No crops are grown between late October and January in Northeast China due to the low temperatures. For the period under consideration, however, agroclimatic conditions were favorable for crops to be planted in April. 

The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show markedly above average rainfall (RAIN, +90%) and a slight decrease in radiation (RADPAR, -3%). Temperature (TEMP, -0.6°C) was generally about average. These favorable agroclimatic conditions resulted in a 7% above average potential biomass production (BIOMSS) in the region. The only exception to these generally good conditions is a region west of Heilongjiang province (Xiaoxingan ranges), which shows below average NDVI due to heavy snow and extreme low temperature during the previous monitoring period; VCIx also shows this spatial pattern (with a VCIx <0.5 in this area). In general, abundant snow will ensure good soil moisture, which will benefit spring crops in 2017.