were below the average level. The area has a high CALF (100%) and crop conditions for the region are favorable according to the high VCIx (0.9).  The cropping intensity decreased by 6% as compared to the average.

Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. Temperatures and radiation were both above average (ΔTEMP +1.6°C; ΔRADPAR +2%), but rainfall was below average (ΔRAIN -6%), which led to a decrease in BIOMSS by 3%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average except in July and October, when they were below the average level. The area has a high CALF (100%) and the VCIx was 0.88 for this region. The cropping intensity increased by 2% as compared to the average.

Significantly below-average precipitation was recorded in the East-German Lake and Heathland Sparse Crop Area (ΔRAIN -11%). But temperatures and radiation were both above average (ΔTEMP +1.6°C; ΔRADPAR +2%). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to decrease by 3% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or near average except for July and October when they were below average. The area has a high CALF (100%) and the VCIx was 0.88 for this region. The cropping intensity increased by 5% as compared to the average.

Total precipitation (ΔRAIN +17%), and temperature were above average (ΔTEMP +1.5°C) in the Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif with below-average solar radiation (ΔRADPAR -1%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) increased by 3% compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average throughout the monitoring period except in early July and late October, when they were below average. The CALF was 100% for the regions. The VCIx value was 0.88. The cropping intensity decreased by 3% as compared to the average.

Total precipitation, temperature and radiation were above average in the Bavarian Plateau (ΔRAIN +9%; ΔTEMP +1.5°C; ΔRADPAR +1%). Compared to the fifteen-year average, BIOMSS decreased by 2%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above or near average except for July and October, when they were below average. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.83). The cropping intensity decreased by 7% as compared to the average.

Figure 3.13. Germany’s crop condition, July-October 2023

(a) Phenology of major crops in Germany

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

(c) Maximum VCI for the July-October 2023 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Germany up to October 2023 according to local cropping patterns and as compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

(f) Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Germany comparing the July-October 2023 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(g) 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)

(h) 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)

(i) Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle), and temperature (right)

(j) East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and  temperature (right)

(k) Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

(h) Bavarian Plateau crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

Table 3.17. Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA,  July-October 2023

Table 3.18. Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA,  July-October 2023