Winter wheat is still growing while farmers in Belarusstarted to sow spring wheat and summer crops in March.

At the national level, CropWatch agroclimatic indices showthat rainfall was abundant for winter wheat growth (RAIN 171 mm, +40%), withaverage temperature (TEMP) and radiation above average (RADPAR 488 MJ/m²,+1.8%). The conditions result in a biomass production potential increase of3.5% over the recent 5-year average. CALF reached 80%, with relatively lowvalues (0.5 to 0.8) concentrated in western and eastern areas; a moderatemaximum vegetation condition index (0.76) indicates overall moderate condition.Both national NDVI and spatial NDVI pattern showed that most areas of Belarusexperienced a dramatic drop in January but subsequently recovered to 5-yearaverage levels until late April. CropWatch forecasts the production of wheat toincrease 9.7% in 2018, as compared to 2017.

   Figure 3.12. Belarus’s crop condition, January-April 2018

                                                               (a).Phenology of major crops