HDR1012000170100813961200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released August 13, 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 August 5 - 11, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Warmer weather over the Corn Belt and scattered rains pushed development of row crops to near-normal levels. In the western Corn Belt, heavy rains early in the week caused localized flooding. The much-needed moisture prevented a decline in row-crop conditions, but some dry pockets were missed. Producers in the Midwest remained concerned with the prospect of an early fall frost arriving before late-planted crops reach maturity. Warmer weather over the Great Lakes region spurred crop development but increased plant requirements for soil moisture. High temperatures and low soil moisture supplies in the northern Rocky Mountains provided ideal harvesting weather for small grains but pushed the region to near-drought levels. Insect pressure in the central Plains and western Corn Belt remained light, but producers were monitoring fields for insect activity. Hot, dry weather in the Western States combined with windy conditions triggered destructive forest fires. Thunderstorms over the upper Great Plains delivered moisture that was needed, but also brought hail and high winds that damaged some crops. Warm, dry weather over North Dakota gave producers excellent harvest conditions and accelerated late-seeded crop development. Widespread showers over the Southeast brought moisture that improved or held crop conditions stable in many areas, but some localities remained dry. The wet conditions over the Southeast improved range and pasture conditions but slowed harvest activity. The recent wet weather compelled row-crop producers to scout fields for increased insect activity and to spray insecticides where needed. Wheat harvested for the 19 major producing States was 92 percent (%) complete, up 5 percentage points from the previous week. Hot, dry weather in Montana pushed the wheat harvest to 47% complete, up 32 points from the previous week and 21 points ahead of the 5-year average. The wheat harvest advanced 31 points in South Dakota from last week, 3 points ahead of the average. Spring wheat condition was mostly good to fair, with 12% of the acreage harvested, 4 points behind the average. Condition remained mostly unchanged in the major producing States. Corn was in mostly good to fair condition, with 88% of the acreage in the silking stage or beyond. Corn silking for the 17 major producing States was up 16 points from the previous week, but 3 points behind the average. Corn silking in Ohio, at 76% complete, was up 38 points from the previous week, but 21 points behind the average. In Indiana, silking was approximately 14 days behind normal. In Michigan, corn silking increased by 38 points from last week but remained 16 points behind the average. Michigan's European corn borers attacked alternative crops since corn development was later than normal. Cotton setting bolls was 96% complete, up 9 points from last week and 10 points ahead of the average. Cotton condition was mostly good to fair for the 14 major producing States, with slight improvement in the Southeast due to recent rains. Cotton setting bolls in Texas at 92% complete was ahead of normal by 20 points. Cotton producers irrigated fields and sprayed for bollworms and boll weevils. Cotton in California was treated for aphids, armyworms, lygus, and mites in the San Joaquin Valley and in the desert whitefly. Spraying was required in Texas, where insect and disease problems increased during the week. Some