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 February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that all parts of the state had snow with the last system. Amounts varied from as much as 7 inches in southwest Kansas, to an inch or less in parts of north central and eastern Kansas.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows the greatest increase in NDVI readings was in the Southwestern Division and in parts of central and southeast Kansas. Sedgwick and Sumner counties, in particular, have higher photosynthetic activity than last year at this time.
Figure 3. Compared to the 26-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that southwest and south central Kansas have above-average NDVI readings. Temperatures in these areas have been close to normal. Moisture has also been favorable, particularly in southwest Kansas.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the Corn Belt for February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow was present in most of the region during the period. The Northern Plains continues to have much lower-than-normal snow cover, while the eastern areas of the region are dealing with much higher-than-average snow packs.
Figure 5. The comparison to last year in the Corn Belt for the period February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that higher NDVI values are concentrated in southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and eastern South Dakota. These areas continue to have low snow cover and increasing drought stress. The lower NDVI values are concentrated on the southern and eastern portions of the region, where continued snow cover is limiting activity.
Figure 6. Compared to the 26-year average at this time for the Corn Belt, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows much lower-than-average NDVI readings are concentrated on the southeastern portions of the region. Greater-than-average NDVI readings are visible from South Dakota through southwestern Minnesota. Southern Missouri through Kentucky and Ohio have below-average NDVI readings due to increased snow. Columbus Ohio reported 15.5 inches of snow in February. Its normal February snowfall is just 6.3 inches.
Figure 7. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S. for February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that snow penetrated into the South, but missed the mountains of the West.
Figure 8. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for the period February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that lower NDVI readings are prevalent from Missouri to the Atlantic Seaboard, where heavier snows have fallen. The Front Range of the Rockies also has had higher snowfall, with resultant lower NDVI values. The Pacific Northwest continues to see a lack of snow cover.
Figure 9. The U.S. comparison to the 26-year average for the period February 17 – March 2 from K-State’s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that there is a big split, with the eastern parts of the country having much lower-than-average photosynthetic activity. This is a result of the much higher-than-average snow. In contrast, the West has much higher-than-average NDVI readings as a result of much lower-than-normal snow cover. The exception to this is the Front Range of the Rockies, where snow cover has been higher-than-average.
