Crop condition in Huanghuaihai was generally above the recent five-year average and at the same level as the previous year. Currently, crops in the region are mainly winter wheat, which is at wintering stage. Winter wheat will green up starting in mid-March.Dry weather conditions from July to October in the regions hampered the emergence of winter wheat as confirmed by the below average NDVI in October shown in the NDVI development graph. Starting in November, above average rainfall promoted winter wheat development before dormancy, allowing crop conditions to recover to average. Overall, favorable climatic conditions with44% above average precipitation will provide adequate soil moisture for winter cropsafter dormancy. Over the last four months, crop conditions were below average only in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, and other scattered regions (as shown in the spatial NDVI pattern map) where VCIx values consistently below 0.5 were observed.

Figure4.7. Crop condition China Huanghuaihai, October 2014-January 2015

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(d)Maximum VCI                                                    (e)Biomass