During the period from May 9th to 24th, 2021, the most winter wheat in Northern China and Huanghuai was in the stage of grain filling to maturity, and part of it began to harvest. The stage of milk-ripe to harvest was primarily in Janghuai, Janghan and Southern Henan, while the harvest stage was almost concluded in Southwest China. As for the early rice, most of it was at the tillering to jointing stage in the Southern regions of lower reaches of Yangtze River and in the northwest South China. Additionally, the majority of early rice was at jointing to boosting stage in South China, and was at heading to milk-rape stage in Hainan. Moreover, the spring maize was mainly at three-leaves to seven-leaves stage in Northwest China and in Northern China, and was at sowing to three-leaves stage in Northeast China. However, it was almost at seven-leaves to heading stage in eastern Southwest China, and was primarily at silking to milk-rape stage in Guangxi.

During the middle ten days of May, the precipitation was below the average of past 15 years in the areas such as Northwest China, Guangdong, Yunnan, while it was generally above average in most of the other areas. The temperature was higher than average by 1.0-3.0℃ in Northeast China, Inner Mongolia and Southern China, while it was about lower than average by 2.0℃ in Shandong and Henan, and was slightly below average by 0-1.5℃ in the other areas. At the same time, in Northeast China and Southern China, the radiation was above average, whereas it was generally below average in other areas. To a certain extent, the cooler weather will prolong the grain filling period of the wheat, which is beneficial to the wheat yield. And the local severe convective weather in Henan and Jiangsu probably leads to wheat lodging, but its effect on total yield is limited. In the meanwhile, the significant above-average crop condition was recorded in the areas such as Shandong, Northern Anhui, Guanzhong of Shaanxi and Southwest Gansu. Overall, the summer crop condition in China was favorable in mid-to-late May.

Figure 1: NDVI departure from 5 years average (2021.5.9 - 2021.5.24)