Mapping Regional Crop Production, Soils, and Climate Stuart H. Gage, state representative to NCR-148 Michigan State University Assessing the role that organisms play in crop production requires an understanding of the drivers of plant productivity. This must be done in the presence and the absence of the herbivores. Data characterizing crop production can aid those interested in crop losses caused by organisms when they are transported into the area on weather fronts or if they are long term residents. Over the past few years Michigan has led with Illinois in the development of a set of spatio-temporal data including regional soils, weather and crop productivity in the NC94 regional project on weather and agriculture. These data sets provide one of the most complete records of temporal and spatial variables that characterize the dynamics of agriculture in one of the most important agricultural production regions in the United States. The data are primarily based on soils, weather and crop production at the county level or resolution. To gain use and access to these data Michigan and cooperating states have developed a strategy to organize the data into logical relational databases so these data can be analyzed and mapped. Summaries of the database characteristics of the crop databases can be found in Gage (1990). Mapping has been one of the activities of the Michigan involvement in NC94. A system to map crop productivity, using current Geographic Information System technology, was presented by Gage (1993). Various other integrated technologies have been developed to map and visualize the integrated databases developed by NC94 have been presented at past NC94 meetings and at other locations (Gage and Andresen 1996; Gage 1996; Gage and Robertson 1996). One of the fundamental issues faced by the agricultural scientific community is logical and relatively easy access to the databases developed by the NC94 subcommittee on database creation. To this end, Michigan has developed an extension to the ArcView3 Desktop Geographic Information System (ESRI 1996). The NCR extension to ArcView3 uses the Spatial Analyst and links to the Access Relational Database System (Microsoft 1996). The following characteristics are incorporated into the NCR Extension: Database accessibility; Multiple table generation; polygon or surface mapping; regional or individual state data selection; automated surface interpolation; theme averaging and summation; standardizing legends across themes; and an automated map naming system. The NCR Extension is designed to lead the user through the process of map creation. The user is asked for the type of map desired (grid or polygon) and the area desired for mapping (region or a specific state in the North Central Region). Next the user is provided a list of database table available including Crops (Corn, wheat, soybeans); Weather; Soils, or Solar Radiation. When mapping, the user is asked to select the variable in the database. In the case of crop production, the type of production and the cropping practice. Next, the user is requested to select a year or series of years in the database associated with each selected variable. Maps are created at this point, and the length of processing time depends on machine speed and the number of years selected for mapping. Map legends with nine categories are automatically produced, the values ranging from the minimum to the maximum for the selected variable. Users can develop custom legends to standardize across maps and a utility is provided to facilitate standard legend processing. Outlines of state boundaries or county boundaries can be included. These vector shape files can be overlaid on the grid maps if the grid interpolation is used. Once selected variables are mapped, the user has the full flexibility of manipulating maps using the many powerful features of ArcView3. The NCR extension is developed in the Avenue Programming Language (ESRI 1996). The NCR Extension consists of several thousand object oriented Avenue commands (Gage and Thomas 1997). References Gage, S.H. 1990. Effects of weather on biological systems: spatial and temporal crop production in the North Central Region. NC94 Technical Committee Rept. 25 p. Gage, S.H. 1993. MAPGEN: An automated mapping system for crop production in the North Central Region. NC94 Technical Committee Rept. 30 p. Characterizing the rate of spread of Gypsy Moth in Michigan with Regional Implications: Gage, S.H. and Andresen. 1996. Visualization of weather information in the North Central Region. NC94 Annual Report. 8 pp. Gage, S.H. and B. Thomas. 1997. An ArcView3 Extension for mapping spatio-temporal agricultural variable in the North Central Region. Laboratory for Computational Ecology and Bioinformatics. Technical Report Series. (In development). Gage References 1996-1997 Clark, S. and S.H. Gage. 1996. The effect of free range domestic birds on the abundance of epigeic predators and earthworms. Applied Soil Ecology 130:000-000. Clark, S. and S.H. Gage. 1996. Effects of free range chickens and geese on insect pests and weeds in an agroecosystem. American Journal of Alternate Agriculture. 11:39-47. Gage, S.H. 1996. A perspective on sustainable agriculture in the Land Grant University System. Panel on Sustainable Agriculture. Proc. Eco-Informa 96. Lake Buena Vista, FL. Johnson, L.B. and S. H. Gage. 1996. A landscape perspective for analyzing aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater Biology. 36:101-120. Ostrom, P.H., M. Colunga-Garcia and S.H. Gage. 1997. Evaluating pathways of energy flow with stable isotope ratios: field and laboratory evidence. Oecologia 109:108-113. Colunga-Garcia, M., S. H. Gage and D. Landis. 