The reporting period began in April and ended in July 2024. This is the most critical growing season for almost all crops in the United States.

During this period, winter wheat reached maturity in the South in May and in the North in late July. Spring wheat, which is mostly grown in the North, was approaching the harvesting stage. Maize and soybeans completed planting in May, reaching the tasseling and flowering stages, respectively, in late July.  Conditions varied within the country: In the Northwest and the western half of the Northern Plains, two important wheat production regions, a rainfall deficit caused below average conditions. In the other parts of the country, conditions were average, thanks to a generally regular distribution of rainfall.

Nationally, the CropWatch Agri-climatic indicators showed above average rainfall (RAIN: +9%), temperature (TEMP: +0.8℃), and below average radiation (RADPAR: -1%), resulting in below average potential biomass (BIOMASS: -1%).

Nationally, cropped area land fraction (CALF) and maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx) were 0.90 and 0.87, respectively. The NDVI anomaly and its cluster showed diverse crop conditions across the country. Parts of southern Minnesota experienced a heavy rainstorm in June, which caused localized flooding and below average NDVI. However, generally normal crop conditions were widespread in the central and eastern parts of the Corn belt, the northeastern part of the North Plains, the southern part of South Plains, and the Lower Mississippi River region. The mixed crop condition led to a CPI of 0.98, indicating close to average crop conditions at the national level during this period.

Figure 3.42 United States crop condition, April to July 2024

a. Phenology of United States from April to July 2024

b. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

c. Time series rainfall profile

d. Time series temperature profile

e. Maximum VCI

f. Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

g. CPI time series chart for United States

Regional analysis

Summer crops are mainly planted in the Corn Belt (202), Northern Plains (204), Lower Mississippi (203), Southern Plains (207), Southeast (208) and Northwest (206). Due to differences in agro-climate, agronomic condition and irrigation infrastructure, the growth conditions are highly heterogeneous spatially.

(1) Corn Belt

The Corn Belt is the most important maize and soybean producing region in the United States and includes Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota. During this period, the Corn Belt was dominated by wet and warm weather conditions, with above average rainfall (RAIN: +24%), temperature (TEMP: +0.8℃) and radiation (RADPAR: +1%), resulting in an average potential biomass of 12%. Although crop conditions in parts of the western part of the Corn Belt were below average due to localized flooding caused by heavy rainfall, regular rainfall generally provided sufficient soil water for crop growth. Therefore, crop growth conditions were close to the 5-year average by the end of July. In addition, the CALF, VCIx and CPI were 100%, 0.91 and 0.99 respectively. All in all, conditions were average for this region.

h. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

i. Time series rainfall profile

j. Time series temperature profile

k. CPI time series chart for Corn Belt

(2) Northern Plains

The Northern Plains is the top producer of spring wheat and a major producer of maize. It includes parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. The region was dominated by hot and dry weather conditions during the observation period. CropWatch agro-climatic indicators showed below average rainfall (RAIN: -27%) and above average temperature (TEMP: 0.8℃) and radiation (RADPAR: +1%. The western half of this region experience a rainfall deficit, while conditions were normal in the eastern half.  On average, water stress led to reduced crop growth that was captured by NDVI profile which showed a below average crop condition. The CALF was 88%, which was close to the 5-year average. The VCIx and CPI were 0.84 and 1.01, respectively, which was also close to average.

l. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

m. Time series rainfall profile

n. Time series temperature profile

o. CPI time series chart for Northern Plains 

(3) Lower Mississippi

The Lower Mississippi River AEZ is the largest producer of rice and an important producer of soybean. It mainly consists of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. Rice reached the flowering stage in July. During the monitoring period, the region was dominated by wetter agrometeorological conditions, where rainfall and temperature were 21% and 0.7℃ above average, but radiation was 5% below average, which led to an 9% increase in potential biomass. Abundant rainfall helped sustain growth of rice. The NDVI profile indicates favorable crop condition. The CALF and VCIx were 100% and 0.89, respectively. The CPI was 1.01. All of them indicated an above average crop condition.

p. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

q. Time series rainfall profile

r. Time series temperature profile

s. CPI time series chart for Lower Mississippi

(4) Southern Plains

This region is the major producer of winter wheat, sorghum, and cotton. It includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and eastern Colorado. Winter wheat was harvested in May and June, sorghum and cotton reached the growing peak. CropWatch agroclimatic indicators indicated below average rainfall (-24%), radiation (-2%) and above average temperatures (+0.9℃), resulting in a 2% increase in potential biomass. The NDVI profile indicated declining crop conditions since late May. However, by that time, wheat was already close to maturity. The Southern Plains exhibited a below-average CALF (-1%), CPI (0.95), and VCIx (0.82), indicating below average crop condition. Overall, CropWatch assessed below-average crop prospect in the region.

t. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

u. Time series rainfall profile

v. Time series temperature profile

w. CPI time series chart for Southern Plains

(5) Southeast

This region is a major producer of cotton and corn, including Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. The agro-climatic situation is normal, with slightly above-average rainfall (RAIN: +1%) and temperature (TEMP: +0.9°C), average radiation and potential biomass (RADPAR: +1%). Although this region experienced a slight rainfall deficit from late May to early June, it had little impact on crop growth. As a result, the NDVI curve indicates that crop condition was close to average by the end of July. During the observation period, the VCIx and CPI were 0.88 and 0.95 respectively, confirming close to average crop conditions.

x. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

y. Time series rainfall profile

z. Time series temperature profile

aa. CPI time series chart for Southeast 

(6) Northwest

This region is the second-largest winter wheat and an important spring wheat producer. During the period, this region experienced a shift of crop conditions which changed from above average to below average. The water deficit was the main causes for the change. The rainfall was 24% below average, while temperatures and radiation were 0.3°C and 2% above average, respectively. This resulted in a significant reduction of 12% in potential biomass. The deteriorated crop condition was captured by the NDVI profile. In comparison to the 5YA, the CALF (86%) was 4% above average which can be attributed to the favorable ago-climatic condition in the previous reporting period. The VCIx and CPI were 0.84, and 0.99, respectively. All in all, crop conditions were below average.

ab. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

ac. Time series rainfall profile

ad. Time series temperature profile

ae. CPI time series chart for Northwest

Table 3.75.United States' agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April - July 2024

Table 3.76. United States’agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure, October April - July 2024