Over the monitoring period, winter wheat in France was at its growing stage, while the planting of the country’s maize and spring wheat was completed in May. The harvest of the three crops will start in the month of July for maize and in August and September for spring wheat and winter wheat, respectively. 

Compared to average, CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that the reporting period recorded a 23% drop in RAIN, a 1.2°C increase in TEMP, and 1.4% above average RADPAR at the national level. Also on the national level, crop condition was below average to average, which is confirmed by a significant decrease for the BIOMSS indicator (-16.9%) due to the scarcity in rainfall. As shown by the crop condition development graph, national NDVI values were mostly below average, but close to the five-year maximum from May to July. The national NDVI values began to drop below average from April, which is consistent with the lack of rainfall during this period. The spatial NDVI patterns compared to the five-year average and corresponding NDVI departure cluster profiles also indicate that NDVI is above average in only 14.5% of arable land, with below average NDVI in the other regions. This spatial pattern is reflected by the maximum VCI in the different areas, with a VCIx of 0.9 for France overall. Generally, due to the rainfall deficit, the agronomic indicators mentioned above show unfavorable condition for some crop areas of France. In the next few months, more rain is needed for the country's rainfed arable land areas.

Regional analysis

Considering the cropping system, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, eight sub-national regions for France are included in this bulletin. They are a northern barley region, a western mixed maize, barley and rapeseed area, a northwest mixed maize and barley region, a rapeseed region, a middle arid region, a southwest maize region, an eastern highland region, and a Mediterranean climate region. 

Northern barley region

This region is one of the major crop producing regions for barley. Overall unfavorable climatic conditions dominated the region over the reporting period, with 20% below average rainfall compared to the fifteen-year average; compared to the other 7 regions in France, this region received a medium amount of rainfall consisting of only 186 mm over the four months. Meanwhile, temperature (TEMP, +1°C) and radiation (RADPAR, 0%) were average. The dry condition in this region will hamper crop growing progress and production. As a result, the BIOMSS indicator for the region is 17% below average.

Western mixed maize, barley, and rapeseed region

Maize, barley, and rapeseed are the major crops in this region situated in the west of France. (The region is labeled 51 on the VCIx map and NDVI profile map). Over the reporting period, RAIN is 32% below average, while RADPAR is 2% above. As a result of the excess rain, the BIOMSS indicator is 24%below the five-year average. High VCIx values, however, are observed,reflecting overall favorable crop condition.

Northwest mixed maize and barley region

The main crops in this area in the northwest of the country (an area labeled 52on the VCIx map and NDVI profile map) are maize and barley. Rainfall decreased 22% compared to average for this period, while temperature and radiation were slightly above average. Crop condition was below average according to the NDVI development graph, an observation confirmed by the decrease of BIOMSS by 16% compared to average. The VCIx map, however, shows that the crop condition was favorable, with a high VCIx value recorded for the region as a whole (0.92).

Rapeseed region

In this region, situated in the country's southeast, rapeseed is naturally the major crop. Over the reporting period, RAIN here is 21% below average, RADPAR 2% above, and TEMP average. BIOMSS is 16% below the five-year average. A high VCIx value for the region, however, is reflecting overall favorable crop condition, even as the amount of rainfall (237 mm) received during the season is insufficient for crops. Overall crop condition is favorable compared with the previous five years according to the crop condition development graph. 

Middle arid region

Favorable conditions are observed in this region in the middle of the country. The departure from average for the RAIN indicator (-22%) ranks in the middle when compared to the other regions. Other indicators remain close to average. According to the NDVI profiles, the NDVI peak is close to the best condition of the past five years, which is a strong signal for an increase in yield. BIOMSS is 12% below its five-year average, but a high VCIx value still is reflecting an overall favorable crop condition.

Southwest maize region

For this region in France's southwest (labeled 55 on the VCIx map and NDVI profile map), RAIN below the five-year average for the region was observed, similar to the rainfall departure on the national level. Meanwhile, temperature (TEMP, +1°C) and radiation (RADPAR, 0%) nearly did not vary from the average. According to the NDVI profile map and VCIx map, crop condition was good in the region. Overall, the situation is considered to be close to average.

Eastern highland region

Generally,crop condition for this region is slightly above average, while climate conditions are close to average (RAIN, -1%; TEMP, +1°C; and RADPAR, +2%). Some arable land was not cropped during the monitoring period, and the average VCIx is only 0.89. The NDVI profile confirms the favorable conditions with above average NDVI since April.

Mediterranean climate region

In this region, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, overall crop condition is unfavorable due to the adverse weather conditions. The region only received 130 mm of rainfall, resulting in a decrease in RAIN of 47% compared to the fifteen-year average--the largest such drop in the country. Combined increases in TEMP of 2°C and RADPAR of 2% over average, the drop in BIOMSS was 35% compared to the five-year average for this indicator. Despite the drought and a Cropped Arable Land Fraction of 97%, crop condition stayed average according to NDVI based crop development profile.

                                                        Figure 3.13a. France phenology of major crops

Figure 3.13b. France national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the April-July 2017 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.13c. France maximum VCI for April-July 2017 by pixel

Figure 3.13d. France spatial NDVI patterns up to July 2017 according to local cropping patterns and compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right).

Figure 3.13f. Northern barley region  zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13g. Western mixed maize, Barley and Rapeseed zone  (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13h. Northwest mixed maize, Barley and rapeseed zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13i. Rapeseed zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13j. Middle arid zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13k. Southwest maize zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

 Figure 3.13l. Eastern highland (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Figure 3.13m. Mediterranean climate zone (France) crop condition development graph based on NDVI.

Table 3.26. France agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2017

Table 3.27. France agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA, April-July 2017

Table 3.28. CropWatch-estimated maize and wheat production for France in 2017 (thousand tons)