Crop condition was generally average from July to October with unfavorable conditions in August and favorable condition from September on forward. The harvesting of summer crops (mainly maize, rice, and soybean) concluded in early October.Currently, winter wheat is in tillering to wintering stage. Huanghuaihai experienced generally below average precipitation and above average temperature, but an 8% increase in BIOMSS. The most severe decline in BIOMSS was observed in eastern Shandong province due to the below normal rainfall (figure4.1), while maximum VCI shows above average crop condition in the area.According to the spatial NDVI patterns (compared to the recent five-year average) and the corresponding NDVI profiles, NDVI was continuously below average for Bohai Bay west coastal regions as well as central Shandong.Overall, the spatial average NDVI development graph reveals that summer crops condition is below both average and the previous years’ condition. The below average CALF and cropping intensity is the combined effect of poor weather conditions and low earnings from farming.

Figure4.9. Crop condition China Huanghuaihai region, July-October 2014

NDVI  background       (b)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(e)Maximum VCI     (f)Cropped arable land fraction