HDR1012000170101105961200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released November 5, 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 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY October 28 - November 3, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Strong winds and rain on October 29-30 delayed harvest activity and damaged row crops in the western Corn Belt. Wind gusts over 60 mph caused stalk breakage, ear drop, and some lodging in corn fields, but producers reported that the damage was not as extensive as expected. High grain moisture levels in some late-maturing row-crop fields in the central Great Plains slowed harvest activity. A wide-spread freeze at midweek in the central States aided in the dry down of grain. Wet weather over the upper Delta slowed harvest activity but brought much-needed moisture to pastures and small grain fields. In Florida, warm, dry weather helped vegetables recover from previous wind and rain damage. The winter wheat crop in the 19 major producing States was 93 percent (%) planted, up 3 percentage points from last week, and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Winter wheat emerged for the major producing States was 85% complete, up 11 points from last week and 8 points ahead of the average. Planting progress in Ohio, at 91% complete, was about 1 week behind normal. Numerous varieties of wheat diseases were visible across most of Kansas, with leaf rust most frequently found in early-planted fields. Wheat acreage seeded in Texas, at 98% complete, was 13 points ahead of the average, while winter wheat emerged was 23 points ahead. In the Texas High Plains, some fields showed damage from insects and rust. Corn harvested at 64% complete was up 19 points from last week but 8 points behind normal. Corn harvested in Indiana and Ohio was over 20 points behind the average. In the Midwest, high-average corn moisture levels slowed the corn harvest. In the western Corn Belt, high winds toppled fields damaged by corn borers. Many producers worked extra hours to minimize field losses but encountered long lines and delays at elevators. Cotton acreage harvested was estimated at 62%, up 9 points from last week, but 1 point behind the average. Cotton growers in California were concerned that the recent rainfall could stain the lint and lower the quality. Some cotton producers in the Texas High Plains waited for a hard freeze to aid defoliation. The low temperatures slowed the opening of bolls. Sorghum harvested at 74% complete, was up 15 points from the previous week but 7 points below the average. In Illinois, sorghum harvested at 49% complete was up 18 points from last week, but 32 points behind the average. Powerful winds toppled some sorghum fields in the central Great Plains, where high grain moisture levels and wet fields slowed harvest activity. Cold, damp weather in the Texas High Plains slowed harvest activity in some late-planted sorghum fields. Soybean acreage harvested, at 81%, was up 8 points from last week but 7 points less than the average. In Ohio and Kentucky, the soybean harvest was over 20 points behind normal. Gusty winds and widespread rainfall slowed the soybean harvest in the western Corn Belt. A hard freeze in the Corn Belt ended the growing season for soybeans and caused plants to shed leaves. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 44 October 27 - November 2, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: An intense storm--packing a minimum central pressure of 28.82 inches (976 millibars) on Tuesday night--swept across the Plains and the Midwest with 50 to 70 mph wind gusts, toppling some corn stalks. The storm dislodged part of an Arctic airmass that had been building over Alaska for the past 7 weeks, allowing cold air to overspread much of the Nation. Weekly temperatures averaged 6 to 10 degrees F below normal from the Southwest to the upper Midwest. Before cold air arrived, heavy rain soaked the northern Corn Belt, delaying harvest activities. In contrast, dry weather prevailed across the southern Corn Belt. Farther west, California's first major storm of the season delivered heavy precipitation, ending the wildfire threat. Late in the week, the storm raced eastward into the southern edge of the cold air, generating rain from the southern Plains to the southern Appalachians. Despite the late-week arrival of cooler air, weekly temperatures ranged from 6 to 10 degrees F above normal from southern Texas to Virginia. Early in the week, precipitation continued in the Southwest, while cold air settled over the Northwest. On Sunday, winds gusted to 47 mph in Albuquerque, NM, while in Colorado, snowfall reached daily-record levels in Pueblo (3.4 inches) and Alamosa (6.0 inches). Lows of 11 degrees F in Casper, WY and 12 degrees F in Pocatello, ID were among a half-dozen daily records. Farther east, thunderstorms flared along the tail of a cold front, resulting in a daily-record rainfall (3.81 inches) in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX. South of the front, Meridian, MS (85 degrees F) notched their first of two daily-record highs. On Tuesday, a rapidly intensifying storm crossed the North-Central States. The minimum barometric pressure in Sioux Falls, SD (28.94 inches, or 980 millibars) was their lowest since April 1982. Minneapolis, MN posted an October-record pressure of 28.90 inches (979 millibars). On the night of October 29-30, a 1.66-inch (56-millibar) pressure difference existed between the storm near Lake Superior and a high-pressure system over