This monitoring period covers winter wheat and barley, which had reached maturity by July. The planting of maize and spring wheat was mostly completed in early May. The national-scale NDVI development graph shows that the NDVI values were generally close to, but slightly below the 5YA from late April to early July. The spatial distribution of maximum VCI (VCIx) across the country reached a range of 0.94-1.11. This indicates that the crop growth condition was at a relatively high level, but there are differences between regions. CALF was equal to the average. CPI was 0.99, indicating that the crop production situation was slightly below the five-year average. This is mainly due to the crop growth conditions in the Northern barley region being below average. Some of the winter cereal fields had poor plant stands due to the excessive rainfall in the fall of 2023.   CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show below-average temperature (TEMP -0.1°C) over the period. Temperatures were below the 15-year average during late April, late May, and early to mid-June. RADPAR (RADPAR -6%) was below the average. However, higher RAIN (+13%) as compared to the 15YA was recorded. The rainfall in May and mid to late June significantly exceeded the 15YA. Due to the relatively high rainfall conditions, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) is estimated to have increased by 8% nationwide compared to the 15-year average. Overall, the excessive rainfall in the fall of 2023 had caused poor plant stands for some winter cereals and farmers had to replant some areas with lower yielding spring cereals and other summer crops. Suitable rainfall during this monitoring helped improve crop conditions to slightly below average.

Regional analysis

Considering cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, additional sub-national details are provided for eight agroecological zones. They are identified on the maps by the following numbers: (78) Northern barley region, (82) Mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the Center to the Atlantic Ocean, (79) Maize-barley and livestock zone along the English Channel, (80) Rapeseed zone of eastern France, (75) Massif Central dry zone, (81) Southwestern maize zone, (76) Eastern Alps region, and (77) the Mediterranean zone.

In the Northern barley region(78), the observed weather conditions included colder temperatures (TEMP -0.1°C), below-average RADPAR (-10%), and above-average rainfall (RAIN +30%). The potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 19% compared to the 15-year average. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was equal to the average, the Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) was recorded at 0.84, and the Crop Production Index(CPI) was 0.94. The crop condition development, based on NDVI, was below the 5-year average for most of the monitoring period.

In the Mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the Center to the Atlantic Ocean (82), the observed conditions included colder temperatures (TEMP -0.3°C), above-average rainfall (RAIN +24%), and below-average RADPAR (-9%). Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was above average by 11%, and the overall NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions equal to the 5-year average for most of the monitoring period. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was equal to the average, VCIx was relatively high at 0.91 and CPI was 0.99.

In the Maize-barley and livestock zone along the English Channel(79), RADPAR was below average by 12% and TEMP was equal to average. Rainfall (RAIN) was also higher than the average (+33%). Potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 15%. CALF was average, VCIx was recorded at 0.9 and CPI was 0.97. The NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions slightly below average.

In the Rapeseed zone of eastern France(80), rainfall (RAIN) during this monitoring period was 27% higher than the 15-year average, with temperatures (TEMP) decreased by 0.2°C, and RADPAR decreased by 7%. BIOMSS was about 14% higher than average, with a high VCIx level (0.9). CALF was average and CPI was 1.00. The NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions  close to the average level but slightly lower, especially in late April.

In the Massif Central dry zone (75), temperatures (TEMP) and RADPAP were 0.3°C and 7% lower than the average, respectively, while rainfall (RAIN) increased by 17%. The Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) was 0.98, and potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 7%. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was average and CPI was 1.10. Crop conditions based on the NDVI profile indicated that growth conditions were equal to the 5-year average for most of the monitoring period, except late April.

The Southwestern maize zone (81) is one of the major irrigated regions in France. The regional NDVI profile showed a equal-average trend except from late May to late June. The VCIx recorded moderate levels (0.91), and potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 3% lower than average. Rainfall (RAIN) in the period was 12% lower than average. TEMP was 0.3°C lower, while RADPAR decreased by 3%. CALF was average and CPI was 0.99.

In the Eastern Alps region (76), crop conditions exhibited a equal-average trend except in late April. RADPAR was 4% lower than the average, and temperatures (TEMP) was 0.1°C lower than the average, with rainfall (RAIN) was 5% higher than average. Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was also higher than the 15-year average (+4%). The Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) for the region was recorded at 0.94. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was average and CPI was 1.06. 

In the Mediterranean zone (77), the NDVI recorded a equal-average trend except in late June. RADPAR was at average and temperatures (TEMP) was above average (+0.8°C), while rainfall (RAIN) was lower than average by 18%. Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was below average by 1%. The region registered a high VCIx level (0.91). The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was above the average by 1% and CPI was 1.11.

Figure 3.5 France’s crop condition,   April-July 2024

Region

RAIN

TEMP

RADPAR

BIOMSS

Region

Cropped arable land fraction

Maximum VCI

CPI