Poland enjoyed favorable crop condition during this monitoringperiod (VCIx=0.82), which corresponds with the wintering stage of winter wheat,while maize seeding started in the beginning of April. The cropped arable landfraction (CALF) for the country is the same as the average of the last fiveyears. Weather during January to April was much wetter and somewhat colder thanaverage, with rainfall (RAIN) up 23% and temperature (TEMP) down 0.2°C.Radiation (as indicated by the RADPAR indicator) dropped 13% below average, whilethe potential biomass production potential (BIOMSS) was up 6% due to thecombination of abundant precipitation and slightly colder weather.

As shown in the national crop condition development graph and NDVIprofiles, NDVI values were significantly below average from the start of themonitoring period to the middle of March, but then quickly reverted to average.The reason for this is the snow that had been covering almost the entirecountry from last October on forward, with NDVI starting to drop already inOctober last year. Only in 13% of croplands, mainly concentrated on Malopolakeand Slaskie, was NDVI above average during the monitoring period.

The national VCIx in Poland during this monitoring period was 0.82.The snow has probably protected crops from cold weather, and the sufficientrainfall will provide enough soil moisture. The overall outlook of winter cropsfor the country is mixed to average.

Figure3.25. Poland crop condition, January-April2017

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (b) Maximum VCI

(c) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA and the coresponding NDVI departure profiles