Crop Development Stage Model Outputs For Water Use Analysis

Crop development stage data for Canada, represented on a numerical scale. The dataset models crop phenology using a biometeorological time scale for cool-season crops and a Crop Heat Unit algorithm for warm-season crops. It is produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and was last updated in February 2026.

Use Cases

• Estimate crop water consumption by linking the numerical development stage to evapotranspiration models.
• Model crop phenology and predict key growth stages using the biometeorological time scale or Crop Heat Unit algorithms.
• Analyze spatial patterns of crop development across Canada from the geospatial (GEOTIF) data layers.
• Calibrate or validate other crop growth models against the provided development stage values.

Strengths

• Based on established scientific models (Robertson, 1968; Brown and Bootsma, 1993).
• Distinguishes between cool-season (e.g., wheat, barley) and warm-season (e.g., corn, soybean) crop modeling approaches.
• Provides data in geospatial (GEOTIF) format for map-based analysis.

Limitations

• Specific temporal coverage and spatial resolution are not documented.
• The number of crop types covered and the validation status of the model outputs are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Collection Method

Determined by biometeorological time scale and Crop Heat Unit algorithms.

Freshness

Last updated in February 2026.

Geography

Canada