In general, crop condition of winter crops is above average in the North American MPZ (figure 2.2). Summer crops (maize, soybean, and spring wheat) are close to planting, and winter crops were in the middle oftheir growing season. Overall, the agroclimatic indicators show that rainfallwas 28% above average, while temperature and radiation were both below average(-0.7⁰C and -5%, respectively).

Among the main winter crops zones, abundant rainfall wasrecorded in the southern plains, Texas (RAIN, +35%), Oklahoma (+32%), Kansas (+16%),and in Nebraska (+48%), which is favorable for the growth of winter wheat. Temperature(TEMP) was close to average in the Southern Plains, including Kansas (+0.2),Texas (-0.8), Oklahoma (-0.7), and Nebraska (+1.0). Radiation (RADPAR) in theMPZ is below or close to average: Texas (-11%), Oklahoma (-6%), Nebraska (0%), andKansas (+1%).

In the Corn Belt, rainfall was above average, including Illinois(+22%), Indiana (+30%), Iowa (+24%), Missouri (+26%), and Ohio (+52%),benefiting the planting of maize and soybean. The northern plains also receivedabundant rainfall, including in Montana (+149%), North Dakota (+129%), and SouthDakota (+98%), which provides needed soil moisture for the planting of springwheat and barley. In Canada, rainfall was above average for the provinces ofAlberta (+23%), Manitoba (+1%), and Saskatchewan (+12%).

Overall, the accumulated biomass potential (BIOMASS) showeda positive departure of 15% compared to average, due to abundant rainfall,especially in the southern plains, indicating good performance of winter cropsin Texas (+52%), Oklahoma (+35%), Kansas (+18%), and Nebraska (+41%). MaximumVCI (the VCIx) is 0.72, while the fraction of cropped arable land (CALF) increased1%.

Figure 2.2. North America MPZ:Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January-April 2015