The agriculture profile project to develop characteristics and trends in production, land use and environmental impacts in the Great Lakes Basin was initiated in 1995. The objectives of the study were to build a digital database of information about argiculture in the Great Lakes and to provide a summary of trends in the Basin such that policy makers could develop better decisions based on sound information about the region. In general terms, four general land use classes exist in the Basin. Changing population abundance amd land use demands are placing pressures on land use. Data were extracted from CD-Rom composite images provided to LTER sites via the LTER Network Office.
Corn is one of the major crops grown in the Great Lakes Basin.
Data for this sequence of images of corn yield was obtained from the USDA and Agriculture Canada. The sequence spans 1987-1991 and shows the variability in yield due the weather and other management factors. The yield in 1987 was one of the best in 20 years and yields in 1988 were the poorest during the same period due to reduced precipitation during may and June. Collaborators Michigan State University, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, World Wildlife Fund, University of Guelph, Radian Corporation, Great Lakes Commission, Advisory Committee, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Reports Agricultural Profile Project Team.