Global Crop Watch

Global Crop Watch Summary for December 19, 2003.  Hot and dry weather stressed emerging crops in southern Africa.  Rain improved moisture for summer crop planting in South America.  Growing conditions for winter wheat are mostly favorable in the Ukraine and Russia; snow and rain raised moisture levels in the western Corn Belt for winter wheat..  

Middle East Precipitation Map - December 7-13, 2003.  Widespread rainfall boosted moisture supplies for winter grains in Turkey, Iran and Syria.  Crops are now entering dormancy.  For more information on current conditions in the Middle East, see the PECAD articles:  Middle East and Turkey: Warmer than Normal and Plenty of Moisture and Iran: Bumper Crops

Argentina and Brazil Precipitation Map - December 7-13, 2003.   Beneficial showers continued in Cordoba (Argentina) for a second week, increasing moisture for summer crop growth.  Warm and very wet weather covered most crop areas in Brazil. 

Southern Africa Temperature and Rainfall Maps - December 7-13, 2003.  Hot and dry weather stressed summer crops in South Africa and Mozambique.  Growing conditions in the Maize Triangle (South Africa) are poor. 

Precipitation Graphs (90 days ending December 15) for Johannesburg, South Africa.  Seasonal rainfall in the region (Maize Triangle) is significantly lower than normal this year.  The rainy season started in November and should be reaching its peak in December and January.

Southern Africa - GAC-NDVI Vegetation Map for December 10, 2003.   This map, created from satellite imagery, shows the impact of the current hot and dry conditions on vegetative growth.  Vegetation is worse than normal this year. 

United States Cumulative Precipitation Map for 7 days ending December 17, 2003.  The eastern US was generally cold and wet, with a nor'eastern dumping heavy snow in New England.  Locally heavy rain continued in the Northwest.  The northern plains were generally cold and dry, but rain and snow improved moisture conditions in the western Corn Belt and southern plains.

U.S. Drought Monitor - December 16, 2003.  Recent rain has eased drought conditions in the Northwest and California.  The Intermountain West remains very dry - reservoir levels are critically low.  Drought affects parts of the Plains.  Conditions are wet east of the Mississippi.  For more details, go to: http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html