2.3 North America

This monitoring period covers the harvesting season of winter crops and the growing season of summer crops.

The agroclimatic indicators show that rainfall (RAIN) was 21% above average, temperature (TEMP) was down by 0.2°C, while PAR (RADPAR) was 2% below average. Abundant rainfall fell over the major crop production zones, including the Northern Great Plains (RAIN, +20%), Corn Belt (+13%), and Cotton Belt to Mexican Nordeste (+20%), which would replenish soil moisture for the growth of crops. Unfavorable agroclimatic conditions were recorded in wheat production zones, with some major spring wheat areas suffering drought (including Manitoba (RAIN, -25%), Saskatchewan (-24%), North Dakota (-21%), Montana (-10%), and Oregon (-25%)), and some winter wheat states in the United States suffering flooding, especially in Oklahoma (+51%). Abundant rainfall is also confirmed by the spatial rainfall clusters in parts of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Indiana (abnormally heavy rain in late April). At the beginning of June, the western Corn Belt and some winter wheat zones suffered heavy rainfall again, while in the northern Plains and Canadian Prairie, rainfall was consistently below average. Unfortunately, the northern Plains and Canadian Prairie also suffered very high temperature (+4°C to 4.5°C) in late April, May, and June, which accelerated the loss of soil moisture.

Unfavorable crop condition is confirmed by BIOMSS values of 20% below the recent average of the biomass production potential in the north of North Dakota and south of Canadian Prairie, indicating drought, which also was confirmed by the VHIn map. Agronomic indices also indicate depressed crop condition in wheat zones, especially in the north of North Dakota and Montana, as well as in the southern part of Saskatchewan in Canada where the value of VCIx was below 0.5. Agronomic indices including an unchanged cropped arable land fraction (0%) and BIOMSS (+7%) were normal in remaining areas.

In general, crop condition is below average in the North American MPZ. 

Figure 2.2a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.2b. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.2c. Maximum VCI, April-July 2017

Figure 2.2d. Cropped and uncropped arable land, April-July 2017

Figure 2.2e. Biomass accumulation potential departure, April- July 2017

Figure 2.2f. VHI minimum, April-July 2017