Bulletin

wall bulletin
North AmericaCrop and environmental conditions in major production zones

Authors: xieyan,zenghongwei | Edit: lirui

The reporting period starts from July and ends in October, covering the flowering, grain filling, and maturation stages of corn and soybeans. Spring wheat in the northern United States and Canada is harvested in August. Overall, the climate was exceptionally dry and hot in the prairies and plains regions, while the southeast area experienced more favorable weather conditions.

The agricultural weather conditions in the main producing areas of North America were poor, with rainfall below the average level (ΔRAIN -12%), and both the average temperature and radiation were above the average level (ΔTEMP +1.1, ΔRADPAR +4%). Due to insufficient rainfall and high temperatures, the biomass production potential was below the average level (ΔBIOMSS -14%). Temperature departure profiles showed that from August to October, the average temperature in the southeast region was slightly above the average, while in other regions it was much higher than the average, with the highest being 6.2 more than the average. Rainfall departure profiles showed that before mid-August, except for the plains and prairies, other regions had higher than average rainfall. Afterward, all regions had lower than average rainfall. The adequate rainfall at the beginning of August provided good soil moisture conditions for the flowering and grain filling of corn and soybeans, which helped in yield formation. After August, as corn and soybeans entered the maturation and harvesting stages, the rainfall, slightly below the 15-year average, created good conditions for harvesting.

The CALF reached 93%, which is comparable to the average level. The cropped and uncropped arable land shows that there are only some uncropped areas in the western part of the Great Plains, mainly concentrated in the northwestern part of Texas and the western part of Kansas. Biomass production potential departure profiles showed that compared to the 15-year average, only the central part of the Corn Belt, the southeastern part of the Southern Plains, and the Southeast region were above the average level. The potential cumulative biomass in the eastern prairies, the northern part of the Southern Plains, and the entire Northern Plains were 20% below the average, while other regions were 0 to 20% below the average. Several consecutive weeks of warm and dry weather in the Midwest accelerated crop maturity, leading to an early harvest of corn and soybeans, but hindered the planting and germination of winter wheat in the Plains, resulting in a lower potential cumulative biomass. The VCIx also confirmed that only some parts of the western Plains were below 0.8, while crops in other regions grew well. The VHIn showed severe drought in parts of the western Plains and the Corn Belt, but most areas were in good condition. Overall, the VCIx for North America was 0.87, and the Crop Production Index was 0.99, indicating normal conditions.

In summary, CropWatch assesses that the crop yield conditions in the prairies of Canada, the Plains, and the Corn Belt are normal, with winter wheat in the Plains region experiencing delayed establishment because of drier than usual conditions.


Figure 2.2 North America MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July to October 2024.

Figure.{a} Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

Figure.{b} Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

Figure.{c} Cropped and uncropped arable land

Figure.{d} Potential biomass departure from 5YA

Figure.{e} Maximum VCI

Figure.{f} VHI Minimum

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Figure.{g} CPI time series graph for North America