1997. Response of an assemblage of Coccinelidae (Coleoptera) to a diverse agricultural landscape. Environ. Entomol. Clark, M.S., S.H. Gage and J.R. Spence. 1997. Habitats and management associated with common ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a Michigan agricultural landscape. Environ. Entomol. 26:000-000. Posters Colunga-Garcia, M. and S.H. Gage. 1996. Response of a complex of insect predators to habitat aging in an agricultural landscape. Ecological Society of America. Providence, RI. Gage, S.H., Priest, R. and B.C. Pijanowski. 1996. Dynamics of gypsy moth in Michigan: a ten year history. Michigan Land Use Forum. Kellogg Center, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. B.C. Pijanowski, S.H. Gage and D. Long. 1996. A Land Transformation Model for the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Michigan Land Use Forum. Kellogg Center, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. Krieves, L., S.H. Gage, G.P. Robertson and M. Klug. 1996. Geographic Information System Resources at the Kellogg Biological Station. Eco-Informa '96. Lake Buena Vista, FL. Gage, S.H., M. Colunga Garcia and J. Sticklin. 1996. Application of Automatic Data Acquisition and Relational Database Management for Collection and Management of Field Observations. Eco-Informa '96. Lake Buena Vista, FL. WEB Sites (note some sites from www.archive.org 1.VI.2007) Zeigler, A, S.H. Gage and B. Pijanowski. 1995. Entomology Spatial Analysis Laboratory. http://web.archive.org/web/20010603123223/www.cevl.msu.edu/. Entomology Dept., Michigan State Univ. E. Lansing, MI. Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional Ecological Projects associated with the Kellogg LTER. http://atlantic.evsc.virginia.edu/regionalization/region.html Gage, S.H. 1996. Biology: Computational methods examine the diversity of life from protein to populations and the balance of nature: ten years of data reveal gypsy moth patterns. San Diego Supercomputer Center. Scatter/Gather, July-September, Vol. 12. No 3. 1996. Elvins, T., S.H. Gage and J. Helly. 1996. Integration, Visualization and analysis of Geographic Information Systems. Proc. IBM Visualization Data Explorer Symposium. CD- ROM : GK2T--9993-00. San Francisco, CA. Pijanowski, B.C., S.H. Gage, P. Webber, D.L. Long. C. Harris. 1997. Earth System Science Education Program Student Projects. Gage, S.H. and P. Bills. 1997. Concepts in biological information systems. Student Projects. http://web.archive.org/web/19970407010250/http://creator.ns.msu.edu/ent442/ Presentations Gage, S.H. 1996. Interpretation of biological events associated with long range transport of biota using vegetation patterns derived form satellite imagery. American Meteorology Soc. 12th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology. Atlanta, GA. Gage, S.H. 1996. Establishing a research corridor to characterize the flow of biota along an atmospheric pathway in North America. Alliance of Aerobiology Research. Governing Board Meeting and Workshop. Atlanta, GA. Gage, S.H. 1996. Biological components of earth system science. Earth System Science Education Seminar, Westminster College, Salt lake City, UT. Gage, S.H. 1996. Spatial and temporal dynamics of biotic systems: a biogeographical perspective. Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt lake City, UT. Gage, S.H. 1996. Modeling and visualization of regional weather patterns through integration of geographic information systems and high performance visualization technologies. Special Seminar, San Diego Supercomputer Center. La Jolla, CA. Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional dimensions of the Kellogg Long Term Ecological Research Program. NSF-LTER Coordinating Committee, Harvard Forest, MS. Gage, S.H. 1996. Concepts and perspectives on computational ecology. Seminar, Entomology Dept., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Gage, S.H. 1996. Biological aspects of agro-ecosystems at different scales. Earth System Science Education Address. Geology Dept., Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia, PA. Gage, S.H. 1996. Temporal and spatial dynamics of agricultural systems. Seminar Series. Department of Geography, Western Michigan University. Kalamazoo, MI. Gage, S.H. 1997. Gage, S.H. 1997. Biological systems at different spatial and temporal scales. Kellogg Biological Station Seminar Series. Hickory Corners, MI. Gage, S.H. 1997. Risk assessment of introduced organisms: a temporal and spatial perspective. Harvard Center for Risk Assessment. Washington, D.C. Gage, S.H. 1997. Integration and systems thinking. Keynote Address. Workshop on Revolutionizing Higher Education in Agriculture. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Gage, S.H. 1996. Application of high-end computers for visualization of weather patterns at regional scales using Data Explorer. Visualization Technologies Workshop. San Diego Supercomputer Center. August, 1996. Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional dimensions of the Kellogg Long Term Ecological Research Program. NSF-LTER Coordinating Committee, Harvard Forest, MS. September 1996. [ 1997 Research Index ]
Last updated 1 June, 2007 This page was constructed by Gail Kampmeier at gkamp[at]uiuc.edu Please direct questions of content and prospects of collaborative research to respective scientists. Research reports do not constitute publication and results may be preliminary. They are included here for informational purposes only. You should contact the authors for further information. Any references to commercial products do not constitute endorsement. [ NCR-148 \| Movement & Dispersal Index \| News Index ]

