HDR1012000170100513971200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released May 13, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Rhonda Brandt at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Agricultural Summary May 5 - 11, 1997 HIGHLIGHTS: Despite cooler-than-normal temperatures for the fifth straight week in the Eastern United States, farmers made substantial progress planting spring crops. A mid-week storm brought showers to the Midwest, temporarily halting fieldwork. The same storm brought locally heavy, unwelcomed rain to Texas and the northern Red River Valley, keeping farmers out of already saturated fields. Warmer, drier weather aided planting progress and crop development in the Northwest. Farmers in the Southeast took advantage of drying soils and made rapid progress planting cotton and peanuts. An area extending from southeastern Wyoming to western Kansas remained dry, as it has for several weeks. Winter wheat: The winter wheat crop progressed to 34 percent (%) headed, just behind 37% last year on this date and the 5-year average of 38%. Winter wheat condition rated slightly better than last week as a result of moisture and enhanced grain filling in eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. However, rain was needed in western Kansas for crop progress to continue. Wet weather increased the risk of foliar disease in Oklahoma. Lack of precipitation in western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and southeast Wyoming continued to cause concern. On the other hand, wheat grew vigorously in eastern Washington as seasonable temperatures and abundant sunshine helped the crop to improve rapidly. Corn: Corn growers in the western Corn Belt and central Plains made rapid planting progress. For the second week in a row, planting was well ahead of the average and advanced to 71% complete for the Nation. Planting in Nebraska, advancing 40 percentage points, was in full swing except where slowed by rainfall in the east and very dry soils in the west. Iowa growers planted 25% of the State's crop despite scattered showers and unseasonably low temperatures. The last time corn planting conditions in Wisconsin were as good as this year was in 1994, when 52% of the crop was planted at this time. Farmers in the other major corn-producing States made good progress. A later than normal freeze kept planting behind the average in South Dakota. Several States reported slow emergence because of continued below-normal temperatures. Soybeans: Soybean planting progressed to 20% complete as the weather allowed producers to turn from planting corn immediately to planting soybeans. This compared with 8% planted at this time in 1996 and the average of 12%. In Illinois, growers in the northern two-thirds of the State made good progress, while those in the south were continually rained out. Soybean planting progress in Indiana and Ohio remained well ahead of the average. Producers in Minnesota, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Iowa also made good progress, advancing 12 to15 points. Cotton: Nationwide, 44% of the cotton crop was in the ground at week's end, compared with 51% for both last year and the average. Texas growers made limited progress despite open, mild conditions. The planting pace was brisk in Alabama as clear weather provided excellent conditions for fieldwork. Planting was active throughout Georgia. Louisiana cotton growers took advantage of excellent conditions and planted 57% of their crop during the week. Dry weather was favorable for planting cotton in Mississippi. Cotton planting was the main activity for farmers in middle and western Tennessee, where nearly half of the acreage was planted. Precipitation slowed planting in New Mexico. Planting was virtually complete in California. Rice: Seventy-four percent of the rice crop was planted, ahead of the 72% in 1996 and the average of 68%. Although planting is ahead of normal at the national level, planting continued to lag in Texas, where only 69% of the crop was planted. Forty-one percent of the crop was emerged, compared with 52% last year and the average of 49%. California was the only State where