Classification Systems

Classification Systems

Crop Monitor for AMIS Classification System

The GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for AMIS crop classification scheme is designed to convey current crop conditions to non-agronomists in a terminology that is simple and has relatively universal meanings. Current crop conditions refer to the state of the crop during a given period in the growing season, relative to the average (i.e. typical) state over the previous five years as it relates to final expected yields. The five-year period was chosen to limit the effects of longer-term trends as a result of changes in factors such as seed varieties, and management practices. The four crop condition classes used are; exceptional, favourable, watch and poor.

Crop Condition Classes

Condition Definition
Exceptional Conditions are much better than average* at time of reporting. This label is used only during the grain-filling through harvest stages.
Favourable Conditions range from slightly below to slightly above average at reporting time.
Watch Conditions are not far from average but there is a potential risk to final yields. There is still time and possibility for the crop to recover to average conditions if the ground situation improves. This label is only used during the planting-early vegetative and the vegetative-reproductive stages.
Poor Crop conditions are well below average. Crop yields are likely to be 5% below average. This is only used when conditions are not likely to be able to recover, and impact on yields is likely.
Out-of-Season Crops are not currently planted or in development during this time.
No data No reliable source of data is available at this time.

* “Average” refers to the mean conditions over the most recent 5 years.

When crop conditions are identified as other-than-favourable, one or more climatic drivers are provided to indicate the cause of the abnormal crop conditions.

Drivers of Crop Conditions

Driver Definition
Wet Wetter than average (includes water logging and floods).
Dry Drier than average.
Hot Hotter than average.
Cold Cooler than average or frost damage.
Extreme Events Catch-all for all other climate risks (i.e. hurricane, typhoon, frost, hail, winter kill, wind damage, etc.). When this category is used the analyst will also specify the type of extreme event in the text.
Delayed Onset A late enough start to the season that it may impact full crop development.
Socio-economic Social or economic factors that impact crop conditions (i.e. policy changes, agricultural subsidies, government intervention, etc.)
Conflict Armed conflict or civil unrest that is preventing the planting, working, or harvesting of the fields by the farmers.

Crop Monitor for Early Warning Classification System

Crop condition classes observed in the Crop Monitor for Early Warning system are the same as with the AMIS Crop Monitor, with a few adjustments. The “Poor” class threshold has been adjusted to be 10% -25% below-average due to the highly variable yields found in many early warning regions. Additionally, a “Failure” class has been added to designate when crop yields are expected to be more than 25% below-average.

Crop Condition Classes

Condition Definition
Exceptional Conditions are much better than average* at the time of reporting. This label is used only during the grain-filling through harvest stages.
Favourable Conditions range from slightly below to slightly above-average* at reporting time.
Watch Conditions are not far from average* but there is a potential risk to final yields. There is still time and possibility for the crop to recover to average conditions if the ground situation improves. This label is only used during the planting-early vegetative and the vegetative-reproductive stages.
Poor Crop conditions are well below average*. Crop yields are likely to be 10-25% below-average*. This is used when crops are not likely to recover, and impact on yields is likely.
Failure Crop conditions are extremely poor. Crop yields are likely to be 25% or more below average*.
Out-of-Season Crops are not currently planted or in development during this time.
No data No reliable source of data is available at this time.

* “Average” refers to the mean conditions over the most recent 5 years. In areas where conflict is a driver of crop conditions, current conditions are compared to the pre-conflict average rather than the average conditions over the past 5 years. In areas where conflict is protracted, based on expert analysis on a case by case basis, crop conditions will be compared to the average conditions over the past 5 years. 

Much like the Crop Monitor for AMIS classification system, drivers of crop conditions are provided for all conditions which are other-than-favourable. However, additional driver types are included in the Crop Monitor for Early Warning classification scheme in recognition of the significant differences in agricultural weather and practices in the Early Warning regions.

Drivers of Crop Conditions

Driver Definition
Wet Wetter than average (includes water logging and floods).
Dry Drier than average.
Hot Hotter than average.
Cold Cooler than average or frost damage.
Extreme Events This is a catch-all for all other climate hazards (i.e. hurricane, typhoon, frost, hail, winterkill, wind damage, etc.) When this category is used the analyst will also specify the type of extreme event in the text.
Delayed Onset A late enough start to the season that it may impact full crop development.
Pest & Disease Destructive insects, birds, animals, or plant disease.
Socio-economic Social or economic factors that impact crop conditions (i.e. policy changes, agricultural subsidies, government intervention, etc.)
Conflict Armed conflict or civil unrest that is preventing the planting, working, or harvesting of the fields by the farmers.

Crop Season Nomenclature

In countries that contain multiple cropping seasons for the same crop, the following chart identifies the national season name associated with each crop season within the Crop Monitor. Within the Crop Monitors the larger producing season (most recent 5 years) has been assigned to the first season.