central Texas cotton fields stressed by dry conditions shedded bolls. Moisture and warm weather in the Texas High Plains advanced development rapidly, with cotton opening bolls ahead of the average by 2 points. In Arizona, cotton bolls opening at 43% complete was 17 points ahead of normal. Rice headed for the five major producing States was 80% complete, up 16 points from the previous week and 1 point ahead of normal. Rice condition rated good to excellent totaled 78 percentage points. Rice headed in California at 50% complete was up 30 points from last week and 26 points ahead of the average. In Arkansas, rice fields were drained in preparation for harvest. Rice harvest at 12% complete was 3 points ahead of normal for the five major producing States. In Louisiana, rice harvesting was hindered by wet conditions. Sorghum condition was mostly good to fair with sorghum headed at 74% complete, up 22 points from the previous week, and 13 points ahead of the average. In Illinois, sorghum headed at 30% complete was 36 points behind normal. Sorghum turning color at 24% complete was 3 points behind the average, but ahead of the average for the Delta States. In Louisiana, insect activity remained light. Sorghum development was slowed in Texas by cool, wet weather, but the moisture aided many sorghum fields. Soybeans blooming was 82% complete, up 13 points from last week and 5 points below the average. Soybeans were in mostly good to fair condition. The percentage of acreage blooming lagged the average by at least 20 points in the eastern Corn Belt. Soybean producers in the Midwest closely monitored the crop's development and remained concerned by it's lateness. In Indiana, soybeans blooming remained 18 days behind normal. Grasshoppers were reported in the western Corn Belt's soybean fields. Soybean growers in the Delta sprayed for aerial blight and bean leaf beetles. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 32 August 4 - 10, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A temporary pattern change boosted Midwestern crop development, as temperatures reached the lower- to mid-90's on 1 to 3 days. Rain preceded the warmth across the northwestern half of the Corn Belt, improving topsoil moisture, but causing localized flooding. Generally dry weather prevailed across the remainder of the Corn Belt. Farther west, a cool spell (more than three dozen daily-record lows), yielded to late-week heat. In the West Coast States, nearly a dozen daily-record lows were set at week's end. Despite cool weather, drought continued to expand across the northern Rockies and northern High Plains. In contrast, substantial rainfall across the southern Plains continued to reduce the severity and areal extent of the 10-month drought. Elsewhere, beneficial showers continued to dampen the Southeast, while rainfall kept topsoils moist from the Middle Atlantic region into New England. Early in the week, extreme heat gradually ebbed from Texas, while cool air pushed eastward across the West. On Sunday, highs in Texas included 106 degrees F in Wichita Falls and a daily-record 103 degrees F in Del Rio. Meanwhile, Elko, NV (36 degrees F) noted their first of three daily-record lows in 4 days. The chill peaked on Tuesday in Burns, OR (30 degrees F) and a day later in locations such as Pocatello, ID (35 degrees F), Casper, WY (34 degrees F), and Elko (32 degrees F). Early-week rainfall topped 3 inches in Norfolk, NE and Sioux City, IA, while a few nearby locations received as much as 4 to 8 inches. The Midwestern warm spell peaked about midweek, but ended from the west thereafter. On Wednesday, daily-record highs were established as far north in Michigan as Muskegon (90 degrees F) and Flint (95 degrees F). Late in the week, significant rain developed across parts of Texas. Wichita Falls' year-to-date rainfall improved to 9.45 inches (54 percent (%) of normal) on the strength of a 1.94-inch weekly total. Similarly, 2.88 inches fell in Houston on Saturday, boosting their 1996 total to 17.61 inches (65% of normal). In southern Texas, Brownsville's weekly total of 0.67 inches accounted for 32% of their year-to-date total (2.12 inches; 17% of normal). Serious rainfall deficits continued elsewhere across western and southern Texas and parts of the Southwest. The year-to-date precipitation in Flagstaff, AZ stands at 4.22 inches, 32% of normal. In contrast, weekly rainfall in excess of 2 inches soaked several Southeastern locations, including Birmingham, AL, Shreveport, LA, and Savannah, GA. Mid- to late-week totals also topped 2 inches in many inland areas from the Carolinas to New York. On Friday, a high of 111 degrees F in Paso Robles, CA was among four daily records as heat returned to the West. A day later, daily records included 109 degrees F at both Hanford, WA and Sacramento, CA. In Oregon, Burns' daily-record high of 100 degrees F represented a 70-degree swing from Tuesday's record low. Corn: Percent Silking, Soybeans: Percent Blooming, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 91 79 56 75 AL : 68 59 74 67 GA : 100 100 100 100 AR : 77 67 72 67 IL : 89 77 94 98 GA : 71 65 81 79 IN : 78 55 95 98 IL : 75 63 85 93 IA : 93 77 93 90 IN : 73 51 91 96 KS : 100 100 85 96 IA : 92 85 95 93 KY : 94 80 85 75 KS : 93 88 59 82 MI : 70 32 90 86 KY : 60 50 68 75 MN : 96 81 98 91 LA : 99 94 94 85 MO : 97 91 70 90 MI : 55 35 98 90 NE : 97 90 82 92 MN : 95 83 98 92 NC : 100 98 100 99 MS : 94 87 92 79 OH : 76 46 93 97 MO : 78 63 50 76 PA : 85 67 85 79 NE : 97 91 84 92 SD : 72 47 68 75 NC : 53 40 57 58 TX : 100 98 99 98 OH : 74 52 99 98 WI : 64 37 92 78 SC : 64 51 60 62 : SD : 90 65 82 79 17 Sts: 88 72 90 91 TN : 76 58 74 70 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 91% of the 19 Sts: 82 69 84 87 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1995 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Harvested, Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 100 100 100 100 AL : 91 87 99 93 CA : 99 99 99 99 AZ : 100 99 97 99 CO : 99 96 97 96 AR : 100 100 99 98 GA : 100 100 100 100 CA : 100 100 92 95 ID : 39 21 22 36 GA : 99 98 98 99 IL : 99 98 100 99 LA : 100 100 100 98 IN : 100 98 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 97 KS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 100 100 98 97 MI : 98 70 99 97 NM : 98 95 87 88 MO : 100 100 100 99 NC : 90 82 90 86 MT : 47 15 12 26 OK : 89 78 64 73 NE : 99 95 98 98 SC : 98 91 89 92 NC : 100 100 100 100 TN : 100 100 99 98 OH : 100 99 100 99 TX : 92 72 76 72 OK : 100 100 100 100 : OR : 59 40 75 69 14 Sts: 96 87 88 86 SD : 89 58 98 86 -------------------------------------- TX : 100 100 100 100 These 14 States produced 99% of the WA : 42 27 49 59 1995 cotton crop. : 19 Sts: 92 87 91 92 -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the 1995 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 3 NA 2 3 AR : 54 48 31 43 AZ : 43 NA 22 26 CO : 0 0 0 0 AR : 3 NA 0 1 IL : 0 0 0 14 CA : 5 NA 2 3 KS : 8 5 0 5 GA : 10 NA 14 5 LA : 84 54 67 65 LA : 12 NA 15 6 MS : 81 59 60 58 MS : 11 NA 5 3 MO : 14 6 9 22 MO : 2 NA 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 4 NM : 10 NA 0 1 NM : 1 0 0 3 NC : 6 NA 2 2 OK : 24 19 7 14 OK : 3 NA 0 1 SD : 8 5 4 3 SC : 2 NA 1 1 TX : 60 58 75 70 TN : 0 NA 0 1 : TX : 17 NA 16 15 12 Sts: 24 22 24 27 : -------------------------------------- 14 Sts: 11 NA 10 8 These 12 States produced 98% of the -------------------------------------- 1995 sorghum crop. These 14 States produced 99% of the 1995 cotton crop. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States Sorghum: Percent Headed, -------------------------------------- Selected States : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1991- : Week Ending : State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 :-----------------------: 1991- : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 -------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : Percent -------------------------------------- : : Percent ID : 14 NA 5 20 : MN : 34 NA 28 25 AR : 93 86 94 87 MT : 7 NA 3 6 CO : 45 18 5 31 ND : 6 NA 7 14 IL : 30 5 14 66 SD : 28 NA 37 46 KS : 78 49 19 44 : LA : 100 98 96 95 5 Sts : 12 NA 11 16 MS : 97 95 96 91 -------------------------------------- MO : 66 53 45 69 These 5 States produced 96% of the NE : 57 19 23 55 1995 spring wheat crop. NM : 15 4 26 42 OK : 56 50 37 51 SD : 53 17 38 40 TX : 90 78 90 85 : 12 Sts: 74 52 45 61 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Rice: Percent Headed, Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 81 62 73 66 ID : 17 6 10 23 CA : 50 20 15 24 MN : 20 7 18 32 LA : 87 80 89 84 MT : 7 1 4 11 MS : 88 81 87 70 ND : 9 2 10 25 TX : 100 97 93 90 SD : 40 16 47 60 : WA : 31 12 24 45 5 Sts : 80 64 71 66 : -------------------------------------- 6 Sts : 13 4 11 24 These 5 States produced 96% of the -------------------------------------- 1995 rice crop. These 6 States produced 84% of the 1995 barley crop. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States Oats: Percent Harvested, -------------------------------------- Selected States : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1991- : Week Ending : State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 :-----------------------: 1991- : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. State:Aug 11,:Aug 4, :Aug 11,: 1995 -------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : Percent -------------------------------------- : : Percent AR : 8 NA 0 0 : CA : 0 NA 0 0 IA : 93 72 94 92 LA : 25 NA 33 31 MI : 30 20 54 42 MS : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 55 20 40 51 TX : 32 NA 21 26 NE : 97 82 89 92 : ND : 8 1 7 19 5 Sts : 12 NA 9 9 OH : 72 45 78 80 -------------------------------------- PA : 50 40 61 65 These 5 States produced 96% of the SD : 56 28 56 67 1995 rice crop. WI : 32 9 52 43 : 9 Sts : 46 26 49 53 -------------------------------------- These 9 States produced 70% of the 1995 oats crop. Corn: Crop Condition Soybeans: 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 : 3 4 10 61 22 AL : 0 2 22 63 13 GA : 3 17 31 42 7 AR : 3 11 27 45 14 IL : 5 10 33 43 9 GA : 3 7 37 48 5 IN : 2 10 36 45 7 IL : 4 15 41 34 6 IA : 1 5 17 56 21 IN : 3 13 41 37 6 KS : 2 3 14 58 23 IA : 1 7 24 54 14 KY : 1 4 19 55 21 KS : 0 4 20 55 21 MI : 7 16 33 37 7 KY : 1 3 16 58 22 MN : 1 6 30 53 10 LA : 0 2 23 67 8 MO : 0 9 29 45 17 MI : 5 14 24 48 9 NE : 0 3 13 60 24 MN : 1 7 34 51 7 NC : 5 12 34 45 4 MS : 1 5 24 54 16 OH : 4 16 41 33 6 MO : 0 9 40 42 9 PA : 1 2 13 54 30 NE : 0 3 15 65 17 SD : 0 2 15 56 27 NC : 1 3 20 68 8 TX : 16 21 18 24 21 OH : 4 14 42 33 7 WI : 3 9 26 50 12 SC : 1 3 18 66 12 : SD : 0 2 21 53 24 17 Sts : 3 8 25 48 16 TN : 0 3 20 56 21 : : Prev Wk : 3 8 27 47 15 19 Sts : 2 9 31 47 11 Prev Yr : 1 6 27 52 14 : -------------------------------------- Prev Wk : 3 9 31 47 10 Prev Yr : 1 8 29 51 11 