Bulletin

wall bulletin
FranceMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: MH18174088459 | Edit: lirui

This monitoring period covers the harvest of winter wheat in July and August, closely followed by the harvest of spring wheat.  Maize harvest started in September.  The sowing of winter wheat started in October and will be completed in November. The national-scale NDVI development graph shows that the NDVI values were generally close to the 5YA and slightly above from August to November, possibly caused by a good moisture supply. The spatial distribution of maximum VCI (VCIx) across the country reached a range of 0.86-0.98. This indicates that the crop growth condition was at a relatively high level, but there were differences between regions. CALF was slightly above the average. CPI was 1.03 indicating that the crop production situation was slightly above the five-year average. CI Increased by 1.93%. CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show above-average temperature (TEMP +0.3°C) over the period. Temperatures were above the 15-year average during July to Augest. RADPAR (RADPAR -4%) was below the average. However higher RAIN (+40%) as compared to the 15YA was recorded. The rainfall in early September and late September to early October significantly exceeded the 15YA. The biomass production potential (BIOMSS) is estimated to have increased by 17% nationwide compared to the 15-year average. Production of winter crops, which were harvested by August, had suffered from summer storms and excessive rainfall during the previous monitoring period. However, overall suitable temperature and moisture conditions caused normal but slight above average growth conditions for the crops.


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 warmer temperatures (TEMP +0.3°C), below-average RADPAR (-3%), and above-average rainfall (RAIN +26%). The potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 16% 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 0.86, and the Crop Production Index(CPI) was 0.98. The crop condition development, based on NDVI, was above 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 +54%), and below-average RADPAR (-7%). Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was above average by 22%, and the overall NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions better than the 5-year average for most of the monitoring period. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was above the average(CALF +1%), VCIx was relatively high at 0.92 and CPI was 1.05.

In the Maize-barley and livestock zone along the English Channel (79), RADPAR was below average by 9% and TEMP was below to average by 0.1°C. Rainfall (RAIN) was higher than the average (+28%). Potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 18%. CALF was average, VCIx was recorded at 0.9 and CPI was 0.99. The NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions below, but close to the average levels.

In the Rapeseed zone of eastern France (80), rainfall (RAIN) during this monitoring period was 23% higher than the 15-year average, with temperatures (TEMP) increased by 0.3°C, and RADPAR equal to the average. BIOMSS was about 12% higher than average, with a high VCIx level (0.93). CALF was average and CPI was 1.03. The NDVI profile showed regional crop conditions  better than the average level but slightly lower.

In the Massif Central dry zone (75), temperatures (TEMP) and RAIN were 0.3°C and 48% higher than the average, respectively, while PADPAR decreased by 3%. The Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) was 0.98, and potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased by 21%. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was average and CPI was1.12. Crop conditions based on the NDVI profile indicated that growth conditions were better than the 5-year average.

The Southwestern maize zone (81) is one of the major irrigated regions in France. The regional NDVI profile showed a close to average trend. The VCIx recorded moderate levels (0.93), and potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 18% higher than average. Rainfall (RAIN) in the period was 47% higher than average. TEMP was equal to the average, while RADPAR decreased by 4%. CALF was average and CPI was 1.05.

In the Eastern Alps region (76), crop conditions exhibited a better than average trend except in early July. RADPAR was 3% lower than the average, and temperatures (TEMP) was 0.7°C higher than the average, with rainfall (RAIN) was 45% higher than average. Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was also higher than the 15-year average (+13%). The Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) for the region was recorded at 0.92. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was average and CPI was 1.03.

In the Mediterranean zone(77), the NDVI recorded a close to average trend except in early July. RAIN and temperatures (TEMP) was above average (RAIN +50%; TEMP +1.5°C), while PADPAR was lower than average by 3%. Potential biomass (BIOMSS) was above average by 21%. The region registered a high VCIx level (0.89). The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was above the average by 1% and CPI was 1.11. 


(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 departure profiles
(f) Rainfall profiles(g) Temperature profiles
(h) National CPI time series graph
Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:Northern barley zone,right:Maize_barley and livestock zone along the English Channel)
Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:Mediterranean zone,right:Alpes region)
Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:Massid Central dry zone,right:Mixed maize_barley and rapessed zone from the Centre to the Atlantic Ocean)
Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:Southwest maize zone,right:Rapeseed zone of eastern France)



Table 3.1 France's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July‐October 2024

Region

RAIN

TEMP

RADPAR

BIOMSS

Current
(mm)

Departure
(%)

Current
(°C)

Departure
(°C)

Current
(MJ/m2)

Departure
(%)

Current
(gDM/m2)

Departure
(%)

Massid Central dry zone

464

48

15.7

0.3

1008

-3

955

21

Alpes region

634

45

15.4

0.7

1057

-3

964

13

Mediterranean zone

449

50

18.6

1.5

1133

-3

896

21

Northern barley zone

363

26

16.2

0.3

846

-3

863

16

Maize_barley and livestock zone along the English Channel

348

28

15.7

-0.1

801

-9

844

18

Rapeseed zone of eastern France

429

23

15.9

0.3

955

0

892

12

Southwest maize zone

438

47

17.1

-0.0

1038

-4

931

18

Mixed maize_barley and rapessed zone from the Centre to the Atlantic Ocean

395

54

16.8

-0.3

899

-7

871

22

Table 3.2 France's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, July‐October 2024

Region

CALF

CI

Maximum VCI

CPI

Current(%)

Departure from 5YA(%)

Current(%)

Departure from 5YA(%)

Current

Current

Massid Central dry zone

100

0

125

6.66

0.98

1.12

Alpes region

98

0

117

-2.17

0.92

1.03

Mediterranean zone

95

1

115

-0.35

0.89

1.11

Northern barley zone

100

0

130

-8.06

0.86

0.98

Maize_barley and livestock zone along the English Channel

100

0

120

0.50

0.90

0.99

Rapeseed zone of eastern France

100

0

144

6.19

0.93

1.03

Southwest maize zone

100

0

121

2.20

0.93

1.05

Mixed maize_barley and rapessed zone from the Centre to the Atlantic Ocean

100

1

126

1.45

0.92

1.05