HDR1012000170100423961200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released April 23, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Greg Preston at (202) 720-7621, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY April 15 - 21, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Lack of moisture stressed small grains in the southern Great Plains. The dry soil and summer-like weather allowed fieldwork to progress rapidly but lessened producers' expectations for wheat yield. Frequent showers and thunderstorms in the Delta States slowed fieldwork. Rain, snow, and low temperatures delayed field activities in the Northern States, where warmer weather was needed before significant fieldwork could begin. Snowmelt in the Dakotas left fields saturated, curtailed land preparation, and caused flooding in the Red River Valley. Northern Iowa reported that frost was still present at a depth of 6 to 12 inches, and was delaying ground preparation. Rain over the Corn Belt brought much-needed pre-planting moisture for row crops. Wet, cool weather from northern California to the Pacific Northwest slowed fieldwork and crop development. In the Southeast, last month's cold snaps damaged the fruit trees, with over half of the peach crop reported as lost. The Nation's winter wheat crop was evenly split between poor and fair conditions with 6 percent (%) of the acreage heading. In Illinois, wheat condition was mostly very poor to poor. Winter wheat condition in Texas and Kansas was mostly poor to fair. The effects of winterkill in the middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys were observed as warmer weather stimulated growth. Some wheat fields in Indiana with severe winterkill were tilled. Cold weather and short soil moisture supplies left wheat progress in Kansas behind normal, while in southern Kansas, insect activity remained active. In western Nebraska, some wheat fields with wind damage were abandoned. Freezing temperatures early in the week threatened wheat that was jointing in western Kansas and Oklahoma. The previous cool weather left wheat headed behind normal in the Southeastern States. Spring wheat seeding was 4% complete, up 2 percentage points from last week and 16 points below the average. Spring wheat planting in South Dakota was 32 points behind the 5-year average due to saturated fields and cool weather. Low soil temperatures and wet fields prevented farmers from planting small grains in the Dakotas. In Montana, 2% of the acreage was seeded, 25 points behind the average. Corn planted was 9% complete for the 17 major producing States, 3 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the 5-year average. Corn planting progress in Illinois, at 14% complete, made significant headway, despite some producers who were waiting for higher soil temperatures. Cool weather in Arkansas caused corn emergence problems, and some fields were replanted. Corn planting proceeded at an unhurried pace in Arkansas due to wet fields, but planting progress was active where conditions permitted. In Missouri, clear weather permitted farmers to plant 44% percent of the corn crop, up 26 points from the previous week and 24 points ahead of the average. Patches of snow and frozen soil prevented corn planting in the Great Lakes region. Cotton planting was 13% complete, up 5 points from last week and 3 points behind the average for the Nation. Cotton planting in California was 45% complete, up 25 points from last week but 5 points behind the average. Cotton planting in California was active despite some delays from rain and cool weather. New Mexico cotton planting was 20% complete, 16 points behind the average. Texas cotton planting progressed to 15% complete, up 3 points from last week, 1 point behind normal. Cotton producers in Texas prepared fields and applied pre-planting herbicides. Warm, dry weather in the Southeastern States prompted cotton planting early in the week, but weekend rainfall halted further progress. Sorghum planting was 16% complete for the 12 major producing States, up 2 points from last week and 2 points below the average. In Texas, sorghum planting reached the halfway mark, 6 points behind normal. Producers continued to plant fields in Texas, but the continued dry soil conditions slowed planting progress. Rice seeding was 35% complete, up 10 points from last week and 1 point ahead of the average for the five major producing States. Texas rice planting was 70% complete, up 9 points from last week and 15 points ahead of the average. Rice fields were burned in California in preparation for planting, but progress was hampered by wet conditions. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 16 April 14 - 20, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Energetic early- and late-week storms delivered beneficial moisture to the Corn Belt, but spawned nearly 100 tornadoes from the Midwest southward. The first storm also dumped 2 to 6 inches of rain on New England, causing flooding. Between storms, temperatures dipped to freezing as far south as Texas' northern panhandle on April 15, threatening drought-stressed wheat with additional injury. Later in the week, however, warmth dominated the East, reversing a 6-week trend and raising soil temperatures. On Friday, highs in south-central Texas topped 100 degrees F. In contrast, cool, wet weather prevailed along the West Coast. Meanwhile, a snowmelt-induced crest--more than 10 feet above flood stage--pushed northward along the Red River (North Dakota/Minnesota border) from near Fargo to north of Grand Forks. On April 21, the river crested 17.82 feet above flood stage at East Grand Forks, MN. Early in the week, a late-season snowstorm blanketed a stripe across the North-Central States. In Nebraska, Sunday's snowfall of 7.0 inches in Grand Island represented more than 20 percent of their season-to-date total. Storm-total snowfall reached 5.5 inches in Green Bay, WI and 5.9 inches in Marquette, MI, raising their respective seasonal totals to 76.3 inches (sixth highest total on record) and 231.6 inches (third highest). Farther south, northerly winds raised dust across the central and southern Plains, where gusts reached 49 mph in Lubbock, TX and 45 mph in Dodge City, KS. In the storm's wake, lows on Monday dipped to 32 degrees F in Amarillo, TX and a daily-record-tying 20 degrees F in Pueblo, CO. Wet weather persisted in the Northeast through midweek, fueling rapid river rises. On Tuesday, rainfall reached 6.10 inches in East Haven, CT and 3.35 inches in Portland, ME. Precipitation ended as snow in interior sections, further boosting seasonal-record totals. Binghamton, NY recorded a 1.4-inch snowfall on April 17, lifting their seasonal total to 133.4 inches. Main-stem rivers in New England crested by Thursday, including the Connecticut, which rose to 5.4 feet above flood stage at Middletown, CT. Farther south, early-week downpours caused localized flooding, as totals reached 6.65 inches in Ponchatoula, LA and 7.73 inches near Pascagoula, MS. Weekly rainfall in northern California totaled 0.87 inches in Sacramento and 4.43 inches in the Sierra Nevada foothills at Blue Canyon. Weekly temperatures averaged 9 degrees F below normal in Redding, CA, including a daily-record low of 33 degrees F on Thursday. Meanwhile, April 16-20 snowfall reached 42 inches in Utah's Wasatch Range at Alta. Farther north, late-week snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in Butte, MT, 6.0 inches in Casper, WY, and 1.0 inch in Spokane, WA. In contrast, daily-record heat reached the southern Plains on Thursday, peaking a day later. On April 19 in Texas, Laredo recorded 105 degrees F, while San Antonio logged 101 degrees F, breaking by 1 degree a monthly record most recently attained on April 20, 1984. Winds again rose across the region on Friday, reaching 45 mph in Lubbock and 43 mph in Amarillo. The early-week storm dropped about a dozen tornadoes on the Southeast, including one in Arkansas on April 14 that left seven people dead. The latter system produced an explosion of severe weather across the Midwest and Southeast on April 19-20, including single-fatality tornadoes in Illinois and Mississippi. More than five dozen tornadoes battered the Corn Belt on Friday; another dozen twisters were spotted from Texas to North Carolina on Saturday. Despite severe weather, the Corn Belt benefited from weekly rainfall that topped an inch in many areas, including Omaha, NE (1.49 inches) and Peoria, IL (1.67 inches). Warm weather prevailed across Hawaii