The current monitoring period includeswintering time of winter crops and the planting season of spring crops, with CropWatchagroclimatic and agronomic indicators for the period pointing at above averagecrop condition.

Rainfall (RAIN) was 25% above average, whiletemperature (TEMP) was 1.8°C above and radiation (RADPAR) a significant 6%below average due to the rainy weather. Abundant rainfall fell in major wintercrop production states, with above average precipitation in Kansa (RAIN, +67%),Oklahoma (+48%), Texas (+35%), Nebraska (+28%), California (+76%), andWashington (+43%). Excessive precipitation locally resulted in floods,especially in California and Texas. Rainfall in Iowa (RAIN, +23%), Illinois(+21%), and Wisconsin (+48%) provided sufficient soil moisture for planting andgrowth of maize and soybeans.

Warm and humid weather is good for the growthof winter crops, and positive NDVI departures were observed in California,Washington, Kansas, and Nebraska. Slightly below average NDVI was observed inscattered regions of northern Texas and Oklahoma, which may have been caused byfloods. The above average crop condition compared to the last five years isconfirmed by the maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx=0.85) and thefraction of cropped arable land (CALF), which was significantly (7%) aboveaverage.

Altogether, all CropWatch indicators point ataverage or above crop production for the United States. Crop productionestimates by state are presented in Annex B.

Figure3.31. United States crop condition, January-April2017