Overall crop conditionwas above average in Brazil during the reporting period. The harvest of thesecond maize is ongoing and wheat is currently in the heading stage. Agroclimaticconditions were beneficial for the development of wheat, which overall resultedin significant above average BIOMSS. Rainfall was 443 mm from April to July (or22% above average), which replenished the soil moisture for crops. Airtemperature and radiation were close to average. Rainfall was above average formost of the states in southern Brazil especially in Goias, Mato Grosso, MatoGrosso Do Sul, and Parana, with increases of respectively 138%, 107%, 74%, and70% above average rainfall. Spatial patterns and NDVI departure profilescompared to the five-year average clearly indicate above average conditions in southernBrazil; this coincided with high VCIx values in Rio Grande Do Sul, SantaCatarina, Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso Do Sul, and Parana, among others. Incentral Brazil, crop condition was below the five-year average as shown in theVCIx map and NDVI departure clustering map, mainly due to the shortage ofrainfall. Nationally, crop condition was above the five-year average and theprevious year as shown in the NDVI based crop development profile, indicatingan increased yield compared with the previous year. Cropped arable landfraction at national scale is estimated at 82%, 1 percentage point aboveaverage. Table B.2 in Annex B presents the estimated production outputs for thecountry in 2015.

Figure3.8. Brazil crop condition, April-July 2015

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

(c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                          (d) NDVI profile