and much of Alaska. In Hawaii, Honolulu notched four more daily records, raising their month-to-date total to 13, including highs of 89 degrees F on April 18-19. In Alaska, daily-record warmth spread as far north as Fairbanks (60 degrees F) on Wednesday. But colder air invaded from the northwest after midweek, producing a low of -17 degrees F in Kotzebue on April 19. Corn: Percent Planted, Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 21 0 2 4 AR : 15 5 57 28 GA : 86 71 93 89 CA : 90 70 84 81 IL : 14 3 4 6 CO : 0 0 0 0 IN : 4 0 2 3 GA : 39 18 77 69 IA : 2 0 0 4 ID : 0 0 0 0 KS : 24 6 9 18 IL : 0 0 0 0 KY : 13 2 48 21 IN : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 1 1 MN : 0 0 0 3 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 44 18 24 20 MO : 0 0 4 1 NE : 4 0 1 4 MT : 0 0 0 0 NC : 60 29 63 55 NE : 0 0 0 0 OH : 2 1 2 3 NC : 9 7 33 26 PA : 0 0 2 1 OH : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 OK : 6 1 28 32 TX : 61 55 58 63 OR : 0 0 0 0 WI : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 : TX : 27 10 27 27 17 Sts: 9 4 6 8 WA : 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 91% of the 19 Sts: 6 3 12 11 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the 1995 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Planted, Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 21 10 29 24 ID : 61 56 60 59 AZ : 80 40 59 51 MN : 2 0 0 16 AR : 3 1 5 3 MT : 2 0 11 27 CA : 45 20 27 50 ND : 0 0 0 12 GA : 4 1 17 11 SD : 9 2 1 41 LA : 4 1 13 10 : MS : 2 1 17 11 5 Sts : 4 2 5 20 MO : 1 0 2 1 -------------------------------------- NM : 20 5 19 36 These 5 States produced 96% of the NC : 4 0 10 6 1995 spring wheat crop. OK : 0 0 2 1 SC : 5 2 9 7 TN : 0 0 8 3 Rice: Percent Planted, TX : 15 12 14 16 Selected States : -------------------------------------- 14 Sts: 13 8 15 16 : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1991- These 14 States produced 99% of the State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 1995 cotton crop. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent Sorghum: Percent Planted, : Selected States AR : 23 11 47 31 -------------------------------------- CA : 0 0 0 0 : Week Ending : LA : 66 54 61 55 :-----------------------: 1991- MS : 49 30 63 35 State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 TX : 70 61 56 55 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : -------------------------------------- 5 Sts : 35 25 45 34 : Percent -------------------------------------- : These 5 States produced 96% of the AR : 26 14 27 25 1995 rice crop. CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 38 10 22 26 MS : 50 20 40 31 MO : 3 0 5 3 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 2 0 8 5 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 50 45 52 56 : 12 Sts: 16 14 17 18 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Barley: Percent Planted, Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 37 31 42 52 AL : 3 NA NA NA MN : 0 0 0 12 FL : 4 NA NA NA MT : 2 0 14 30 GA : 7 NA NA NA ND : 0 0 0 11 NC : 0 NA NA NA SD : 3 0 1 31 OK : 0 NA NA NA WA : 38 *32 43 65 SC : 0 NA NA NA : TX : 4 NA NA NA 6 Sts : 8 6 12 25 VA : 0 NA NA NA -------------------------------------- : * Revised. These 6 States 8 Sts : 4 NA NA NA produced 82% of the 1995 barley crop. -------------------------------------- These 8 States produced 99% of the 1995 peanut crop. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Apr 21,:Apr 14,:Apr 21,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 61 33 44 61 MI : 2 0 0 0 MN : 2 0 1 16 NE : 80 51 33 62 ND : 0 0 0 8 OH : 28 *11 47 42 PA : 22 13 47 34 SD : 12 4 1 39 WI : 5 1 4 13 : 9 Sts : 21 11 16 29 -------------------------------------- * Revised. These 9 States produced 56% of the 1995 oat crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 6 26 56 11 CA : 0 0 10 60 30 CO : 18 22 34 23 3 GA : 1 5 26 61 7 ID : 1 1 7 54 37 IL : 37 29 26 7 1 IN : 17 35 35 12 1 KS : 28 30 29 13 0 MI : 7 17 31 40 5 MO : 22 35 30 12 1 MT : 0 4 26 59 11 NE : 11 25 43 21 0 NC : 0 5 28 61 6 OH : 10 23 37 27 3 OK : 23 38 27 12 0 OR : 0 0 3 47 50 SD : 6 16 37 39 2 TX : 21 47 27 5 0 WA : 0 0 7 65 28 : 19 Sts : 18 27 27 23 5 : Prev Wk : 16 27 30 22 5 Prev Yr : 4 9 27 48 12 --------------------------------------