At-Harvest Acreage

The "At-Harvest Acreage" product provides simulated estimates of real-time, forecast, and climatological data of acreage at harvest in the second half of the growing season. Like the At-Planting Acreage product, At-Harvest Acreage begins in the southern US and progresses northward late in the season. An example of the At-Harvest Acreage product in map form is shown below at the county scale for the conterminous US on June 30, 2008.

The At-Harvest Acreage product uses the planting acreage as a first estimate of the end-of-season numbers. Strategically-collected satellite imagery in the second half of the growing season provides corrections to the simulated estimates of at-harvest acreage. Mid to late season USDA estimates of at-harvest acreage also provide guidance to the simulated values.

The At-Harvest Acreage product, like the early-season At-Planting Acreage product, directly impacts the estimate of at-harvest yield. Clients are encouraged to use both the At-Planting and At-Harvest products in tandem when creating the acreage picture across the US during a growing season.