HDR1012000170100604961200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released June 4, 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 May 27 - June 2, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Another cool, wet week over the Midwest slowed fieldwork and prevented producers from completing corn planting. Severe storms brought substantial rains that caused flooding along tributaries and river bottoms. Where possible, farmers made significant progress, but row crop planting remained behind normal. Rain, atop saturated fields in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, left fewer than 2 days available for fieldwork and forced some producers to decide between planting shorter season corn varieties or switching to soybeans. The continued wet weather caused crusting, soil erosion, and ponding in low-lying areas, making weed eradication difficult. Producers reported substantial replanting of corn will be necessary across most of the Corn Belt, if time permits. Rains across the southern Great Plains brought drought relief to dryland crops, but the storm system also included hail that damaged some fields. Rainfall over the Southeastern States brought an end to May dryness and improved crop conditions. Drought conditions persisted in the Southwest restricting dryland planting progress and causing irrigation water to be rationed. The Nation's winter wheat crop was in mostly fair to good condition, with 77 percent (%) of the acreage heading. Wheat headed in Ohio at 22% complete was 46 percentage points behind normal. Wheat headed in Washington at 28% complete was up 8 points from the previous week, but 28 points behind the 5-year average. Wheat producers in Arkansas were preparing combines for harvest. Rain and scattered hail damage was reported in Colorado, with some wheat fields reported as completely destroyed. Harvest activity in Texas was slightly ahead of normal with some better than expected yields reported. Growers in Washington State sprayed for leaf rust. Spring wheat seeding was 85% complete, up 17 points from last week and 11 points below the average. Spring wheat producers in Idaho reported that some fields could not be planted in time due to wet field conditions. Spring wheat planting was 75% complete in Minnesota, 23 points behind the average. Spring wheat planting was 1 week behind normal in North Dakota. Fifty-nine percent of the spring wheat crop was emerged, 26 points behind normal. Producers in the Pacific Northwest sprayed for aphids. Corn planting was 86% complete for the 17 major producing States, up 8 points from the previous week and 5 points behind the average. Wet, cool weather over most of the Midwest slowed corn development. Corn producers in Illinois were concerned about replanting corn that was already replanted once due to poor germination. Corn planting in Indiana at 58% complete was 19 days behind normal, with more replanting expected. Corn planting advanced over 20 points from last week in Michigan and Ohio to 72 and 65% complete, respectively. Clear weather allowed Ohio corn producers to make good progress, but corn planting was still 31 points behind the average. Poor corn emergence in Iowa has compelled producers to decide between replanting to corn or switching to soybeans. In Wisconsin, corn emergence was slow and plants were yellowed from the continued cool, wet weather. We 1 (6-96) Cotton planting was 81% complete, up 4 points from last week and 4 points behind the average for the Nation. Cotton planting in Oklahoma at 59% complete was up 29 points from last week and 7 points behind normal. In Arkansas, cotton fields were treated for thrips. Continued dry conditions in the Southwestern States caused heat stress in some cotton fields. In the Texas High Plains, some cotton fields suffered heavy damage from hail and high winds and will require replanting. Cotton condition was mostly good to fair for the 14 major producing States. Sorghum planting was 55% complete for the 12 major producing States, up 6 points from last week. Sorghum planting in Nebraska at 43% complete was 20 points behind the average. In Illinois, sorghum planting at 19% complete was 28 points behind normal. Sorghum planting in Kansas at 48% complete made limited progress from last week due to the wet