Montana, fueling high winds. Before midnight, wind gusts reached or exceeded 60 mph at numerous locations, including North Platte, NE (66 mph), Huron, SD (64 mph), Fargo, ND (61 mph), Sioux City, IA (61 mph), Cheyenne, WY (60 mph), and Peoria, IL (60 mph). The next day, gusts were clocked to 60 mph in Grand Rapids, MI and 59 mph in Toledo, OH. The storm also dropped an inch or more of rain from eastern South Dakota to Michigan, including a daily-record total (1.34 inches on October 29) in LaCrosse, WI. Farther east, about two dozen daily-record highs were set on October 29-30. On Tuesday, Corpus Christi (92 degrees F) logged their first of three daily-record highs in 4 days. Elsewhere, daily records on Wednesday included 82 degrees F in Washington, DC and 86 degrees F in Raleigh-Durham, NC. Warmth lingered through October 31 in southern Florida, where Ft. Myers (91 degrees F) tallied their eighth consecutive day of 90-degree heat and sixth daily-record high in 8 days. Meanwhile, California's storm dumped daily-record rainfall in Fresno (1.50 inches on Tuesday) and at Los Angeles' Civic Center (1.02 inches on Wednesday), before turning eastward across the South. Farther north, the cold air's inevitable spread resulted in a handful of daily records, including 19 degrees F in Carroll, IA on November 1, and 23 degrees F in Cincinnati, OH a day later. On the northern High Plains, a 1- to 3-inch snow cover in most areas protected winter wheat from midweek temperatures in the single digits. Toward week's end, the season's first widespread snow squalls developed downwind of the Great Lakes. In Alaska, cold air eroded from west to east, ending the recent cold snap. Fairbanks' 21-day streak of below-normal temperatures ended on Tuesday, as readings rebounded from a low of -27 degrees F on October 27 to 31 degrees F on October 29. Snow continued in many areas, however, including Fairbanks, where the snow depth at month's end was 10 inches, a 4-inch increase from October 27. In Hawaii, hot, generally dry weather prevailed. Kahului's weekly temperature averaged 4 degrees F above normal, bolstered by a daily-record high of 94 degrees F on October 27. Corn: Percent Harvested, Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 86 67 66 66 AL : 56 49 54 50 GA : 98 96 99 99 AR : 58 51 78 64 IL : 69 50 93 83 GA : 37 25 19 29 IN : 47 32 92 72 IL : 87 74 99 97 IA : 62 35 85 71 IN : 80 67 99 95 KS : 93 81 94 90 IA : 96 91 99 99 KY : 90 80 96 89 KS : 82 73 94 89 MI : 34 21 72 48 KY : 42 35 78 65 MN : 78 53 82 66 LA : 91 86 92 78 MO : 79 70 76 79 MI : 80 64 96 85 NE : 71 45 73 70 MN : 99 99 93 97 NC : 96 92 97 96 MS : 77 74 92 69 OH : 35 22 77 63 MO : 70 60 88 82 PA : 41 35 77 51 NE : 100 98 99 99 SD : 59 37 65 60 NC : 21 13 15 20 TX : 98 97 98 99 OH : 73 59 96 95 WI : 36 25 77 54 SC : 19 10 9 16 : SD : 98 95 86 94 17 Sts: 64 45 84 72 TN : 33 23 61 51 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 93% of the 19 Sts: 81 73 91 88 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1995 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 48 41 70 62 AR : 36 21 39 42 CA : 20 15 13 13 CA : 10 5 4 3 CO : 100 99 100 100 CO : 95 93 95 96 GA : 12 9 19 15 GA : 7 6 9 10 ID : 98 95 95 97 ID : 83 66 68 73 IL : 90 77 96 92 IL : 71 48 77 79 IN : 88 78 97 94 IN : 70 52 80 78 KS : 98 97 100 98 KS : 95 80 89 87 MI : 99 93 99 97 MI : 82 66 87 82 MO : 78 65 89 79 MO : 57 42 60 58 MT : 100 99 99 97 MT : 85 70 84 79 NE : 100 100 100 100 NE : 100 97 100 100 NC : 46 30 38 42 NC : 27 16 19 24 OH : 91 82 100 97 OH : 69 53 88 79 OK : 98 94 96 95 OK : 85 72 66 73 OR : 94 90 85 87 OR : 74 64 60 60 SD : 100 100 100 100 SD : 91 84 94 98 TX : 98 95 85 85 TX : 92 87 66 69 WA : 99 98 96 95 WA : 93 92 88 83 : : 19 Sts: 93 90 93 91 19 Sts: 85 74 77 77 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the These 19 States produced 92% of the 1995 winter wheat crop. 1995 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 74 68 85 72 AL : 91 82 94 95 AZ : 53 44 55 71 FL : 94 91 NA NA AR : 84 80 89 80 GA : 93 89 97 97 CA : 60 50 41 68 NC : 89 68 83 85 GA : 68 54 71 59 OK : 83 62 77 70 LA : 97 94 99 91 SC : 92 81 92 85 MS : 93 89 98 84 TX : 65 51 52 52 MO : 70 69 87 84 VA : 98 92 98 98 NM : 50 33 42 37 : NC : 68 50 54 56 8 Sts : 87 78 85 85 OK : 24 19 14 32 -------------------------------------- SC : 69 65 52 55 These 8 States produced 99% of the TN : 80 76 78 76 1995 peanut crop. TX : 41 28 48 47 : 14 Sts: 62 53 64 63 -------------------------------------- These 14 States produced 99% of the 1995 cotton crop. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Nov 3, :Oct 27,:Nov 3, : 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 100 98 CO : 67 56 78 59 IL : 49 31 81 81 KS : 77 58 91 78 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 80 66 81 81 NE : 59 28 98 82 NM : 10 7 43 40 OK : 34 29 43 46 SD : 83 78 80 79 TX : 83 75 93 90 : 12 Sts: 74 59 89 81 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 4 30 62 4 CA : 0 0 40 50 10 CO : 1 3 17 50 29 GA : 0 1 39 59 1 ID : 0 1 5 67 27 IL : 2 2 19 54 23 IN : 0 3 27 56 14 KS : 0 0 9 75 16 MI : 1 3 35 48 13 MO : 0 2 33 56 9 MT : 0 4 51 40 5 NE : 0 4 30 59 7 NC : 0 0 8 80 12 OH : 0 2 28 57 13 OK : 0 1 18 73 8 OR : 0 4 52 37 7 SD : 2 1 24 55 18 TX : 1 9 33 42 15 WA : 0 5 32 63 0 : 19 Sts : 0 3 22 62 13 : Prev Wk : 0 3 26 58 13 Prev Yr : 1 8 35 51 5 -------------------------------------- The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on November 13, 1996. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. 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