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North AmericaCrop and environmental conditions in major production zones

Authors: 超级管理员 | Edit: xingqiang

In general, crops did well in the North American MPZ in 2014. Overall, rainfall (RAIN) increased by 16% over average, temperature (TEMP) increased by 0.4°C, and radiation(RADPAR) dropped 2%.

Between February and late May, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Ohio suffered a significant rainfall deficit. From mid-April to mid-May, the deficit extended to almost all areas of the North American MPZ, especially to Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Montana,Arkansas, and Indiana. The impact is confirmed by low VHIn values in the MPZ(see figure 2.2). Late May witnessed above average temperature in almost all regions, contributing to worsening water deficits and stressing winter wheat.Fortunately, from the beginning of June to mid-July, rainfall recovered to above average while temperature dropped below average: abundant rainfall was recorded in northwestern and central regions, such as Alberta, Saskatchewan,Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, especially in southern Iowa and in the northern Illinois. After mid-July, parts of the southwestern United States (Texas), northeast (Ohio),and in the central United States, rainfall was basically average, with min or departures. Abundant rainfall continued in the northwest, northern Great Plains and southwest of the Great Lakes, southern Iowa, and in the northern Illinois.These areas are part of the major soybeans and maize producers, so that good performance of soybeans and maize is to be expected.

The good performance is supported by agronomic indicators, including accumulated biomass (+13% over the recent five-year average) and VCIx with a value of 0.85. The fraction of cropped arable land(CALF) increased 8% compared to the five-year average, while cropping intensity decreased 2%. The indicators concur and better than average summer crops             production is to be expected. As to winter wheat (mostly harvested in June),below average production is to be expected due to serious water deficits in May.

Figure 2.2. North America MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July-October 2014