Mapping Regional Crop Production,

Soils, and Climate

Stuart H. Gage, state representative to NCR-148
Michigan State University

Assessing the role that organisms play in crop production requires an understanding of the drivers of plant productivity. This must be done in the presence and the absence of the herbivores. Data characterizing crop production can aid those interested in crop losses caused by organisms when they are transported into the area on weather fronts or if they are long term residents. Over the past few years Michigan has led with Illinois in the development of a set of spatio-temporal data including regional soils, weather and crop productivity in the NC94 regional project on weather and agriculture. These data sets provide one of the most complete records of temporal and spatial variables that characterize the dynamics of agriculture in one of the most important agricultural production regions in the United States. The data are primarily based on soils, weather and crop production at the county level or resolution. To gain use and access to these data Michigan and cooperating states have developed a strategy to organize the data into logical relational databases so these data can be analyzed and mapped. Summaries of the database characteristics of the crop databases can be found in Gage (1990). Mapping has been one of the activities of the Michigan involvement in NC94. A system to map crop productivity, using current Geographic Information System technology, was presented by Gage (1993). Various other integrated technologies have been developed to map and visualize the integrated databases developed by NC94 have been presented at past NC94 meetings and at other locations (Gage and Andresen 1996; Gage 1996; Gage and Robertson 1996).

One of the fundamental issues faced by the agricultural scientific community is logical and relatively easy access to the databases developed by the NC94 subcommittee on database creation. To this end, Michigan has developed an extension to the ArcView3 Desktop Geographic Information System (ESRI 1996). The NCR extension to ArcView3 uses the Spatial Analyst and links to the Access Relational Database System (Microsoft 1996). The following characteristics are incorporated into the NCR Extension: Database accessibility; Multiple table generation; polygon or surface mapping; regional or individual state data selection; automated surface interpolation; theme averaging and summation; standardizing legends across themes; and an automated map naming system. The NCR Extension is designed to lead the user through the process of map creation. The user is asked for the type of map desired (grid or polygon) and the area desired for mapping (region or a specific state in the North Central Region). Next the user is provided a list of database table available including Crops (Corn, wheat, soybeans); Weather; Soils, or Solar Radiation.

When mapping, the user is asked to select the variable in the database. In the case of crop production, the type of production and the cropping practice. Next, the user is requested to select a year or series of years in the database associated with each selected variable. Maps are created at this point, and the length of processing time depends on machine speed and the number of years selected for mapping. Map legends with nine categories are automatically produced, the values ranging from the minimum to the maximum for the selected variable. Users can develop custom legends to standardize across maps and a utility is provided to facilitate standard legend processing. Outlines of state boundaries or county boundaries can be included. These vector shape files can be overlaid on the grid maps if the grid interpolation is used. Once selected variables are mapped, the user has the full flexibility of manipulating maps using the many powerful features of ArcView3. The NCR extension is developed in the Avenue Programming Language (ESRI 1996). The NCR Extension consists of several thousand object oriented Avenue commands (Gage and Thomas 1997).

References

Gage, S.H. 1990. Effects of weather on biological systems: spatial and temporal crop production in the North Central Region. NC94 Technical Committee Rept. 25 p.

Gage, S.H. 1993. MAPGEN: An automated mapping system for crop production in the North Central Region. NC94 Technical Committee Rept. 30 p.

Characterizing the rate of spread of Gypsy Moth in Michigan with Regional Implications:

Gage, S.H. and Andresen. 1996. Visualization of weather information in the North Central Region. NC94 Annual Report. 8 pp.

Gage, S.H. and B. Thomas. 1997. An ArcView3 Extension for mapping spatio-temporal agricultural variable in the North Central Region. Laboratory for Computational Ecology and Bioinformatics. Technical Report Series. (In development).

Gage References 1996-1997

Clark, S. and S.H. Gage. 1996. The effect of free range domestic birds on the abundance of epigeic predators and earthworms. Applied Soil Ecology 130:000-000.

Clark, S. and S.H. Gage. 1996. Effects of free range chickens and geese on insect pests and weeds in an agroecosystem. American Journal of Alternate Agriculture. 11:39-47.

Gage, S.H. 1996. A perspective on sustainable agriculture in the Land Grant University System. Panel on Sustainable Agriculture. Proc. Eco-Informa 96. Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Johnson, L.B. and S. H. Gage. 1996. A landscape perspective for analyzing aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater Biology. 36:101-120.

Ostrom, P.H., M. Colunga-Garcia and S.H. Gage. 1997. Evaluating pathways of energy flow with stable isotope ratios: field and laboratory evidence. Oecologia 109:108-113.

Colunga-Garcia, M., S. H. Gage and D. Landis. 1997. Response of an assemblage of Coccinelidae (Coleoptera) to a diverse agricultural landscape. Environ. Entomol.

Clark, M.S., S.H. Gage and J.R. Spence. 1997. Habitats and management associated with common ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a Michigan agricultural landscape. Environ. Entomol. 26:000-000.

Posters

Colunga-Garcia, M. and S.H. Gage. 1996. Response of a complex of insect predators to habitat aging in an agricultural landscape. Ecological Society of America. Providence, RI.

Gage, S.H., Priest, R. and B.C. Pijanowski. 1996. Dynamics of gypsy moth in Michigan: a ten year history. Michigan Land Use Forum. Kellogg Center, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI.

B.C. Pijanowski, S.H. Gage and D. Long. 1996. A Land Transformation Model for the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Michigan Land Use Forum. Kellogg Center, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI.

Krieves, L., S.H. Gage, G.P. Robertson and M. Klug. 1996. Geographic Information System Resources at the Kellogg Biological Station. Eco-Informa '96. Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Gage, S.H., M. Colunga Garcia and J. Sticklin. 1996. Application of Automatic Data Acquisition and Relational Database Management for Collection and Management of Field Observations. Eco-Informa '96. Lake Buena Vista, FL.

WEB Sites (note some sites from www.archive.org 1.VI.2007)

Zeigler, A, S.H. Gage and B. Pijanowski. 1995. Entomology Spatial Analysis Laboratory. http://web.archive.org/web/20010603123223/www.cevl.msu.edu/. Entomology Dept., Michigan State Univ. E. Lansing, MI.

Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional Ecological Projects associated with the Kellogg LTER. http://atlantic.evsc.virginia.edu/regionalization/region.html

Gage, S.H. 1996. Biology: Computational methods examine the diversity of life from protein to populations and the balance of nature: ten years of data reveal gypsy moth patterns. San Diego Supercomputer Center. Scatter/Gather, July-September, Vol. 12. No 3. 1996.

Elvins, T., S.H. Gage and J. Helly. 1996. Integration, Visualization and analysis of Geographic Information Systems. Proc. IBM Visualization Data Explorer Symposium. CD- ROM : GK2T--9993-00. San Francisco, CA.

Pijanowski, B.C., S.H. Gage, P. Webber, D.L. Long. C. Harris. 1997. Earth System Science Education Program Student Projects.

Gage, S.H. and P. Bills. 1997. Concepts in biological information systems. Student Projects. http://web.archive.org/web/19970407010250/http://creator.ns.msu.edu/ent442/

Presentations

Gage, S.H. 1996. Interpretation of biological events associated with long range transport of biota using vegetation patterns derived form satellite imagery. American Meteorology Soc. 12th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology. Atlanta, GA.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Establishing a research corridor to characterize the flow of biota along an atmospheric pathway in North America. Alliance of Aerobiology Research. Governing Board Meeting and Workshop. Atlanta, GA.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Biological components of earth system science. Earth System Science Education Seminar, Westminster College, Salt lake City, UT.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Spatial and temporal dynamics of biotic systems: a biogeographical perspective. Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt lake City, UT.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Modeling and visualization of regional weather patterns through integration of geographic information systems and high performance visualization technologies. Special Seminar, San Diego Supercomputer Center. La Jolla, CA.

Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional dimensions of the Kellogg Long Term Ecological Research Program. NSF-LTER Coordinating Committee, Harvard Forest, MS.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Concepts and perspectives on computational ecology. Seminar, Entomology Dept., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Biological aspects of agro-ecosystems at different scales. Earth System Science Education Address. Geology Dept., Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia, PA.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Temporal and spatial dynamics of agricultural systems. Seminar Series. Department of Geography, Western Michigan University. Kalamazoo, MI.

Gage, S.H. 1997. Gage, S.H. 1997. Biological systems at different spatial and temporal scales. Kellogg Biological Station Seminar Series. Hickory Corners, MI.

Gage, S.H. 1997. Risk assessment of introduced organisms: a temporal and spatial perspective. Harvard Center for Risk Assessment. Washington, D.C.

Gage, S.H. 1997. Integration and systems thinking. Keynote Address. Workshop on Revolutionizing Higher Education in Agriculture. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Gage, S.H. 1996. Application of high-end computers for visualization of weather patterns at regional scales using Data Explorer. Visualization Technologies Workshop. San Diego Supercomputer Center. August, 1996.

Gage, S.H. and G.P. Robertson. 1996. Regional dimensions of the Kellogg Long Term Ecological Research Program. NSF-LTER Coordinating Committee, Harvard Forest, MS. September 1996.

[ 1997 Research Index ]