HDR1012000170100910961200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released September 10, 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 September 2 - 8, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Heavy rains and high winds from Hurricane Fran damaged crops and caused lodging and flooding in many fields in the mid-Atlantic. Late-week rains relieved row crop stress from dry soil conditions in the Midwest. Some corn and soybean fields matured rapidly due to the lack of adequate soil moisture and very warm weather. Crop development remained about 2 weeks behind normal in the eastern Corn Belt despite recent warm weather. Much-needed rains arrived in the Great Lakes region during the weekend and restored soil moisture supplies. Scattered heavy showers in the Southeast delayed harvest activity, but the benefits from the rainfall outweighed the decline in harvest activity. Hot, dry weather over the middle Mississippi Valley and the lack of significant precipitation resulted in soil moisture shortages. Above-normal temperatures in the central Great Plains boosted crop development, but many fields remained 1 to 2 weeks behind average. Localized thunderstorms eased producers' concern about the lack of adequate soil moisture in the Dakotas. Topsoil moisture in the Ohio Valley neared critically short levels before the weekend rains arrived. Cooler weather slowed crop maturity over the southern Great Plains, where wet fields from last week's heavy rains slowed fieldwork. Frost in northern Nevada signaled the end of the growing season. The winter wheat crop in the 19 major producing States was 7 percent (%) planted, up 5 percentage points from the previous week but 1 point behind the 5-year average. Continued dry soil conditions in the West delayed winter wheat seeding. Winter wheat planting in Washington at 40% complete was up 23 points from last week and 13 points ahead of the average. The start of wheat seeding in the Dakotas was sluggish since many producers were waiting for precipitation to increase soil moisture and lower temperatures to reduce grasshopper activity. Last week's showers slowed land preparation and planting due to wet fields in the Texas High Plains. Greenbugs thrived on newly emerged fields. Spring wheat harvested for the five major producing States was 83% complete, up 14 points from last week and 14 points ahead of the average. Spring wheat harvest activity in Montana at 88% complete was up 7 points from the previous week and 26 points ahead of normal. Small grain harvest activity remained ahead of the average in North Dakota. Corn was in mostly good to fair condition, with doughing 88% complete for the 17 major producing States, up 14 points from the previous week, but was 2 points behind the average. Warm weather and dry conditions in the Midwest caused corn to dry quickly. Some corn harvest activity was beginning in southern Illinois as producers filled mid-September contracts. Harvest of early-planted corn was underway in Kentucky, where producers dried grain to acceptable moisture levels prior to sale. Corn doughing at 88% complete was up 14 points from the previous week but 2 points behind the average. Corn denting at 52% complete was up 19 points from the previous week but 15 points behind the average, while corn mature at 11% complete was 12 points behind the average. Doughing in Minnesota at 99% complete was up 52 points from last week and 14 points ahead of normal. In Ohio, corn denting at 22% complete was 51 points behind the average. In Indiana, corn denting lagged the average by 33 points. Cotton bolls opening was 52% complete, up 13 points from last week and 10 points ahead of the