emergence was well ahead of normal. Emergence was well behind normal in Arkansas as well as in Texas, where farmers were flushing fields. Nationwide, condition of the rice crops rated mostly good to fair. Other Small Grains: Excellent drying weather outside of the Red River Valley of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota accelerated small grain planting progress. All major spring wheat-producing States made good planting progress, especially Montana and South Dakota. Nationwide, one-third of the spring wheat crop was in the ground, slightly ahead of 1996 but well behind the average of 56%. Likewise, planting in the major barley-producing States advanced to 37% complete, just ahead of 34% last year, but well behind the average. Emergence of both spring wheat and barley lagged well behind normal. By week's end, 65% of the oat crop was seeded. Oat planting and emergence in North Dakota and South Dakota remained well behind normal. Other Crops: Sorghum planting advanced to 28% complete, just behind 29% for 1996 and the average of 30%. Growers in the Southeast made good progress, while all other major sorghum-producing States made limited progress. Farmers in the Southeast also planted a significant amount of peanuts during the week. Although large portions of the acreage in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia were planted, progress remained behind normal. National Weather Summary Volume 84, No. 19 May 4 - 10, 1997 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Despite a fifth consecutive week of cooler-than-normal weather, Midwestern soils--moistened by widespread rainfall on May 7-8--warmed enough to promote crop development. Weekly temperatures averaged 6 to 9 degrees F below normal across the eastern Corn Belt--with maxima peaking only in the 60's--but only 1 to 5 degrees F below normal elsewhere in the Midwest, as highs occasionally reached into the 70's and lower 80's. Below-normal temperatures (3 to 10 degrees F) also prevailed for the fifth week in a row across the South-Central and Eastern States. In addition, locally heavy rainfall dotted the southern Plains on May 7-9. On the central High Plains, temperatures dipped below 32 degrees F on May 9, about a week later than the region's typical last spring freeze. In contrast, very warm weather prevailed across the Southwest, producing departures of +6 to +12 degrees F. Early in the week, cool air settled into the East, while daily-record warmth developed in the Southwest. On Monday, Burlington, VT (27 degrees F), Asheville, NC (32 degrees F), and Augusta, GA (39 degrees F) were among the locations reporting daily-record lows. Later in the day, daily-record highs were established in Arizona at Safford (98 degrees F) and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (104 degrees F). Warmth extended as far north as Alaska (weekly temperatures up to 8 degrees F above normal), where McGrath (65 degrees F) logged a daily-record high. Two days later, Cold Bay, AK notched 58 degrees F, their second consecutive daily record. At midweek, another high-pressure system shifted into the East. Flint, MI (26 degrees F) tallied a daily-record low on May 7, followed a day later by records in Allentown, PA (30 degrees F) and Baltimore, MD (33 degrees F). Farther west, rainfall totaled 1 to 2 inches from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois southwestward into eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Up to 1 inch of unwelcomed rainfall soaked the lower Red River basin in the northern parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Cool air reached the Plains on Friday, spreading into the East at week's end. On May 9, more than a dozen daily-record lows were established on the central High Plains, including 25 degrees F in North Platte, NE, 26 degrees F in Burlington, CO, and 29 degrees F in Goodland, KS. Lows in Kansas dipped to 32 degrees F as far south and east as Hays. The typical last hard freeze (28 degrees F or below) occurs in North Platte on April 28; the normal date of the last spring freeze in Goodland is May 4, and in Hays is April 28. Farther south, heavy rain erupted across the