Country Crop Season Name 1 Season Name 2 Season Name 3
Brazil Maize Summer-planted (larger producing season) Spring-planted (smaller producing season) N/A
China Maize Spring-planted Summer-planted N/A
India Maize Kharif Rabi N/A
Mexico Maize Spring-Summer cycle Autumn-Winter cycle N/A
Nigeria Maize Main-season Short-season N/A
China Rice Intermediate Crop Early Crop Late Crop
Egypt Rice Summer-planted Nili season (Nile Flood) N/A
India Rice Kharif Rabi N/A
Indonesia Rice Main-season Second-season N/A
Nigeria Rice Main-season Off-season N/A
Philippines Rice Wet season Dry season N/A
Thailand Rice Wet season Dry season N/A
Viet Nam Rice Wet season (Summer/Autumn) Dry season (Winter/Spring) N/A
Argentina Maize Early-planted Late-planted N/A
Argentina Soy Spring-planted Summer-planted N/A
India Soy Kharif Rabi N/A
Canada Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted N/A
China Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted N/A
India Wheat Rabi Kharif N/A
Russian Federation Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted N/A
United States Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted N/A
Country Crop Season Name 1 Season Name 2 Season Name 3
El Salvador Beans Primera Postrera
Guatemala Beans Primera Postrera Apante
Honduras Beans Primera Postrera
Nicaragua Beans Primera Postrera Apante
El Salvador Maize Primera Segunda
Guatemala Maize Primera Segunda
Haiti Maize Main season Second season
Honduras Maize Primera Segunda
Burundi Maize Season B Season A
Ethiopia Maize Meher Season (long rains) Belg Season (short rains)
Kenya Maize Long Rains Short Rains
Uganda Maize First Season Second Season
United Republic of Tanzania Maize Long Rains Short Rains
Somalia Maize Gu Season Deyr Season
Democratic Republic of the Congo Maize Main season Second season
Mozambique Maize Main season Second season
Nigeria Maize Main season Short-season
Benin Maize Main season Second season
Cameroon Maize Main season Second season
Cote d’Ivoire Maize Main season Second season
Ghana Maize Main season Second season
Togo Maize Main season Second season
Indonesia Rice Main season Second season
Bangladesh Rice Boro Aman
Philippines Rice Wet season Dry season
Thailand Rice Wet season Dry season
Viet nam Rice Wet season (Summer/Autumn) Dry season (Winter/Spring)
Myanmar Rice Wet season Dry season
Cambodia Rice Wet season Dry season
Sri Lanka Rice Maha Yala
Lao People’s Democratic Republic Rice Wet season Dry season
Cuba Rice Main season Second season
Egypt Rice Summer-planted Nili season (Nile Flood)
Nigeria Rice Main season Off-season
Mauritania Rice Main season Off-season
Somalia Sorghum Gu Season Deyr Season
United Republic of Tanzania Sorghum Long Rains Short Rains
Afghanistan Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted
Kyrgyzstan Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted
Tajikistan Wheat Winter-planted Spring-planted

Socio-economic and Conflict Driver Guidelines

In an effort to standardize the use of the crop condition drivers across all reporting regions, the following information provides additional guidelines for when to apply the socio-economic and conflict drivers.

Socio-economic driver
The socio-economic driver should be applied if either or both of the following two conditions are met:

  1. There is a significant and recent change in social or economic factors that may impact crop conditions (e.g., high inflation, input availability, policy changes, etc.) AND/OR
  2. There are socio-economic challenges present that are related to a conflict and are likely to impact crop yield outcomes.

Please note:

  • Socio-economic challenges that do not meet either of these two conditions can still be explained in the text but will not be included as a driver within the crop condition graphics.
  • The use of the conflict driver by itself does not imply that there are no socio-economic issues present.
  • The socio-economic driver may be applied throughout the season if it is appropriate and if it can be explained in the text.
  • There may be some exceptions depending on the region and issue and at the discretion of the regional experts.

Conflict driver

Conflict can have significant impacts on agricultural production. For instance, farmers may not be able to access their fields throughout the season due to damage to productive lands, displacement, or security concerns. When field access is possible, economic downturn, supply chain disruptions, competition for limited resources, and damage to agricultural infrastructure and markets can limit the availability and affordability of inputs such as seeds, agrochemicals, tools, fuel, farm machinery, irrigation, and agricultural labour. Additionally, crops that do make it to maturity may be at risk of pre or post-harvest losses relating to the conflict. As a result, crops that are subject to such conditions will likely have reduced yields compared to average conditions.

Within the Crop Monitor reports, the conflict driver may be applied when the conflict and related impacts are likely to result in other than favourable crop yield outcomes. However, the use of the conflict driver and the associated crop condition classes differ across regions depending on the length and intensity of the conflict as outlined below:

  1. Protracted conflict
    • The definition of “protracted conflict” is based on expert analysis and varies on a case-by-case basis.
    • The crop condition class will be evaluated based on how current yield expectations compare to the five-year average.
    • The conflict driver will not be applied as it is assumed the conflict has permanently shifted agricultural activities and crop production.
    • Countries that are currently considered to be facing “protracted conflict” include Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  2. Recent and ongoing conflict
    • The definition of “recent and ongoing conflict” is based on expert analysis and varies on a case-by-case basis.
    • The conflict driver will be applied throughout the season in affected regions.
    • The crop condition class will be evaluated based on how current yield expectations compare to the pre-conflict average.
    • In most cases, a “Watch” crop condition class will apply from planting through early harvesting, and conditions will be updated to “Poor” towards the end of harvesting.
    • Countries that are currently considered to be facing “recent and ongoing conflict” include areas of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.