During this reporting period, the winter wheat harvest ended in July, and the new crop was sown in October. Rice and maize reached maturity in September. At the national level, the rainfall (RAIN +45%) and  temperature (TEMP +1.5°C) were above the 15-year average (15YA), while the solar radiation (RADPAR -5%) was slightly lower. Biomass (BIOMSS +15%) was above 15YA. CALF was 85%, and VCIx was 0.84. 

The crop condition development graph indicates that NDVI was below average and gradually declined from July to August and increased from September to October. Rainfall increased significantly during the monitoring period, with temperatures close to the 15-year maximum in July-August and generally higher than 15YA in September-October. The hot and rainy weather conditions could have an impact on crop sowing. As shown by the Maximum VCI graph, in the eastern and southern regions of Italy the VCIx values were below 0.8, since most crops were already harvested. VCIx values in Northern and Western Italy were generally higher than 0.8.

Analyzing the Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA and NDVI departure profiles, about 72.1% of the cropland in Italy has a lower than average crop condition in July-September (highlighted in blue, red, and light green).Located mainly in north-central Italy, about 10.8% (highlighted in yellow) of the cropland had above-average crop conditions in the current monitoring period, as did 8.1% highlighted in dark green) in August to October. The Crop Production Index (CPI) was 1.08.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, four sub-national zones can be distinguished for Italy. These four regions are East Coast (108), Po Valley (105), Islands (107), and Western Italy (106).

East coast (108) experienced above-average temperature (TEMP +1.5°C) and rainfall  (RAIN +18%), while below-average solar radiation (RADPAR -4%).  VCIx was 0.72. CALF was 59% below average (-3%).The crop condition development graph indicates that NDVI decreased in July-August and increased in September-October.

Po Valley (105) was affected by slightly higher rainfall (RAIN +55%) and temperature (TEMP +1.5°C). Biomass was 20% above the 15-year average. CALF was 100%.VCIx was 0.89. The crop condition development graph indicates that NDVI was near or above average from August to October. The crop condition was slightly above average. 

Islands (107) recorded above-average rainfall (RAIN +7%) and temperature (TEMP +1°C). VCIx was 0.69 (the lowest among the four AEZs), and the cropping intensity was the lowest. CALF was at 56% (-4%).

Western Italy (108) experienced above-average rainfall (RAIN +44%) and temperature (TEMP +1.8°C). Biomass incressed by 17%, and VCIx was 0.90. The NDVI curve remained below average in July to early September with above average temperature. CALF was 94%.  According to the agro-climatic indicators, the crop condition was near average.

(a) Phenology of major crops

（b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(c) Time series rainfall pofile

(d) Time series temperature pofile

(e) Maximum VCI

(f) Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles and NDVI departure profiles

(g) National CPI time series graph

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:East coast,right:Po Valley)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(left:Islands,right:Western Italy) 

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

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