South-Central States, totaling 2 to 4 inches in some areas. On Friday, a daily-record total of 3.73 inches pelted Victoria, TX. Meanwhile, very warm weather arrived in the Northwest, where Burns, OR (83 degrees F on May 10) collected a daily-record high. Flood Update: As of May 12, the James River in eastern South Dakota remained 3 to 8 feet above flood stage (a.f.s.), but 2 to 7 feet below record levels set in early April. Even without any rainfall, however, the river is expected to remain a.f.s. into August at many gauging sites. Meanwhile, the Red River at Wahpeton, ND fell below flood stage on May 9. Downstream, the river stood at 6.0 feet a.f.s. in Fargo and 9.1 feet a.f.s. in Grand Forks on May 12, down 16.5 and 17.0 feet, respectively from crests in April. In northeastern North Dakota, Devils Lake continued to rise toward historic levels, fed by record flows in Channel A near Penn and Big Coulee near Churchs Ferry. Ice melted off the lake in early May, leaving the water's level at 1,440.2 feet above sea level on May 7, 0.8 feet below the 1830 high-water mark. The lake is expected to crest between 1,443.5 and 1,444.0 feet in late June or July. Devils Lake's lowest level on record, 1,400.9 feet, was set at the end of the Dust Bowl era in 1940. Corn: Percent Planted, Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 84 52 85 58 AL : 12 5 20 16 GA : 95 95 97 98 AR : 15 14 19 11 IL : 86 77 52 48 GA : 10 2 10 10 IN : 71 60 10 36 IL : 35 13 4 12 IA : 78 53 79 58 IN : 31 22 3 12 KS : 75 50 88 71 IA : 12 0 11 15 KY : 56 44 34 55 KS : 10 4 9 6 MI : 49 30 12 21 KY : 3 2 1 6 MN : 78 59 41 49 LA : 26 12 37 19 MO : 71 43 78 52 MI : 6 3 1 5 NE : 70 30 74 55 MN : 19 4 4 13 NC : 95 91 94 91 MS : 36 23 56 29 OH : 82 71 6 40 MO : 9 1 6 6 PA : 45 20 16 27 NE : 5 0 6 8 SD : 18 5 28 29 NC : 13 5 10 12 TX : 81 68 93 92 OH : 39 29 0 14 WI : 50 18 21 30 SC : 11 5 7 7 : SD : 1 0 2 4 17 Sts: 71 50 52 50 TN : 4 0 4 4 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 90% of the 19 Sts: 20 9 8 12 1996 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1996 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 98 90 87 89 AL : 60 35 67 69 CA : 99 99 98 97 AZ : 95 90 93 91 CO : 4 1 2 3 AR : 40 7 57 48 GA : 99 98 97 98 CA : 98 95 94 92 ID : 0 0 0 0 GA : 53 21 60 62 IL : 9 1 2 17 LA : 70 13 78 78 IN : 10 0 11 12 MS : 34 11 78 67 KS : 25 5 29 35 MO : 46 12 24 32 MI : 0 0 0 0 NM : 70 65 76 74 MO : 30 21 20 25 NC : 35 10 56 54 MT : 0 0 0 0 OK : 1 1 10 13 NE : 0 0 0 1 SC : 63 22 72 64 NC : 95 85 88 86 TN : 41 7 47 46 OH : 0 0 2 1 TX : 27 19 27 32 OK : 78 55 86 84 : OR : 0 0 0 5 14 Sts: 44 25 51 51 SD : 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------- TX : 66 51 80 73 These 14 States produced 99% of the WA : 0 0 0 3 1996 cotton crop. : 19 Sts: 34 22 37 38 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Percent Planted, These 19 States produced 92% of the Selected States 1996 winter wheat crop. -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 79 57 70 64 CO : 1 0 22 11 IL : 4 3 0 3 KS : 12 6 10 6 LA : 66 55 68 59 MS : 70 60 72 66 MO : 17 4 11 16 NE : 5 0 5 5 NM : 1 1 1 7 OK : 6 6 10 12 SD : 0 0 3 2 TX : 56 51 63 69 : 12 Sts: 28 22 29 30 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1996 sorghum crop. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 80 71 84 84 AR : 77 60 77 72 MN : 24 10 14 51 CA : 50 35 27 27 MT : 62 29 56 73 LA : 85 79 89 85 ND : 17 3 15 45 MS : 90 84 91 80 SD : 48 13 64 70 TX : 69 52 87 83 : : 5 Sts : 34 13 32 56 5 Sts : 74 60 72 68 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 10 States produced 96% of the These 5 States produced 97% of the 1996 spring wheat crop. 1996 rice crop. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 58 NA 63 67 AR : 33 21 52 50 MN : 4 NA 4 21 CA : 20 5 4 4 MT : 12 NA 6 28 LA : 70 64 74 74 ND : 1 NA 1 18 MS : 67 39 76 63 SD : 6 NA 14 45 TX : 34 20 76 64 : : 5 Sts : 6 NA 6 26 5 Sts : 41 28 52 49 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 10 States produced 96% of the These 5 States produced 97% of the 1996 spring wheat crop. 1996 rice crop. Barley: Percent Planted, Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : ID : 64 51 76 79 IA : 98 94 99 85 MN : 22 8 10 46 MI : 87 74 34 58 MT : 60 28 50 69 MN : 81 60 71 73 ND : 13 2 11 44 NE : 98 87 100 96 SD : 22 4 52 63 ND : 14 1 7 41 WA : 86 72 80 85 OH : 96 93 56 81 : PA : 90 75 63 74 6 Sts : 37 20 34 58 SD : 35 13 62 65 -------------------------------------- WI : 90 70 49 60 These 6 States produced 82% of the : 1996 barley crop. 9 Sts : 65 49 55 66 -------------------------------------- These 9 States produced 54% of the Barley: Percent Emerged, 1996 oat crop. Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : Oats: Percent Emerged, :-----------------------: 1992- Selected States State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 -------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1992- : Percent State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. ID : 42 NA 43 55 -------------------------------------- MN : 4 NA 3 17 : Percent MT : 8 NA 8 27 : ND : 0 NA 0 17 IA : 76 NA 76 69 SD : 2 NA 11 40 MI : 44 NA 3 27 WA : 60 NA 53 69 MN : 32 NA 18 35 : NE : 73 NA 89 NA 6 Sts : 12 NA 12 29 ND : 0 NA 0 16 -------------------------------------- OH : 71 NA 40 55 These 6 States produced 82% of the PA : 65 NA 44 NA 1996 barley crop. SD : 9 NA 27 45 WI : 36 NA 17 NA : 9 Sts: 34 NA 29 38 -------------------------------------- These 9 States produced 54% of the 1996 oats crop. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 45 18 45 56 FL : 40 19 61 NA GA : 54 24 65 67 NC : 20 8 27 34 OK : 22 16 13 13 SC : 67 33 81 66 TX : 11 6 18 10 VA : 35 20 42 52 : 8 Sts : 37 17 45 45 -------------------------------------- These 8 States produced 99% of the 1996 peanut crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 21 46 27 4 CA : 0 0 30 40 30 CO : 4 12 29 41 14 GA : 2 11 36 46 5 ID : 1 1 24 51 23 IL : 2 3 21 63 11 IN : 1 6 31 51 11 KS : 5 8 27 49 11 MI : 3 8 32 41 16 MO : 1 7 27 55 10 MT : 3 9 32 49 7 NE : 1 7 38 47 7 NC : 1 6 31 51 11 OH : 3 12 35 40 10 OK : 10 17 39 33 1 OR : 0 0 22 66 12 SD : 9 18 33 34 6 TX : 12 20 37 26 5 WA : 0 2 14 58 26 : 19 Sts : 5 11 31 44 9 : Prev Wk : 5 12 33 42 8 Prev Yr : 22 24 26 23 5 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 10 53 32 4 CA : 0 0 10 80 10 LA : 0 16 43 39 2 MS : 0 0 49 51 0 TX : 0 0 31 56 13 : 5 Sts : 0 7 40 48 5 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 4 29 59 8 -------------------------------------- Note: US level crop conditions are weighted averages based on 1996 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 3 28 59 10 :: NJ : 0 0 10 90 0 AZ : 8 16 33 31 12 :: NM : 1 4 28 59 8 AR : 1 5 37 50 7 :: NY : 0 8 53 39 0 CA : 0 10 70 20 0 :: NC : 0 6 28 54 12 CO : 4 12 33 44 7 :: ND : 7 12 28 46 7 CT : 0 0 31 69 0 :: OH : 3 10 36 44 7 DE : 0 5 20 74 1 :: OK : 0 3 26 65 6 FL : 0 0 35 60 5 :: OR : 0 1 9 77 13 GA : 0 4 29 60 7 :: PA : 3 16 44 35 2 ID : 0 3 15 66 16 :: RI : 0 45 16 15 24 IL : 1 3 31 57 8 :: SC : 0 3 24 60 13 IN : 2 7 34 48 9 :: SD : 2 7 38 46 7 IA : 0 6 31 52 11 :: TN : 0 5 30 55 10 KS : 0 4 22 62 12 :: TX : 1 8 31 49 11 KY : 1 12 42 39 6 :: UT : 0 2 15 68 15 LA : 0 2 26 64 8 :: VT : 0 29 65 6 0 ME : 71 29 0 0 0 :: VA : 0 10 37 48 5 MD : 1 2 17 63 17 :: WA : 0 1 25 70 4 MA : 11 25 16 19 29 :: WV : 1 10 43 42 4 MI : 6 16 35 37 6 :: WI : 1 14 41 35 9 MN : 4 25 44 26 1 :: WY : 0 3 17 78 2 MS : 1 8 30 46 15 :: : MO : 1 10 37 47 5 :: 48 Sts : 1 8 34 49 8 MT : 2 15 34 35 14 :: : NE : 2 5 31 56 6 :: Prev Wk: 2 9 35 47 7 NV : 0 0 3 97 0 :: Prev Yr: 7 17 34 36 6 NH : 7 23 59 6 5 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 P.M. ET on May 20, 1997. 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. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are now available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and select: 1. Worldwide Web: http://www.usda.gov/nass/ OR 2. For Gopher/Telenet/FTP access: HOST=usda.mannlib.cornell.edu OR 3. For a subscription direct to your e-mail address, send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu and in the body of the message type the word: list AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 1-800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call l-703-834-0125 FAX: 1-703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.