Overall, agroclimatic and agricultural indicators for October 2014 to January 2015 indicate most parts of Western Europe presented favorable condition of winter crop and a large average VCIx value (0.9). Figure 2.5presents an overview of CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators.

Temperature was generally favorable (2.6°C above average), while below average rainfall (-4%) and radiation (-7%) were observed. The condition ofcrops was about average according to the BIOMSS indicator. Biomass accumulationpotential, however, was well below the recent five year average (-20% andbelow) in central and western France, northwestern and southern Spain, southeasternItaly, and Hungary. In contrast, BIOMSS in most other regions was 10% aboveaverage. The rainfall deficit in late October and the continuously belowaverage temperature from December to January are the main reasons behind thelow BIOMSS indicator.

More than 93% of the arable lands were cropped, which is 3% above therecent five-year average. Most uncropped arable land is concentrated in Spain.Accordingly, maximum VCI was lower as well, compared with other regions in theMPZ. Generally, crop condition in Western Europe was above average relative toboth the thirteen-year and the five-year averages. Areas with low minimum VHIare found mainly in central Spain and the United Kingdom.

Figure 2.5. Western Europe MPZ: Agroclimaticand agronomic indicators, October 2014-January 2015