Planalytics to Publish Wheat Yield Forecast in Late March; Corn, Soybeans and Other Crops in Early June

BERWYN, Pa., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Planalytics, Inc. today announced the publication schedule for its 2010 crop yield forecasts for eight crops, beginning with its winter wheat forecast on March 26th.  This is the ninth year that Planalytics, in collaboration with TerraMetrics Agriculture and the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program at the University of Kansas, has produced crop forecasts using satellite imagery and proprietary modeling techniques.

In addition to winter wheat, Planalytics forecasts yields for corn, soybeans, spring wheat, durum, oats, barley and grain sorghum.  Initial forecasts for these summer crops will be published on June 4th and, like the winter wheat outlook, will be updated every two weeks until crops reach maturity.  Forecasts are generated at district (ASD), state and national levels.

According to Jed Lafferty, Planalytics Managing Director for Life Sciences, "Our forecasts are generated 6 to 8 weeks prior to the USDA forecasts, providing insights into crop conditions almost as soon as the crops emerge.  By the time the USDA issues its estimates, we have updated our wheat numbers three times and our summer crop projections five times.  What's more," Lafferty continues, "our estimates are often more accurate than the USDA forecasts generated later in the season."

For the 2010 growing season, the models used by Planalytics and its partners are constructed using 21 years of historical normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) composite images covering the 48 conterminous states at a 1-kilometer resolution.  To calibrate the models, these bi-weekly images are compared to corresponding USDA final estimated crop yield data.

Dr. Jude Kastens, one of the TMAI/KARS researchers associated with the project, points out that the models are adjusted to include technology and management improvements as well as weather.  "Working with Planalytics agri-business meteorologists, we are able to identify areas of the country where weather has the potential to impact crop yield... either positively or negatively.  This information helps us put our forecasts in perspective, which adds valuable context for the end-user trying to better understand the current crop outlook."

Information about Planalytics crop yield forecasts, including a breakdown of the methodology used and a summary of their historic accuracy compared to USDA forecasts, can be obtained through the Planalytics web site:  www.planalytics.com/green.  For information regarding subscriptions to the 2010 service, call 1-800-882-5881.

About Planalytics, Inc.:

Planalytics, Inc. (www.planalytics.com) is the singular global source of Business Weather Intelligence® – the actionable information retail, manufacturing, life sciences and energy companies need to understand and optimize the impact of weather on their business.  Weather is the most volatile of all external factors affecting business performance and Planalytics helps companies proactively manage this risk. Powered by an unparalleled database of weather's financial and volumetric impacts, proprietary modeling technologies and market-specific expertise, Planalytics' Business Weather Intelligence is essential to any company, in any industry, looking to effectively shape strategies, pinpoint opportunities and make more profitable decisions.

About TMAI/KARS

TerraMetrics Agriculture Inc. (TMAI) specializes in agricultural analysis and applications development using remote sensing and other data sources.  TMAI is partnered with the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program (KARS), established at the University of Kansas by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the State of Kansas to conduct applied research on techniques that enable public agencies and private firms to better utilize data from satellite and air-borne remote sensing systems

SOURCE Planalytics, Inc.