K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory (EASAL) produces weekly Vegetation Condition Report maps. These maps can be a valuable tool for making crop selection and marketing decisions.
The objective of these reports is to provide users with a means of assessing the relative condition of crops and grassland. The maps can be used to assess current plant growth rates, as well as comparisons to the previous year and relative to the 25-year average. The report is used by individual farmers and ranchers, the commodities market, and political leaders for assessing factors such as production potential and drought impact across their state.
NOTE TO READERS: The maps below represent a subset of the maps available from the EASAL group. If you’d like digital copies of the entire map series please contact Nan An at nanan@ksu.edu and we can place you on our email list to receive the entire dataset each week as they are produced. The maps are normally first available on Wednesday of each week, unless there is a delay in the posting of the data by EROS Data Center where we obtain the raw data used to make the maps. These maps are provided for free as a service of the Department of Agronomy and K-State Research and Extension.
The maps in this issue of the newsletter show the current state of photosynthetic activity in Kansas, the Corn Belt, and the continental U.S., with comments from Mary Knapp, service climatologist:
Figure 1. The Vegetation Condition Report for Kansas for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that biomass production is limited, with the highest activity levels in the Southeastern Division, as cooler temperatures dominated the region.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that biomass production is higher than at this point last year in the western and central divisions. Winter wheat emergence is 98 percent complete in the northwest but only 56 percent complete in southeast Kansas.
Figure 3. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows above-average photosynthetic activity across most of the state.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that active photosynthetic activity is limited to southwestern Missouri, while snow covers much of the northern Plains. Heaviest snow totals were reported in Minnesota and northern Michigan, with amounts greater than 12 inches common.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the greatest departures are in Michigan. More favorable growing conditions have resulted in more persistent biomass production into the fall in this area.
Figure 6. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that biomass production is generally at or above the long-term average. Parts of central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are the major exceptions. These areas correspond to the heaviest snowfalls with the most recent system.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow has become a factor in some areas. Greatest snow depths were reported in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is noteworthy that snowfall has been limited in the mountains of California, where winter precipitation is a critical factor in water supplies.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that there is generally comparable photosynthetic activity. There is much lower NDVI values in northern Idaho and western Montana, where early snow totals have limited vegetative activity.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 25-year average for the period October 28 – November 10 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that vegetative activity is generally above average. The greatest departure can be seen along the Pacific Northwest, where warm temperatures and rain have fueled plant growth.
