Global Crop Watch

Global Crop Watch Summary. Timely rainfall in South Africa, drought continues in Australia, frigid temperatures in Russia and Ukraine, continued wet weather in Brazil.

Southern Africa- Vegetation map - Poor planting conditions and crop development.  Planting was delayed and early-sown crops stressed by very warm and dry weather in October and November.

Southern Africa - Rainfall map - Favorable rainfall in early December for summer crops.  Widespread rainfall in early December eased dry conditions in South Africa.  Good rain was also reported in Zambia and Zimbabwe in the past few days.

Russia and Ukraine - AVHRR satellite image - Patchy snow cover in early December.  AVHRR image indicates very little snow cover in early December.  Winter crops were exposed and vulnerable to low temperatures and winterkill.

Russia and Ukraine - Temperature graph for Donetsk, Ukraine.   Two outbreaks of very cold weather may have hurt unprotected winter wheat and winter barley.

China - AVHRR Satellite image of Hebei Province - Poor winter wheat development.  AVHRR image from November 2002 indicates poor winter wheat development.  The crop appears worse than last year. 

7 Day Cumulative Precipitation Map For The U.S.   Heavy rain, ice and snow spread from Texas to the Northeast.  The drought in the Mid-Atlantic is gone.  Warm and dry weather covered most of central and western US.  Snow and rain in the Northwest improved moisture for wheat.

U.S. Temperature Anomaly Map.  Very cold in the eastern US, warmer than normal in the west.  No frost damage reported in the south.  Mild temperatures are forecast for the plains, favoring winter wheat.  

NOAA El Nino Update - El Nino will have an impact on winter weather in the US.  Link to NOAA website for more information.

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