During this reporting period, maize and spring wheat were sown, while winter wheat was harvested in July. At the national level, rainfall was significantly 48% below the 15YA, average temperature was 2.4℃ higher and radiation was slightly above average (+2%). The decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature caused a biomass decrease (-16%). The CALF of Romania remained unchanged (100%) and the maximum VCI was 0.87. Compared with last year's slight drought condition, this reporting period was worse. The rainfall time series shows that precipitation was lower than last year especially in June and July, impacting the growth of maize and wheat. The temperature was around average for most of the reporting period and above the 15 year maximum in the middle of July.  The VHI map shows that drought conditions were severe in the eastern region. According to the NDVI development curve, crop conditions were below average since May. Only 8.8% (blue line) of Romania's cropland experienced a change from a negative to a positive departure from the average NDVI trend during the reporting period. The CPI for Romania was 0.97. Crop conditions are assessed as unfavorable, especially for summer crops.

Regional analysis

More details are provided below for three main agro‐ecological zones: the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (165), the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (166) and the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (167).

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, compared to the 15YA, rainfall decreased by 48%, temperature was 2.5℃ above average, radiation was slightly above average (RADPAR +3%) and BIOMSS decreased by 15%. According to the NDVI development, crop conditions were close to the 15 year maximum in April and below average since May. The regional average VCI maximum was 0.90. This region occupies only a small part of cropland in Romania, thus, the below-average vegetation conditions have little impact on Romania's crop production.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall decreased by 53%, the temperature was 2.7℃ above average and radiation was 2% above average. This resulted in a reduced estimate of biomass (-20%), the largest proporation among all three sub regions. The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions dropped to below average since June. The VCIx value of this region was only 0.86, the lowest among three sub regions. According to the distribution map, the yellow and blue NDVI profile line region in the southeast (counties of Tulcea and Constanta) dropped largely since May (red lines); meanwhile, the maximum VCI values in this area were below 0.5. All indicators show that the crop condition in this region was far below average.

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was lower than average by 42%. Temperature was above average by 2.1℃, radiation was also higher (RADPAR +3%) and biomass decreased by 14%. Maximum VCI of this region was 0.89. It varied considerably in this region (0.5 to 1.0). CPI was 0.96. The spatial NDVI pattern shows that NDVI was also decreasing over time in the west region (red line), which indicates that crop conditions were unfavorable.

Figure Romania’s crop condition, April 2024 - July 2024

(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) Rainfall profiles

(g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (left) and Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau)

(j) CPI series data

Table Romania’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, April 2024 - July 2024

Table Romania’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April 2024 - July 2024