The crops in the United Kingdom showed mostly average condition over the reporting period. Currently, most of the winter wheat, oats, and all the winter barley and winter rapeseed have been harvested, while spring barley is in the vegetative stage. Compared to average, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that biomass and temperature over the reporting period were average, with above average rainfall (RAIN, +6%) and well below average radiation (RADPAR, -7%). The national NDVI values were above and even close to the five-year maximum from May to June according to the crop condition development graph. From May to late June, the spatial NDVI patterns, when compared to the five-year average, and corresponding NDVI departure cluster profiles indicate above average NDVI values the country for more than 82.4% of arable land (including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and most of Hampshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and west Worcester-shire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Yorkshire, Durham, south Northumberland, as well as Cupar, Stirling, Dundee, and Aberdeen); only 17.6% of the area had below average condition this period. The national VCIx (0.94) was well above average, and the cropped arable land fraction is unchanged compared to its five-year average.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national regions--Central sparse crop region, Northern barley region, and Southern mixed wheat and barley region--can be distinguished. Specific observations for the reporting period are included for each region. Overall, production estimates for 2017 are similar to 2016.

Central sparse crop region

The Central sparse crop region is one of its major agricultural regions in terms of crops production. In the central area with sparse crops, NDVI values were well above the five-year maximum according to that region's crop condition development graph, resulting from the adequate rainfall that started in April. Agroclimatic conditions are close to average with 6% above average RAIN, 0.48°C below average TEMP, and 7% below average RADPAR.

Northern barley region

The Northern barley region is one of the main barley regions in the United Kingdom. In this region, NDVI was below average according to the crop condition graphs. Agroclimatic conditions are close to average with 10% above average RAIN, 0.2°C below average TEMP, and 9% below average RADPAR.

Southern mixed wheat and barley region

In the southern mixed wheat and barley zone, NDVI was below average according to the crop condition graph for that zone specifically. Rainfall (RAIN) was mostly close to average, while temperature (TEMP) and radiation (RADPAR) were below average during the reporting period.

Figure 3.14a.  United Kingdom phenology of major crops

Figure 3.14b. United Kingdom 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 3.14c.  United Kingdom VCI for April-July 2017 by pixel

Figure 3.14d.  United Kingdom 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 3.14f. Central sparse crop region (UK) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.14g. Northern Barley region (UK) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.14h. Southern mixed wheat and Barley region (UK) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Table 3.29. United Kingdom agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2017

Table 3.30. United Kingdom, agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April-July 2017

Table 3.31. CropWatch-estimated wheat production for United Kingdom in 2017 (thousand tons)