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 26-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 January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow during this period was limited in coverage. Only the northeast had more than a trace. Moisture was similarly limited.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that cloud cover in the east resulted in a splice line. Higher NDVI readings are limited to south central Kansas.
Figure 3. Compared to the 26-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the southern part of the state has above-average NDVI readings. Wheat in this region shows signs of greenup.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that much of the region had snow cover. This is in contrast to earlier winter conditions, and has slowed drought expansion in the north.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows, aside from the splice line in eastern Kansas, higher NDVI values this year follow the area of greatest snow cover.
Figure 6. Compared to the 26-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that the northwestern parts of the region have above-average NDVI readings.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow did not penetrate as far south as in earlier periods. Thelack of snow in the Pacific Northwest is particularly noteworthy.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period January 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that much of the country has higher NDVI values. The extreme snow in New England has resulted in lower NDVI readings in that area this year.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 26-year average for the period 27 – February 9 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that most of the Pacific Northwest has above-average NDVI values. Moisture has been above average, but has been in the form of rain rather than snow. This provides for increased photosynthetic activity at the present, but the lack of snow means limited availability of runoff in the spring. This is likely to increase drought stress.
