GDA has completed implementation and processing of crop-specific accumulated Growing Degree Day calculations (weekly and monthly). This dataset utilizes the WMO Global Summary of Data weather station dataset to retrieve raw daily temperature min and max values. For each supported crop, a formula is utilized for calculating the daily growing-degree-day calculation and it is added to the running accumulated totals for each administrative unit. The beginning and end date for when the GDD is accumulated is derived from the SAGE crop calendar dataset for international locations, and USDA NASS typical planting/harvest dates for locations in the US. Additionally, weather station results were only included for those contained within the SPAM2005 V3R1 (and others) crop maps so that only readings relevant to the crop are included. Processing was completed for L1 (country) to L4 administrative locations, provided that raw temperature data is available from WMO that meets the spatial criteria from SPAM and is within the temporal periods identified by SAGE and NASS. Whenever possible, crop varieties are provided. Additionally, crop stage information is provided in the pivot table. Crop Stages are based on the crop type and the accumulated GDD value of the period.
The following crops have been implemented:
Barley (Spring)
Canola
Corn For Grain
Cotton Lint All
Millet All
Peanuts in Shell All
Rice All
Sorghum For Grain
Soybeans
Sugar Beet All
Sunflower Seed All
Wheat Spring
Wheat Winter
The GDD can be found in CropSignal’s Weather topic – as long as a crop type is available under the Crops drop-down, you can select WMO GDD or Accumulated GDD results.
Note that this data is distinguished from the standard non-crop-specific GDD_10 (base 10 degrees Celsius) and aggregated non-crop-specific GDD_10 variables that are available if “Non-crop-specific weather” is selected from the dropdown.