During the current monitoring period of April through July 2022, winter wheat reached maturity and was harvested. Maize reached the silking period and soybean reached seed filling in late July, whereas spring wheat was in its late grain filling phase. The strong heterogeneity of agroclimatic condition led to diverse crop conditions.

For the region as a whole, North America experienced a dry and hot season. Rainfall was 8% below the 15YA and temperature was 0.5°C above average. The rainfall departure profile indicated that the Canadian Prairies received significantly above average rainfall in mid-May and mid-June, while most of the U.S. experienced a rainfall deficit. In May, much warmer than usual temperatures were observed for the central regions of the USA and Canada. Temperature departure profiles showed that temperature was 1-4°C above average in the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River, and 1-2°C above average in the Northern Plains and Corn Belt from mid-June to July. Precipitation deficits and above average solar radiation accelerated soil moisture loss leading to localized drought and spatial variation in crop conditions. Potential biomass was 4% below average and crop growth was near average, but below 5-year mamximum, in North America during the monitoring period with VCIx of 0.83. The minimum vegetation health index (VHIn) indicated a severe drought in the Southern Plains, where potential biomass was generally 10-20% lower. VCIx indicated good crop conditions in the Canadian prairies (VCIx is above 1.0) and poor crop conditions in the Southern Plains (VCIx is below 0.5). The drought resulted in an increase in the fraction of uncropped land, with CALF showing that 92% of cropland was planted during the monitoring period, 3% lower than the 5YA.

In short, CropWatch assesses crop condition as below average in the Southern Plains, and near or above average conditions in the other areas.

Figure 2.2 North America MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, April to July 2022.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

b. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

c. Cropped and uncropped arable land

d.Potential biomass departure from 15YA 

e. Maximum VCI

f. VHI Minimum