2014-09-12
Authors: Mary Knapp, Kevin Price, Nan An
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.
Two short videos of Dr. Kevin Price explaining the development of these maps can be viewed on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRP3Y5NIggw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdOK94efxc
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 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the highest biomass production continues to be in northeast Kansas. Higher values are also seen in southwest Kansas along and south of the Arkansas River Valley.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the greatest increase is in northwest Kansas. Southern Meade County also has much higher NDVI values than last year at this time. In contrast, from the Flint Hills through east central and southeast Kansas, NDVI values are much lower than last year at this time. In southeast Kansas, 85 percent of the corn is mature and 60 percent has been harvested.
Figure 3. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows north central KS has the greatest increase in biomass production. Stanton and Morton counties in the southwest continue to have lower-than-average biomass production.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that photosynthetic activity is highest in the central portion, from northeastern Nebraska through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. High photosynthetic values can also be seen in the Black Hills of South Dakota, along the Platte River in western Nebraska and along the Arkansas River in western Kansas. Cooler temperatures and favorable moisture have enhanced biomass production in these areas.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the Dakotas have much higher NDVI values, while southern Missouri and Kentucky have much lower NDVI values. Last year, Kentucky reported more than 85 percent of the corn in good to excellent condition. This year, less than 60 percent of the corn is reported in good to excellent condition.
Figure 6. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that most of the region is close to average. The Dakotas and eastern Nebraska are showing much higher biomass production. In North Dakota, pastures are reported at 84 percent in good to excellent conditions. The concern is that the cool, wet weather continues to delay row crop development and wheat harvest.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the highest NDVI values continue to be in the upper Midwest and along the Appalachians. High biomasss production is also visible along the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that much lower NDVI values are visible in northern California and in parts of the South, particularly in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama. In the South, wetter conditions are the major factor rather than drought. In Louisiana, only 11 percent of the topsoil moisture is reported short compared to an average of 40 percent at this time of the year.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 25-year average for the period August 26 – September 8 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the highest biomass production continues to be in the Northern Plains. Low biomass production is notable in northern California and along the Central Valleys of California. Exceptional drought continues in these areas.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu
Kevin Price, Professor Emeritus, Agronomy and Geography, Remote Sensing, GIS
kpprice@ksu.edu
Nan An, Graduate Research Assistant, Ecology & Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory (EASAL)
nanan@ksu.edu