average. Cotton condition declined slightly from the previous week but remained mostly good to fair for the 14 major producing States. Boll rot was prevalent in areas with excessive rainfall and insects were reported in the Delta. Many cotton fields received final irrigation in California. Warmer weather was needed in the Texas High Plains, where heavy showers damaged open bolls and caused regrowth. The precipitation was received too late to save some dryland fields in the Texas High Plains. Rice harvested for the five major producing States was 33% complete, up 3 points from the previous week and 3 points ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated mostly good to excellent. Rice harvested in Texas at 85% complete was up 5 points from last week and 14 points ahead of the average. Rice growers in California were draining fields in preparation for the harvest. Rice harvest activity was slowed by continued wet conditions in Texas. Sorghum condition for the 12 major producing States was mostly good to fair with sorghum turning color 69% complete, up 18 points from the previous week, and 5 points ahead of the average. The acreage of sorghum mature at 28% was 3 points behind normal. Nebraska sorghum turning color and mature was 12 points behind the average. Sorghum turning color in Illinois at 39% complete was up 13 points from the previous week but 22 points behind the average. In Kansas, corn earworms were reported in sorghum fields. Warmer weather was needed in Texas, where leaf blight was reported in some fields. Soybeans condition was mostly good to fair with soybeans dropping leaves 8% complete, up 5 points from last week, but 6 points below the average. In Mississippi, soybeans dropping leaves at 48% complete was up 22 points from the previous week and 33 points ahead of the average. Soybeans were sprayed for worm control in the Delta. Many soybean fields in the Midwest were stressed by chronic dry soil conditions. Soybeans in the Great Lakes region were yellowing from lack of moisture. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 36 September 1 - 7, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Hurricane Fran battered the North Carolina coastline with a storm surge of up to 16 feet and sustained winds of 115 mph, causing extensive damage. As Fran moved inland and weakened, torrential rainfall spawned the second widespread flood episode in 8 months in several Middle Atlantic river basins. Farther west, very warm weather hastened the maturity of Corn Belt crops, although dry conditions persisted in most areas. Humid, showery weather continued across much of the South, where cotton bolls were opening. Meanwhile, sharply cooler air arrived in the Northwest, accompanied by beneficial showers. However, dryness persisted from California to Montana, allowing wildfires to remain active. Early in the week, weakening Hurricane Edouard brushed the New England coastline. The center of Edouard passed about 80 miles east of Nantucket Island on Monday morning, producing a north-northeasterly wind gust to 75 mph in Nantucket, MA. On Cape Cod, Chatham, MA registered a gust to 71 mph. Massachusetts rainfall totals reached 6.37 inches in West Dennis and 5.20 inches in Hyannis. Edouard produced a modest 1- to 2-foot storm surge in the region. Meanwhile, September opened with maxima reaching only 73 degrees F in locations such as Longview, TX and Jackson, MS. In addition to the cooler-than-normal weather, weekly rainfall topped 2 inches in locations such as Beaumont, TX and Montgomery, AL. Locally heavy rain also struck, especially on Tuesday, in Arizona, where Tucson's weekly total of 2.60 inches represented more than one-third of their year-to-date total. Hot weather gripped Peninsular Florida during the week, setting nearly a dozen daily-record highs. Ft. Myers notched September-record highs of 97 degrees F on September 3 and 7, while Miami posted daily-record maxima of 93 degrees F on September 1, 2, and 5. Farther north, weekly temperatures averaged more than 6 degrees F above normal from the Dakotas to New England, with departures reaching +10 to +13 degrees in the western Great Lakes region. In contrast, more than a dozen daily-record lows were established in the Northwest and the Great Basin. Yakima, WA posted lows of 35 degrees F on September 4 and 5. On Friday, lows dipped to 29 degrees F in Pocatello, ID and 23 degrees F in Elko, NV. Very warm weather covered Alaska, except in the eastern interior. In McGrath, highs reached or exceeded 65 degrees F on the first 7 days of the month, including daily records on September 4 (74 degrees F) and 7 (69 degrees F). Several days before Fran's arrival, a slow-moving disturbance dumped heavy rain on parts of the Middle Atlantic States. In Greensboro, NC, pre-Fran rains totaled 5.65 inches, including a 3.94-inch rainfall on Tuesday (their 5th wettest September day and 12th wettest day on record). Totals in southwestern Virginia topped 11 inches by midweek in parts of Henry County. Hurricane Fran first struck Bald Head Island (Cape Fear, NC), south of Wilmington around 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, carrying a central pressure of about 28.17 inches (954 millibars). South of Cape Fear, winds gusted to 124 mph at Frying Pan Shoals and seas swelled to 32 feet. Despite the storm's arrival near low tide, the storm surge ranged from around 6 feet in Horry County, SC to as much as 16 feet in North Carolina's Pender and New Hanover Counties. Inland, gusts reached 86 mph (on Thursday) in Wilmington, NC and 79 mph (on Friday) in Raleigh-Durham, NC. In addition, Raleigh-Durham posted a September-record barometric pressure (28.84 inches) and an all-time record 24-hour rainfall (9.44 inches on September 5-6). Fran, in conjunction with the earlier disturbance, boosted weekly rainfall to more than 15 inches at some locations in Virginia's Henry and Franklin Counties. As a result, a flood rival to that observed in January 1996 coursed through the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac basins in Fran's aftermath. At Point of Rocks, MD, the Potomac River crested at 20.3 feet above flood stage (a.f.s.), 0.2 feet shy of the January flood crest and 4.7 feet below the March 1936 record. All-time crest records were established at several points along the Shenandoah River in Virginia, including Strasburg (15.3 feet a.f.s.). At the city locks in Richmond, VA, the James River crested at 14.7 feet a.f.s. Even as far north as Cleveland, OH, Fran (as an extratropical low-pressure system) deposited a 24-hour record rainfall (5.22 inches on September 6-7). Corn: Percent Dough, Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 96 90 74 80 CO : 63 45 17 47 GA : 100 100 100 100 GA : 100 100 100 100 IL : 88 78 97 96 IL : 56 36 75 76 IN : 88 82 99 99 IN : 42 30 77 75 IA : 84 64 93 85 IA : 51 20 73 63 KS : 100 98 95 98 KS : 88 74 62 78 KY : 100 98 100 80 KY : 91 78 90 90 MI : 65 45 96 73 MI : 17 8 72 44 MN : 99 47 98 85 MN : 46 13 68 53 MO : 100 96 88 96 MO : 94 79 60 82 NE : 96 89 91 96 NE : 55 35 55 70 NC : 100 100 100 97 NC : 100 100 99 95 OH : 79 66 100 99 OH : 22 11 71 73 PA : 75 69 93 87 PA : 41 36 70 50 SD : 84 80 90 86 SD : 44 32 54 56 TX : 100 100 100 99 TX : 99 98 93 94 WI : 71 58 98 77 WI : 28 12 82 48 : : 17 Sts: 88 74 95 90 17 Sts: 52 33 70 67 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 17 States produced 91% of the These 17 States produced 91% of the 1995 corn crop. 1995 corn crop. Corn: Percent Mature, Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 0 NA 0 7 AL : 7 3 11 11 GA : 98 NA 100 99 AR : 15 9 7 6 IL : 8 NA 16 30 GA : 9 4 11 13 IN : 9 NA 17 21 IL : 2 0 5 16 IA : 4 NA 20 21 IN : 7 3 20 20 KS : 38 NA 13 44 IA : 0 0 4 9 KY : 35 NA 51 48 KS : 20 6 5 18 MI : 0 NA 7 6 KY : 7 3 6 12 MN : 3 NA 7 9 LA : 29 22 18 14 MO : 50 NA 24 40 MI : 3 1 16 14 NE : 1 NA 1 16 MN : 10 0 7 12 NC : 95 NA 94 87 MS : 48 26 32 15 OH : 0 NA 8 14 MO : 2 0 1 7 PA : 7 NA 16 8 NE : 1 0 2 15 SD : 6 NA 4 18 NC : 3 0 4 5 TX : 75 NA 74 70 OH : 4 0 22 28 WI : 3 NA 29 15 SC : 2 1 0 0 : SD : 35 12 15 30 17 Sts: 11 NA 17 23 TN : 8 3 11 8 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 91% of the 19 Sts: 8 3 9 14 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1995 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 0 0 0 0 AL : 42 29 48 34 CA : 0 0 0 0 AZ : 95 81 93 84 CO : 17 7 4 12 AR : 64 37 59 35 GA : 0 0 0 0 CA : 75 50 32 56 ID : 3 1 3 7 GA : 57 52 70 44 IL : 0 0 0 0 LA : 82 60 78 72 IN : 0 0 0 1 MS : 84 77 78 59 KS : 3 0 1 4 MO : 48 27 35 30 MI : 2 1 3 4 NM : 70 35 26 36 MO : 0 0 0 0 NC : 43 20 44 46 MT : 3 0 1 3 OK : 16 8 4 15 NE : 11 2 11 13 SC : 39 20 41 44 NC : 0 0 1 1 TN : 59 31 44 39 OH : 0 0 0 0 TX : 34 26 33 32 OK : 3 1 10 11 : OR : 0 0 1 3 14 Sts: 52 39 47 42 SD : 8 1 13 14 -------------------------------------- TX : 10 5 11 13 These 14 States produced 99% of the WA : 40 17 33 27 1995 cotton crop. : 19 Sts: 7 2 6 8 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Percent Coloring, These 19 States produced 92% of the Selected States 1995 winter wheat crop. -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 90 96 91 CO : 67 44 52 41 IL : 39 26 35 61 KS : 65 44 36 52 LA : 100 98 98 96 MS : 99 95 89 93 MO : 72 54 57 73 NE : 45 26 38 57 NM : 30 8 11 34 OK : 70 55 56 68 SD : 72 37 41 44 TX : 85 72 88 84 : 12 Sts: 69 51 55 64 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 64 NA 66 68 AR : 15 6 13 15 CO : 10 NA 0 4 CA : 0 0 0 1 IL : 3 NA 1 14 LA : 76 75 80 70 KS : 13 NA 2 8 MS : 25 18 53 25 LA : 90 NA 82 82 TX : 85 80 71 71 MS : 90 NA 75 77 : MO : 26 NA 28 33 5 Sts : 33 27 34 30 NE : 0 NA 0 12 -------------------------------------- NM : 0 NA 0 4 These 5 States produced 96% of the OK : 24 NA 8 14 1995 rice crop. SD : 23 NA 3 12 TX : 62 NA 78 73 : Barley: Percent Harvested, 12 Sts: 28 NA 28 31 Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the : Week Ending : 1995 sorghum crop. :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, -------------------------------------- Selected States : Percent -------------------------------------- : : Week Ending : ID : 81 69 68 77 :-----------------------: 1991- MN : 82 60 86 83 State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 MT : 85 72 62 67 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. ND : 91 77 84 86 -------------------------------------- SD : 100 99 100 99 : Percent WA : 90 86 93 91 : : ID : 85 70 70 74 6 Sts : 87 74 78 81 MN : 77 55 87 72 -------------------------------------- MT : 88 81 58 62 These 6 States produced 84% of the ND : 79 63 65 68 1995 barley crop. SD : 100 97 98 96 : 5 Sts : 83 69 69 69 -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 96% of the 1995 spring wheat crop. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Sep 8, :Sep 1, :Sep 8, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 2 10 10 FL : 6 5 NA NA GA : 2 1 17 10 NC : 0 0 1 0 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 10 5 18 8 TX : 0 0 2 4 VA : 0 0 0 0 : 8 Sts : 2 1 9 6 -------------------------------------- These 8 States produced 99% of the 1995 peanut 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 : 5 8 16 56 15 AL : 0 2 17 74 7 GA : 1 12 34 45 8 AR : 4 13 31 38 14 IL : 5 12 32 41 10 GA : 1 4 25 52 18 IN : 5 17 37 36 5 IL : 7 17 37 35 4 IA : 1 5 19 54 21 IN : 6 19 40 31 4 KS : 1 2 10 62 25 IA : 1 6 21 54 18 KY : 1 4 21 49 25 KS : 0 1 13 59 27 MI : 11 26 32 27 4 KY : 1 5 21 54 19 MN : 3 8 39 42 8 LA : 0 1 25 65 9 MO : 0 6 25 51 18 MI : 10 19 40 27 4 NE : 0 3 14 56 27 MN : 3 8 40 45 4 NC : 13 15 30 32 10 MS : 3 8 23 56 10 OH : 7 18 39 31 5 MO : 2 12 32 44 10 PA : 1 4 15 60 20 NE : 0 2 17 50 31 SD : 0 6 26 53 15 NC : 0 6 40 49 5 TX : 7 9 9 35 40 OH : 7 18 40 30 5 WI : 2 10 27 52 9 SC : 1 5 30 57 7 : SD : 1 5 32 50 12 17 Sts : 3 9 26 47 15 TN : 0 2 17 62 19 : : Prev Wk : 3 9 26 45 17 19 Sts : 3 11 31 44 11 Prev Yr : 2 9 31 49 9 : -------------------------------------- Prev Wk : 3 10 30 46 11 Prev Yr : 2 12 35 43 8 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, by Percent, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 3 6 23 60 8 AR : 0 2 18 54 26 AZ : 5 10 32 28 25 CA : 0 0 10 65 25 AR : 0 5 28 48 19 LA : 0 2 17 72 9 CA : 0 0 10 60 30 MS : 0 12 27 58 3 GA : 1 7 31 51 10 TX : 0 0 12 60 28 LA : 0 5 22 62 11 : MS : 1 7 28 49 15 5 Sts : 0 2 17 60 21 MO : 1 11 30 52 6 : NM : 0 2 15 63 20 Prev Wk : 0 2 15 61 22 NC : 0 4 40 46 10 Prev Yr : 0 4 30 53 13 OK : 1 17 21 54 7 -------------------------------------- SC : 2 7 31 58 2 TN : 0 5 25 53 17 TX : 9 16 33 33 9 Peanut: Crop Condition : by Percent, Selected States 14 Sts : 4 10 29 44 13 -------------------------------------- : State : VP : P : F : G : EX Prev Wk : 3 10 28 43 16 -------------------------------------- Prev Yr : 3 12 33 47 5 : Percent -------------------------------------- : AL : 0 7 50 43 0 FL : 0 0 4 85 11 Sorghum: Crop Condition GA : 1 9 33 46 11 by Percent, Selected States NC : 0 4 55 31 10 -------------------------------------- OK : 0 6 30 55 9 State : VP : P : F : G : EX SC : 0 5 29 66 0 -------------------------------------- TX : 1 7 38 43 11 : Percent VA : 0 12 23 58 7 : : AR : 0 11 34 46 9 8 Sts : 1 7 36 47 9 CO : 0 4 10 62 24 : IL : 12 12 21 52 3 Prev Wk : 1 8 34 51 6 KS : 0 1 12 61 26 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA LA : 0 0 33 66 1 -------------------------------------- MS : 0 4 27 59 10 MO : 2 8 34 45 11 NE : 1 1 13 55 30 NM : 15 27 20 36 2 OK : 0 2 5 91 2 SD : 0 7 34 52 7 TX : 2 6 28 52 12 : 12 Sts : 1 4 19 58 18 : Prev Wk : 3 5 20 53 19 Prev Yr : 2 12 32 47 7 -------------------------------------- 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 : 1 3 31 58 7 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 23 12 27 36 2 :: NM : 8 26 30 33 3 AR : 7 18 28 35 12 :: NY : 0 30 50 15 5 CA : 5 30 35 30 0 :: NC : 1 18 17 56 8 CO : 4 8 23 52 13 :: ND : 7 19 38 33 3 CT : 0 3 35 62 0 :: OH : 14 29 37 19 1 DE : 0 4 27 68 1 :: OK : 0 4 22 52 22 FL : 0 5 45 50 0 :: OR : 1 44 31 22 2 GA : 1 6 27 63 3 :: PA : 1 10 39 42 8 ID : 2 21 40 33 4 :: RI : 0 0 17 50 33 IL : 15 28 37 19 1 :: SC : 1 5 32 47 15 IN : 18 34 35 12 1 :: SD : 2 12 37 45 4 IA : 6 17 34 37 6 :: TN : 1 3 26 59 11 KS : 0 3 16 70 11 :: TX : 5 17 49 24 5 KY : 5 14 33 37 11 :: UT : 13 33 39 15 0 LA : 0 1 25 62 12 :: VT : 0 0 57 43 0 ME : 0 11 45 42 2 :: VA : 0 0 16 65 19 MD : 1 6 19 62 12 :: WA : 0 2 35 57 6 MA : 0 0 43 57 0 :: WV : 0 2 20 65 13 MI : 26 27 27 18 2 :: WI : 10 35 29 25 1 MN : 15 24 38 22 1 :: WY : 1 10 52 37 0 MS : 3 11 40 41 5 :: : MO : 11 20 36 28 5 :: 48 Sts : 5 17 35 37 6 MT : 9 32 35 22 2 :: : NE : 1 7 24 52 16 :: Prev Wk: 4 16 32 41 7 NV : 2 10 53 35 0 :: Prev Yr: 7 18 35 34 6 NH : 0 26 50 24 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent END OF FILE