The weekly Vegetation Condition Report maps below 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 27-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.
The Vegetation Condition Report (VCR) maps were originally developed by Dr. Kevin Price, K-State professor emeritus of agronomy and geography, and his pioneering work in this area is gratefully acknowledged.
The maps have recently been revised, using newer technology and enhanced sources of data. Dr. Nan An, Imaging Scientist, collaborated with Dr. Antonio Ray Asebedo, assistant professor and lab director of the Precision Agriculture Lab in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, on the new VCR development. Multiple improvements have been made, such as new image processing algorithms with new remotely sensed data from EROS Data Center.
These improvements increase sensitivity for capturing more variability in plant biomass and photosynthetic capacity. However, the same format as the previous versions of the VCR maps was retained, thus allowing the transition to be as seamless as possible for the end user. For this spring, it was decided not to incorporate the snow cover data, which had been used in past years. However, this feature will be added back at a later date. In addition, production of the Corn Belt maps has been stopped, as the continental U.S. maps will provide the same data for these areas. Dr. Asebedo and Dr. An will continue development and improvement of the VCRs and other advanced maps.
The maps in this issue of the newsletter show the current state of photosynthetic activity in Kansas, and the continental U.S., with comments from Mary Knapp, assistant state climatologist:
Figure 1. The Vegetation Condition Report for Kansas for April 4 – April 10, 2017 from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory shows increasing vegetative activity along the Arkansas River in southwest into south central Kansas Only light activity is visible along the Flint Hills.
Figure 2. Compared to the previous year at this time for Kansas, the current Vegetation Condition Report for April 4 – April 10, 2017 from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory shows similar NDVI values across most of Kansas. The winter wheat is less advanced this year than last, particularly in western Kansas, where dry fall conditions hampered establishment. The greatest increase in vegetative activity is in extreme northeast Kansas.
Figure 3. Compared to the 27-year average at this time for Kansas, this year’s Vegetation Condition Report for April 4 – April 10, 2017, from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory much of the state has near- average photosynthetic activity. Above-average NDVI values are visible in the central and south central parts of the state, where precipitation has been more favorable. The lingering impact from the dry conditions last fall is most visible in southwest Kansas.
Figure 4. The Vegetation Condition Report for the U.S for April 4 – April 10, 2017 from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory shows the area of highest NDVI is confined to the South, particularly in east Texas and Louisiana. Low NDVI values are visible along the central Mississippi River Valley. As of April 1st, the snow depiction has been dropped, since the snow season is largely over.
Figure 5. The U.S. comparison to last year at this time for April 4 – April 10, 2017 from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory again shows the impact that the split in snow cover has caused this year. Much lower NDVI values prevail from the Pacific Northwest through the Northern Plains and into New England, where snow coverage has been much higher this year than last. Meanwhile the upper Midwest has much higher NDVI values, due to warmer-than-normal temperatures and favorable precipitation.
Figure 6. The U.S. comparison to the 27-year average for the period of April 4 – April 10, 2017 from K-State’s Precision Agriculture Laboratory shows below-average photosynthetic activity in the Pacific Northwest, where continuing storm systems have masked vegetative activity. Above-average NDVI values are visible in the Midwest from Iowa through Pennsylvania and northward. This is particularly true in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Warmer-than-normal temperatures and favorable precipitation has favored early vegetative growth in that region. This has resulted in continued risk of spring freeze damage.
