In Poland, maize planting begins in May, while winter wheat harvesting starts in mid-July. Over the reporting period, the Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) remained the same as the average of the last five years, very close to 100%. During April to July, rainfall (RAIN) was up 21% compared to average. Both temperature and radiation were below average (TEMP, -1.3°C and RADPAR a significant -6%), while the potential biomass (BIOMSS) increased 19% due to the sufficient rainfall.

As shown in the NDVI crop condition development graphs, the NDVI in Poland is below average when compared to the previous 2015-16 season and the last five years, especially from April to June. By July, NDVI was close to or even slightly above average. This behavior is reflected by the VCIx in the different areas, with a VCIx of 0.96 for Poland overall. Overall, the crop condition was above average in Poland as a result of sufficient rainfall in the period.

Regional analysis

Based on the Global Agro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ) map, Poland can be divided into three regions, namely a Cold and mesic forest zone, which occupies the northeast of the country, a Cool temperate and dry zone, which is the largest zone for the country, and a Cool temperate and moist zone, which is located in the south and southwest of the country. As shown in the tables, the departure of biomass is consistent with the departure of rainfall from the three zones.

In the largest zone, the Cool temperate and dry zone, agroclimatic indicators show an increase of rainfall over average (RAIN, +24%) and a decline of radiation (RADPAR, -7%). Temperature was below average (TEMP, -1°C), while the biomass production potential is above (BIOMSS, +21%). The Cropped Arable Land Fraction in the zone was also close to 100%.

In conclusion, both crop condition and BIOMSS were above average across the three zones due to sufficient rainfall in the monitoring period, pointing to an estimated yield and production in 2017 that both increase slightly over 2016..

Figure 3.25a. Poland phenology of major crops

Figure 3.25b. Poland 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 3.25c. Poland maximum VCI for April-July 2017 by pixel

Figure 3.25d. Poland 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 3.25f. Cold and mesic forest zone (Poland) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.25g. Cool temperate and moist zone (Poland) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.25h. Cool temperate and dry zone (Poland) crop condition development graph based on NDVI 

Table 3.61. Poland agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2017

Table 3.62. Poland agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April - July 2017

Table 3.63. CropWatch-estimated wheat production for Poland in 2017 (thousand tons)