During the monitoring period, maize has been harvested in the northwestern part of Mexico, while in other areas it was being harvested from January. Rice was being harvested, whereas winter wheat was still growing. Soybean has been harvested after December. Overall, crop condition was below average, as shown by the crop condition development graph based on NDVI. 

Nationwide, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators were all very close to average. The BIOMSS indicator nevertheless decreased by 11%. The VCIx on the national level was high, with a value of 0.89. However, there were differences for this indicator in different subnational regions. The map of VCIx spatial pattern showed that lower values mainly located in northwestern Mexico whereas higher values in other areas.The CALF increased by 1% compared to average. As indicated by the spatial NDVI patterns and corresponding profiles, 36.8% of crops were generally below average, predominantly located in southern, eastern and northwestern Mexico. On the contrary, 4.3% of planted areas were continuously above average condition, occurred in northeastern Mexico.

Regional analysis 

According to cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, Mexico is divided into four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) , including the Arid and semi-arid regions, Humid tropics with summer rainfall, Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains, and Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains.

Over this reporting period, wheat was growing in the Arid and semi-arid regions, Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains and Subhumid hot tropics with summer rains while rice was being harvested in Subhumid hot tropics with summer rains and Humid tropics with summer rainfall. Maize has been harvested in Arid and semi-arid regions whereas was being harvested in Subhumid hot tropics with summer rains and Humid tropics with summer rainfall. Soybean has been harvested in Subhumid hot tropics with summer rains and Humid tropics with summer rainfall.

As shown by the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, crops condition was generally below average in the Arid and semi-arid regions, Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains and the Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains. On the contrary, crops condition was average or close to average during October and January but significantly below average in the Humid tropics with summer rainfall since late January.

The CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators showed that rainfall was significantly below average in the  Arid and semi-arid regions (-14%), Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains (-24%) and the  Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains (-12%), but above average in the Humid tropics with summer rainfall (+15%). Temperature and radiation were average or slightly departed from average,in all four AEZ, with the departures ranging between -0.8 °C and 0.2 °C, and -2% and 2%, respectively. BIOMSS was significantly below average in all the subnational regions, except in Humid tropics with summer rainfall (+2%). Compared to the recent five-year average, CALF increased in all AEZs with the departures between 0% and +3%. The maximum VCI was between 0.83 and 0.99 in these sub-national regions.

Figure 3.20. Mexico crop condition, October 2017-January 2018

(a). Phenology of major crops

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

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA          (e) NDVI profiles 

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Arid and semi-arid regions (left) and Humid tropics with summer rainfall (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains (left) and Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains (right))

Table 3.47. Mexico agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2017-January 2018

Table 3.48. Mexico agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA,  October 2017-January 2018