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 November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow was a factor across much of the state during this two-week period. Unfortunately, snow depths were limited. The greatest snowfall was 2-4 inches, with many locations seeing only a trace of accumulation. The moisture content was also limited, generally less than a quarter of an inch.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that vegetative activity was higher this year. Mild temperatures with adequate moisture favored plant growth even in areas where drought persists.
Figure 3. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows biomass production was above average in most of the state. The greatest departures can be seen in west central and central Kansas.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that only a few spots missed snow during the period. The heaviest amounts were in the northern areas of the region. In the Northern Great Lakes region, which includes northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, 92 percent of the area has snow cover, with an average depth of 5 inches and a maximum depth of 32 inches.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that photosynthetic activity is much lower across the northern portions of the region. Much of this is due to the snow cover in the area. In the Northern Plains snow cover is at 91 percent this year; last year the coverage was just 13 percent.
Figure 6. Compared to the 25-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the greatest increase in biomass production is in the western portion of the region. In the Great Lakes are of the Corn Belt, heavy snow cover has resulted in below-average photosynthetic activity.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow cover affected a good portion of the U.S. Most of the accumulation in the southern areas was light and melted quickly. It is noteworthy that parts of the West continue to have lower-than-normal snow pack for this time of year.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the Pacific Northwest has the greatest increase in photosynthetic activity, while the upper Midwest has the greatest decrease. In the Northwest, snow cover is less than last year, and the average depth is a quarter of the average depth last year.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 25-year average for the period November 4 – 17 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the Pacific Northwest has the greatest increase in biomass production, while the Great Lakes region has the greatest decrease.