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition Spring 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 : : AL : 1 1 11 55 32 ID : 0 3 12 45 40 AZ : 1 5 6 63 25 MN : 0 8 36 50 6 AR : 0 8 23 51 18 MT : 4 18 52 21 5 CA : 0 0 0 45 55 ND : 1 6 30 57 6 GA : 2 8 32 49 9 SD : 0 2 19 53 26 LA : 0 2 28 49 21 : MS : 1 5 23 50 21 5 Sts : 1 9 35 47 8 MO : 0 4 29 52 15 : NM : 0 2 23 49 26 Prev Wk : 2 9 33 48 8 NC : 1 2 12 69 16 Prev Yr : 3 8 29 51 9 OK : 0 8 28 57 7 -------------------------------------- SC : 0 2 24 64 10 TN : 0 1 23 57 19 TX : 7 25 29 24 15 Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, : Selected States 14 Sts : 3 12 24 42 19 -------------------------------------- : State : VP : P : F : G : EX Prev Wk : 3 10 25 46 16 -------------------------------------- Prev Yr : 1 7 32 49 11 : Percent -------------------------------------- : AR : 0 2 18 56 24 CA : 0 0 10 80 10 Sorghum: Crop Condition LA : 0 3 29 60 8 by Percent, Selected States MS : 0 6 23 60 11 -------------------------------------- TX : 0 5 11 52 32 State : VP : P : F : G : EX : -------------------------------------- 5 Sts : 0 3 19 60 18 : Percent : : Prev Wk : 0 3 20 61 16 AR : 4 14 34 42 6 Prev Yr : 0 2 19 63 16 CO : 0 1 12 62 25 -------------------------------------- IL : 8 20 37 29 6 KS : 1 3 15 63 18 LA : 0 1 23 58 18 Barley: Crop Condition MS : 0 3 22 52 23 by Percent, Selected States MO : 0 6 36 47 11 -------------------------------------- NE : 0 1 17 65 17 State : VP : P : F : G : EX NM : 5 20 42 32 1 -------------------------------------- OK : 0 1 7 89 3 : Percent SD : 0 2 21 57 20 : TX : 7 15 38 30 10 ID : 0 4 16 52 28 : MN : 0 18 31 45 6 12 Sts : 3 7 25 51 14 MT : 4 18 43 29 6 : ND : 1 4 26 60 9 Prev Wk : 2 7 25 52 14 SD : 0 1 18 75 6 Prev Yr : 1 6 28 56 9 WA : 0 1 17 63 19 -------------------------------------- : 6 Sts : 1 9 28 51 11 : Prev Wk : 2 7 30 50 11 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 0 3 29 55 13 MI : 2 10 33 44 11 MN : 1 4 30 58 7 NE : 0 2 26 67 5 ND : 0 7 37 51 5 OH : 5 11 41 31 12 PA : 0 4 31 56 9 SD : 0 1 18 65 16 WI : 0 6 26 55 13 : 9 Sts : 0 5 30 55 10 : Prev Wk : 0 4 30 57 9 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 3 32 64 1 FL : 0 0 0 57 43 GA : 2 10 38 45 5 NC : 0 0 24 66 10 OK : 0 5 31 58 6 SC : 1 4 16 75 4 TX : 1 13 30 49 7 VA : 0 1 5 40 54 : 8 Sts : 1 7 30 52 10 : Prev Wk : 3 8 26 54 9 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Note: US level crop conditions are weighted averages based on 1995 planted acres for the selected states. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 0 4 32 54 10 :: NJ : 0 0 0 60 40 AZ : 21 31 25 20 3 :: NM : 10 35 34 19 2 AR : 4 20 31 38 7 :: NY : 0 0 22 78 0 CA : 5 25 20 50 0 :: NC : 1 6 29 60 4 CO : 3 4 20 61 12 :: ND : 2 9 30 52 7 CT : 0 0 25 75 0 :: OH : 5 8 40 42 5 DE : 0 0 12 81 7 :: OK : 1 7 27 56 9 FL : 0 0 25 70 5 :: OR : 0 6 22 54 18 GA : 1 9 39 47 4 :: PA : 0 3 23 63 11 ID : 0 14 34 42 10 :: RI : 0 0 0 50 50 IL : 9 19 35 33 4 :: SC : 1 14 32 47 6 IN : 5 14 49 29 3 :: SD : 0 2 22 64 12 IA : 4 15 36 39 6 :: TN : 0 4 25 60 11 KS : 1 5 34 53 7 :: TX : 20 33 33 11 3 KY : 1 7 29 54 9 :: UT : 8 19 43 30 0 LA : 0 1 22 65 12 :: VT : 0 0 70 30 0 ME : 0 9 37 45 9 :: VA : 0 3 28 53 16 MD : 1 3 13 62 21 :: WA : 0 12 38 45 5 MA : 0 0 6 93 1 :: WV : 0 9 20 64 7 MI : 5 23 37 27 8 :: WI : 3 7 31 54 5 MN : 2 18 38 40 2 :: WY : 0 9 41 44 6 MS : 3 7 34 46 10 :: : MO : 2 16 42 37 3 :: 48 Sts : 5 13 31 45 6 MT : 5 11 41 39 4 :: : NE : 0 3 26 62 9 :: Prev Wk: 5 13 31 45 6 NV : 3 6 21 70 0 :: Prev Yr: 2 10 30 46 12 NH : 0 0 10 90 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent