Vegetation health index (0-100, below 40 is stress) of the 11 crops in season, against the normal for the week. Weakest: France 32 (-17), European Union 40 (-10), Russia 36 (-8). Strongest: Argentina 64 (+19), Turkey 64 (+14).
Vegetation health index (0-100, below 40 is stress) of the 11 crops in season, against the normal for the week. Weakest: France 31 (-20), European Union 39 (-11), Russia 37 (-7). Strongest: Argentina 64 (+19), Turkey 66 (+16).
NOAA satellite vegetation health over the wheat fields of 123 regions, last 52 weeks to 21 Oct 2026. Red is stress, blue is a healthy canopy. Press play. More on the satellite page →
What the backtest says
Findings, stated plainly
A forecast that knows its limits is worth more than one that claims to beat the market.
Early in the season it adds real information.
On 1 April the US belt error is 3.87 bu/ac against 5.76 for the trend, six weeks before USDA's first state forecast.
Against USDA it is level, not better.
From mid-May the nowcast is about as accurate as USDA's own Crop Production forecast (3.25 vs 3.33 bu/ac on 15 May).
Russia is where the edge is.
USDA's May numbers for Russia have run low; the nowcast was closer in 10 of 13 years. Satellite data cut the July error by a quarter.
Prices need the surprise, not the number.
Published USDA revisions explain about 10% of the report-day futures move. The value is in knowing the revision before it is published.
How it works
From a weather station to a trading desk
Collect, as of the day
Weather from NASA POWER, USDA crop condition ratings, NOAA satellite vegetation health, each with its real publication lag.
Read the yield
Each region's crop is read against its long-run trend, using only what was known on the day, and updated every week of the season.
Beat the official number
Scored against the trend before May and against the latest USDA or MARS forecast available on the same day.
Link it to the market
Every WASDE since 1995, kept as published, connects each crop to the world balance and to wheat prices.
Access
Free to read, Pro to act on
Free
Everything, two weeks late
Nowcasts, satellite and WASDE balance with a 14-day delay