June 20, 2002

Eastern United States Crop Condition Update

Summary

Heavy rain disrupted fieldwork in Minnesota and Florida.  Farmland in several parts of the western half of Minnesota were inundated by standing water from the rains, adversely affecting newly emerged corn and soybean.  Wet weather continues to linger in eastern Missouri, western Illinois, and in the Northeast.  Winter wheat harvest is well under way.  Both corn and soybeans have fully emerged and are generally in good condition.  Spring wheat and barley are in the heading stage.  Crop conditions in the major cotton area are generally favorable, with some minor problems in parts of Missouri and Mississippi.  The rice and peanut crops are also progressing well.

Heavy Precipitation Events in Minnesota and Florida

Eastern U.S. precipitation for the period June 11-20, 2002, caused excessively wet conditions in northwestern and southern Minnesota, eastern Missouri, western and central Illinois, southwestern Louisiana, Florida, and the Northeast.  Soil moisture analysis confirms saturated conditions over many of these regions.

In Florida, the eastern and southern counties received some of the heaviest precipitation.  Martin County was particularly hard hit.  Cumulative precipitation  for June at West Palm Beach exceeded over 450 mm, compared to about 90-100mm in 2000 and 2001.  Many rivers and streams in peninsular Florida have set new record levels or are near capacity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Cumulative precipitation for the Northwestern and Southeastern Crop Reporting Districts (CRDs) in Minnesota shows  the relative magnitude of these events. Many of the rivers and streams in the northwest set new records (USGS).  Several rivers such the Red River of the North, the Roseau, the Red Lake, the Marsh, and the Wild Rice overflowed their banks causing some localized flooding.

Flood Imagery

Landsat-7 imagery for June 1, 2002,m captured the presence of standing water in farmland located in Kittson, Polk, and Norman counties.  In Southern Kittson County, flooding   (light blue due to turbid water) and the standing water (shades of blue) is clearly visible along the banks of the Red River.  The Red Lake River in Western Polk County flooded its banks between Fisher and Crookston. Deep standing water (dark blue) is visible in some fields as indicated.  A much larger area is under standing water in Southwestern Polk county.  Standing water between rows of flooded spring wheat, barley, and soybean stands in Southwestern Polk county is clearly visible.  In Norman county, the Wild Rice and Marsh Rivers flooded considerable farmland.

Eastern U.S. Crop Conditions and Progress

Winter wheat harvest is well under way.  About 20-30 percent of the crop in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas is in the Very Poor-Poor category, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on  June 24, 2002. Both corn and soybeans have fully emerged with over 60 percent of the crops in Good-Excellent condition  Spring wheat and barley in Minnesota are in the heading stage. Some damage due to flooding from the recent heavy rains is shown by the Landsat-7 imagery. 

Crop conditions in the major cotton belt states are generally favorable with some minor problems in parts of Missouri and Mississippi.  The rice crop has just entered the heading stage, with 60-80 percent of the crop reported to be in Good-Excellent condition.   The peanut crop is in the pegging stage with 45-70 percent of the crop in Good-Excellent condition.