This page depicts the Crop data analysis for
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
The data analysis for the crop dataset was conducted during the fall semester of 2024.
The dataset was obtained from
the NASS website.
The states included in this analysis are part of the Objective Yield (OY) program.
For more information, visit
the official page.
States included in this analysis:
States included in this analysis:
- Corn: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky
- Soybeans: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Michigan, Kentucky
- Wheat: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana
- Potatoes: Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio
Our Project with NASS: Making Data Accessible Through Visualization
As a team of dedicated students from the STAT 300: Data Analysis in the Real World course at the University of Evansville, we are pleased to present our experimental visualization project in collaboration with the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This valuable experience allowed us to apply our skills to a substantial challenge with a focus on making national agricultural data accessible for farmers, businesses, and others who may benefit from this accessibility.
Our central objective was to develop impactful data visualizations that effectively communicate insights from agricultural data to a wider audience. Utilizing advanced software and programming like R, RStudio, Shiny, Leaflet, and more, we transformed vast complex datasets into graphics designed to simplify comprehension and emphasize locational and timeline trends.
This project has marked a crucial milestone in our educational journey, solidifying the necessity of data visualization in making analytical information accessible and relevant. We are eager to share our findings and aim to foster a deeper appreciation for the data that informs and drives U.S. agriculture.
How to Use This App: A Step-by-Step Guide:
Total and average yield (BU/ACRE) of the crops in the selected states:
Crop Progress and Condition in the selected states
These visualizations are based on development throughout the duration of the calendar year. When observing crop production and development in these plots, there are specific states that have a winter wheat season, meaning that the wheat is planted in fall or winter, at the end of the year, and is harvested in the beginning of the year in winter or spring. This means that the crop development spans calendar years. NASS collects development data using calendar week numbers. Because a plot of development over the year would show the end of one crop, emptiness during the off-season, and then the beginning of the next year’s crop, this plot displays winter wheat starting at week 35, and ending in the following year’s week 34. This provides accurate visualizations for the crop development over time.
This chart displays the percentage of the selected crop that was rated good or excellent over several weeks for the selected state, comparing data from the past 4 years. This highlights variability in crop quality over time and and between subsequent years.
This plot displays crop condition. The colors represent the proportion of crop status between Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, and Very Poor ratings over time. This can be used to determine the portion of healthy crop in a given year for the selected state.
This plot provides a comprehensive look at crop progress throughout the stages of production, showcasing the weekly development of each stage compared to previous years and the five year average. This can be used to highlight trends in crop development.