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 August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that highest NDVI values are confined to the extreme northeastern portion of the state. This region continues to see the greatest moisture, and very favorable temperatures. Some lower NDVI values are beginning to appear in southeast and east central Kansas, which has missed much of the recent moisture.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that much of the state has lower NDVI values this year. The biggest departure is in central Kansas, while some portions of south central Kansas have higher biomass production this year.
Figure 3. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows the western third of the state continues to have below-average NDVI values. Marion County also is showing below-average biomass productivity.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the central portion of the region continues to have very high NDVI values. These areas of high NDVI values continue along the Missouri River Basin in Nebraska and Iowa, where temperatures and precipitation have continued to be favorable for plant development.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that with more favorable growing conditions, northern Missouri and southern Iowa have higher biomass production. In contrast, North Dakota and western Kentucky have much lower NDVI values.
Figure 6. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the Dakotas and northern Missouri have above-average biomass production. Most of the remainder of the region is close to the long-term average. The biggest area of below-average biomass production is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the areas of highest biomass production are along the upper Missouri River across the Corn Belt and into northern New England.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that Washington and Montana have much lower NDVI values while Louisiana and Alabama have much higher values. In Montana, heavy rains created problems with flooding.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 25-year average for the period August 12 – 25 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the greatest departure is in the Northwest. In Montana, while range conditions are poorer than last year, it is reported in better condition that the 5-year average.