field conditions. Rice seeding was 98% complete, up 5 points from last week and 6 points ahead of the average for the 5 major producing States. In Arkansas, rice producers continued to flood fields, with some levee damage reported as a result of the heavy rains. Emerged rice fields in California were fertilized and sprayed for weeds and insects. Texas rice producers reported insect activity was on the rise along the Upper Coast. Rice emerged was 91% complete, 11 points ahead of the average. Soybean planting was 45% complete, 18 points behind normal. Scattered rain and wet fields slowed soybean planting in the Midwest. Soybean planting was slowed by cool, wet weather that limited fieldwork and delayed corn planting causing some producers to postpone soybean planting until they completed corn planting. Soybean planting lagged more than 30 points in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Indiana soybean producers increased plantings by 9 points from last week to 25% complete, 20 days behind the average. Soybean planting in Ohio at 24% complete was 60 points behind normal. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 22 May 26 - June 1, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Storm systems dumped 2 to 7 inches of rain on much of the Corn Belt, flooding low-lying areas anew and limiting planting opportunities. In addition, Corn Belt temperatures averaged 5 to 10 degrees F below normal, hampering crop emergence and development. Elsewhere, heavy rains ended a 4-week dry spell in the Southeast and further eased long-term drought in the central Plains. Parts of northern Texas received more rain in May's final days than during the preceding 8 months. According to preliminary counts, thunderstorms during the last 8 days of May produced about 180 tornadoes, nearly 60 percent of the month's total. In contrast, several warm, dry days across the Northern States promoted planting and crop development. During the first half of the week, a winter-like storm tracked northeastward through the southern and central Plains before turning eastward across the Corn Belt and Middle Atlantic region. Rainfall intensity reached May-record proportions in Benkelman, NE, where 2.80 inches fell in 24 hours on May 25-26. Daily-record rainfalls were logged in several locations, including Kansas City, MO (3.35 inches on May 26), Little Rock, AR (2.74 inches on May 27), and Rockford, IL (4.77 inches on May 28). Near the storm's center on Sunday, wind gusts reached 53 mph in Dodge City, KS and 49 mph in Amarillo, TX. Farther north, highs on Sunday climbed only to 42 degrees F in Cheyenne, WY (where 0.1 inch of snow fell) and 52 degrees F in Norfolk, NE. The storm helped to boost monthly rainfall to May-record levels in many Midwestern cities, including Rockford, IL (11.75 inches), Des Moines, IA (11.08 inches), and South Bend, IN (8.09 inches). Flooding returned to most tributaries and main-stem rivers across the Midwest, but in most cases did not reach the magnitude of early- to mid-May crests. Nevertheless, the Rock River crested at 6.79 feet above flood stage near Joslin, IL, 0.44 feet above the previous record flood on March 26, 1993. Farther east, May rainfall totaled 15.75 inches in Elkins, WV, the wettest month during their 97-year period of record. In Portland, OR, a daily-record 0.57 inches of rain fell on May 29, boosting their monthly total to a May-record 4.88 inches. Across the South, meanwhile, heat eased slightly toward month's end, but not enough to prevent May average-temperature records from being set in Texas locations such as Amarillo (72.5 degrees F, 7.2 degrees above normal); Dallas (79.7 degrees F, 7.1 degrees above normal); and Waco (80.6 degrees F, 6.3 degrees above normal). In Lufkin, TX, highs of 99 degrees F on Tuesday and Wednesday toppled their former May record, last set in 1958, by 1 degree. Despite late-month rains totaling 1.67 inches in Amarillo, the 242-day precipitation of 2.89 inches (35 percent of normal) remained their driest such period on record, ahead of the September 1954 - May 1955 value of 3.11 inches. Rainfall during the first 5 months of 1996 was the lowest on record in Shreveport, LA (9.88 inches; 49 percent of normal) and Brownsville, TX (0.79 inches; 10 percent of normal), eclipsing marks set in 1918 and 1901, respectively. After midweek, a high-pressure system delivered dry, cool weather to the Nation's northeastern quadrant and suppressed rains southward. On May 30-31, frost dotted the Great Lakes States. In Jackson, MI, a low of 32 degrees F on May 30 occurred within 1 day of their latest freeze on record. Across the Southeast, much of the month's rain fell on May 26-29, as totals topped 4 inches in several locations, including Montgomery, AL and Louisville, KY. On Tuesday, a single supercell thunderstorm over the lower Ohio Valley spawned four tornadoes, the strongest of which traveled 30 miles across north-central Kentucky, damaging more than 600 homes. After a few tranquil days, rain returned to the central third of the Nation toward week's end. Although additional unwelcomed rain overspread the Corn Belt, beneficial showers returned to the South-Central States. On June 1, 2.20 inches pelted Rockford, IL, while 3.54 inches dampened Shreveport, LA. Corn: Percent Planted, Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 99 97 72 90 AL : 60 46 56 50 GA : 100 99 100 100 AR : 58 44 43 38 IL : 84 77 58 89 GA : 46 33 44 42 IN : 58 45 67 92 IL : 31 27 14 68 IA : 96 95 84 90 IN : 25 16 37 76 KS : 100 99 82 94 IA : 58 57 55 68 KY : 86 78 84 92 KS : 52 43 4 41 MI : 72 43 90 94 KY : 19 14 23 36 MN : 93 79 93 92 LA : 87 73 67 56 MO : 91 90 36 80 MI : 37 16 67 76 NE : 97 95 82 95 MN : 66 35 74 74 NC : 100 99 100 100 MS : 93 84 75 49 OH : 65 39 83 96 MO : 31 26 10 43 PA : 74 59 85 85 NE : 52 43 28 73 SD : 79 67 52 82 NC : 40 37 44 51 TX : 99 98 100 100 OH : 24 14 52 84 WI : 84 65 90 90 SC : 32 22 32 36 : SD : 41 29 26 64 17 Sts: 86 78 78 91 TN : 35 27 31 31 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 91% of the 19 Sts: 45 35 39 63 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1995 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 100 100 100 100 AL : 97 93 99 93 CA : 99 99 99 99 AZ : 99 99 100 100 CO : 80 30 59 72 AR : 99 98 99 95 GA : 100 100 100 100 CA : 100 99 99 100 ID : 6 1 8 13 GA : 94 86 94 92 IL : 81 59 94 93 LA : 100 100 99 95 IN : 60 50 86 84 MS : 100 99 99 92 KS : 98 90 96 99 MO : 99 95 94 95 MI : 1 0 6 20 NM : 90 87 92 96 MO : 90 75 92 93 NC : 99 97 98 97 MT : 2 0 2 5 OK : 59 30 62 66 NE : 35 15 34 71 SC : 99 95 92 97 NC : 100 99 99 99 TN : 99 95 99 89 OH : 22 19 69 68 TX : 56 50 66 70 OK : 100 100 100 100 : OR : 59 42 63 69 14 Sts: 81 77 85 85 SD : 2 0 1 32 -------------------------------------- TX : 99 97 97 97 These 14 States produced 99% of the WA : 28 20 55 56 1995 cotton crop. : 19 Sts: 77 68 78 83 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Percent Planted, These 19 States produced 92% of the Selected States 1995 winter wheat crop. -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 94 92 89 CO : 48 40 6 26 IL : 19 5 4 47 KS : 48 40 4 35 LA : 99 97 90 85 MS : 96 94 96 80 MO : 55 49 28 54 NE : 43 38 14 63 NM : 25 10 39 34 OK : 45 40 17 41 SD : 18 8 11 40 TX : 75 71 82 81 : 12 Sts: 55 49 34 55 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 98 94 98 99 AR : 98 96 97 92 MN : 75 45 94 98 CA : 90 70 77 89 MT : 95 88 96 98 LA : 100 99 99 95 ND : 81 60 73 94 MS : 100 100 100 84 SD : 95 87 94 99 TX : 100 99 97 98 : : 5 Sts : 85 68 84 96 5 Sts : 98 93 95 92 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 96% of the These 5 States produced 96% of the 1995 spring wheat crop. 1995 rice crop. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 91 85 98 93 AR : 95 83 93 82 MN : 47 30 63 89 CA : 60 30 41 58 MT : 77 59 77 85 LA : 100 93 98 92 ND : 47 27 38 82 MS : 100 99 98 76 SD : 87 74 79 95 TX : 91 88 86 89 : : 5 Sts : 59 41 56 85 5 Sts : 91 79 86 80 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 96% of the These 5 States produced 96% of the 1995 spring wheat crop. 1995 rice crop. Barley: Percent Planted, Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 95 89 98 98 IA : 100 100 99 99 MN : 71 34 89 97 MI : 97 85 99 100 MT : 93 91 90 96 MN : 97 92 96 98 ND : 86 66 71 94 NE : 100 100 100 100 SD : 95 87 92 98 ND : 79 56 67 93 WA : 95 92 100 100 OH : 95 79 100 100 : PA : 95 89 97 99 6 Sts : 88 74 84 96 SD : 95 89 93 98 -------------------------------------- WI : 98 77 100 100 These 6 States produced 82% of the : 1995 barley crop. 9 Sts : 94 84 92 98 -------------------------------------- These 9 States produced 56% of the Barley: Percent Emerged, 1995 oat crop. Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : Oats: Percent Emerged, :-----------------------: 1991- Selected States State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 -------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1991- : Percent State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. ID : 86 78 82 88 -------------------------------------- MN : 45 22 61 87 : Percent MT : 73 57 67 81 : ND : 50 24 37 83 IA : 100 96 96 96 SD : 82 61 72 92 MI : 75 50 92 91 WA : 85 76 98 98 MN : 90 78 82 93 : NE : 100 100 NA NA 6 Sts : 63 43 58 85 ND : 42 21 33 80 -------------------------------------- OH : 78 64 99 99 These 6 States produced 82% of the PA : 82 69 NA NA 1995 barley crop. SD : 83 66 78 93 WI : 84 57 NA NA : 9 Sts: 81 66 74 91 -------------------------------------- These 9 States produced 56% of the 1995 oats crop. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Jun 2, :May 26,:Jun 2, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 97 93 100 94 FL : 93 90 NA NA GA : 98 93 99 97 NC : 95 90 98 97 OK : 71 58 48 54 SC : 98 95 87 93 TX : 57 45 38 30 VA : 98 86 100 99 : 8 Sts : 88 81 84 81 -------------------------------------- These 8 States produced 99% of the 1995 peanut crop. Corn: Crop Condition Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 2 2 22 61 13 AR : 1 4 21 55 19 GA : 0 8 39 51 2 CA : 0 0 5 60 35 IL : 1 12 45 38 4 CO : 12 17 31 33 7 IN : 6 16 44 32 2 GA : 0 3 26 60 11 IA : 1 8 35 51 5 ID : 1 3 22 47 27 KS : 1 2 28 63 6 IL : 15 34 34 17 0 KY : 1 4 41 41 13 IN : 7 22 41 26 4 MI : 3 10 40 41 6 KS : 26 34 27 13 0 MN : 0 10 40 40 10 MI : 8 24 36 25 7 MO : 1 14 44 37 4 MO : 16 29 35 18 2 NE : 0 4 29 59 8 MT : 2 12 30 47 9 NC : 0 2 16 75 7 NE : 5 15 52 27 1 OH : 1 10 44 37 8 NC : 0 2 28 67 3 PA : 0 5 33 54 8 OH : 9 20 37 30 4 SD : 0 0 40 50 10 OK : 25 24 35 16 0 TX : 14 26 34 26 0 OR : 0 0 5 38 57 WI : 3 8 35 49 5 SD : 9 19 33 34 5 : TX : 26 32 33 9 0 17 Sts : 2 9 38 45 6 WA : 0 0 5 65 30 : : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA 19 Sts : 17 23 29 25 6 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA : -------------------------------------- Prev Wk : 21 25 27 22 5 Prev Yr : 6 12 31 41 10 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 0 4 63 31 2 IA : 0 3 27 64 6 AZ : 1 2 5 35 57 MI : 2 6 44 40 8 AR : 0 2 21 67 10 MN : 0 3 27 60 10 CA : 0 0 5 90 5 NE : 0 3 37 49 11 GA : 0 3 26 65 6 ND : 0 1 13 80 6 LA : 0 2 37 59 2 OH : 3 9 47 32 9 MS : 0 2 14 57 27 PA : 0 6 30 58 6 MO : 0 0 36 59 5 SD : 1 2 24 69 4 NM : 2 5 24 40 29 WI : 0 3 27 57 13 NC : 0 1 20 70 9 : OK : 0 8 35 55 2 9 Sts : 0 3 26 63 8 SC : 0 5 35 57 3 : TN : 0 1 24 63 12 Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA TX : 8 19 44 28 1 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA : -------------------------------------- 14 Sts : 3 9 32 49 7 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 5 37 52 6 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 3 16 61 20 CA : 0 0 30 65 5 LA : 0 4 47 44 5 MS : 1 11 25 42 21 TX : 0 3 40 50 7 : 5 Sts : 0 3 28 55 14 : Prev Wk : 0 3 26 59 12 Prev Yr : 0 5 20 59 16 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 11 57 30 0 :: NJ : 0 0 10 60 30 AZ : 50 28 14 8 0 :: NM : 45 40 13 2 0 AR : 0 19 42 33 6 :: NY : 0 0 13 70 17 CA : 0 0 5 65 30 :: NC : 0 4 22 68 6 CO : 7 14 36 41 2 :: ND : 0 3 22 66 9 CT : 0 0 29 71 0 :: OH : 2 9 35 43 11 DE : 0 0 19 73 8 :: OK : 3 21 57 18 1 FL : 0 5 35 50 10 :: OR : 0 0 4 67 29 GA : 1 10 37 50 2 :: PA : 0 6 23 61 10 ID : 0 1 6 56 37 :: RI : 0 2 4 82 12 IL : 1 4 28 55 12 :: SC : 2 4 23 59 12 IN : 1 10 23 53 13 :: SD : 1 5 15 58 21 IA : 1 6 26 58 9 :: TN : 0 6 34 53 7 KS : 6 21 35 35 3 :: TX : 27 32 35 6 0 KY : 1 4 21 63 11 :: UT : 2 10 24 52 12 LA : 2 18 45 33 2 :: VT : 0 0 13 45 42 ME : 0 0 30 37 33 :: VA : 0 0 13 66 21 MD : 0 3 19 58 20 :: WA : 0 0 29 57 14 MA : 0 0 2 96 2 :: WV : 0 3 36 54 7 MI : 4 10 31 37 18 :: WI : 0 3 22 58 17 MN : 2 12 46 36 4 :: WY : 0 0 8 64 28 MS : 9 15 35 35 6 :: : MO : 1 10 46 39 4 :: 48 Sts : 6 11 29 44 10 MT : 0 2 22 57 19 :: : NE : 1 7 36 51 5 :: Prev Wk: 7 14 30 40 9 NV : 0 4 18 45 33 :: Prev Yr: 1 5 23 54 17 NH : 0 2 16 81 1 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent