December 6, 2002

Global Crop Watch

Click on the images to see this week's Crop Watch updates.

Global Crop Watch Summary.  Corn conditions continue to deteriorate in South Africa.  Favorable conditions continue across Northwest Africa.	December normal summer crop calendar .  Soggy fields continue to delay cotton harvest in the southern U.S.  Drought stresses summer crop establishment in South Africa and eastern Australia.	December normal winter crop calendar. Above normal rainfall continues to benefit winter grains across Northwestern Africa and western Mexico.  Too much rain hurts winter grains in South America.  Australia continues to harvest a poor winter grains crop.
Argentina Satellite Images.  Landsat images from an area near Tres Arroyos, Argentina indicate that winter grain conditions are not as good as they were during Dec. 2000.  This year has been noticeably wetter.	Argentina Satellite Images.  Landsat images from an area near San Mayol, Argentina indicate that winter grain conditions are not as good as they were during Dec. 2000.  This year has been noticeably wetter.	China - Soil Moisture Comparison.  As of November 30, 2002, the North China Plain and other winter wheat growing areas are much drier than 2001 and 2000.
7 Day Cumulative Precipitation Map For The U.S. and Mexico.  Rains benefited newly planted winter grains in northwestern Mexico.  The Delta States of the U.S. remained "soggy".  Rains continued across the Southwest which was so dry last summer.	U.S. Snow Cover Map as of December 4, 2002.  This map includes snow that fell across the central U.S. on the 4th.  Heavy snow fell across the east from North Carolina to New England on the 5th.  Winter wheat could use a protective blanket of snow from Montana to the Central Plains.

Go to the November 22, 2002  brief

For more information, contact the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division at 202-720-0888,