HDR1012000170101007971200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released October 7, 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 September 29 - October 5, 1997 Highlights: Hot, dry weather from California to the Appalachian Mountains pushed crops to maturity and allowed fieldwork to rapidly proceed. Farmers in the Plains and Midwest took advantage of the record or near-record warmth to harvest fall crops and plant winter wheat. Unseasonably hot weather in the Southwest helped cotton fields to dry out after Tropical Storm Nora. Early-week moisture fell along the northern Atlantic coast, but came too late to help most crops. Heavy rainfall in western Oregon and Washington slowed most fieldwork. Corn: Corn was mature on 82 percent (%) of the Nation's acreage, ahead of 77% mature at this time last year and 79% for the 5-year average. Very warm, dry weather rapidly pushed the crop to maturity in the major corn-producing States, especially in the upper Mississippi Valley. Above-normal temperatures provided much-needed heat for Indiana fields. However, high winds caused lodging, breaking stalks, and dropping ears in some Corn Belt fields. Above-normal temperatures benefited the corn crop in Michigan and Ohio, but maturity remained well behind the normal pace. Nationwide, corn harvest reached 15% complete, compared with 14% in 1996 and the average of 16%. Harvest was most active in Kansas and Missouri. The corn crop remained in mostly good condition. Soybeans: Soybeans were dropping leaves on 86% of the acreage, ahead of 73% dropping leaves a year ago and the average of 80%. Thirty-seven percent of the soybean acreage was harvested, well ahead of 15% harvested in 1996 and the average of 23%. Iowa and Minnesota farmers harvested about half of their States' acreage during the week. Harvest was also very active in Illinois, where 35% of the State's acreage was harvested at record pace. Harvest was active, but just behind normal in the eastern Corn Belt. Elsewhere, harvest was ahead of the average pace. Late-planted soybean harvest was just underway in Louisiana. Soybeans remained in mostly good to fair condition. Cotton: Bolls were opening on 83% of the Nation's cotton acreage, 1 percentage point ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the average. Much-needed heat in Texas helped bolls to open. Crop development remained behind normal in the eastern cotton-producing States. Cotton harvest was 18% complete, behind 24% for both 1996 and the average. Harvest progressed ahead of normal in Arizona and California, but was behind normal farther east. Harvest was just starting in northern Texas, while winding down in southern areas. Cotton defoliation was active throughout the Southeast. The cotton crop rated mostly good to fair. Rice: Rice harvest reached 82% complete, ahead of both 81% last year and the average of 77%. Hot and humid, but dry, weather allowed Arkansas rice growers to make good harvest progress. In California, harvest was in full swing and beginning to wind down in the Sacramento Valley. Southern Louisiana growers prepared to harvest a few fields of second crop rice. In Texas, harvest resumed after heavy rainfall in late September. Sorghum: Sorghum was mature on 78% of the national acreage, ahead of both 74% last year and the average of 69%. Very warm, dry weather pushed crops to maturity in the central Plains and Corn Belt. Maturity lagged behind normal in Colorado and New Mexico due to cool, wet weather during August. Sorghum harvest was 36% complete, ahead of 33% harvested in 1996 but behind the average of 37%. Despite hot, dry weather, harvest progressed behind the normal pace in Texas. Farmers harvested fields ahead of the normal pace in the central Plains and Southeast. Peanuts: Nearly half of the peanut acreage was harvested, well ahead of harvest progress in 1996. Rainfall in Georgia and Florida replenished dry soils, enabling harvest to proceed. Harvest gained momentum in North Carolina and Oklahoma. In Virginia, farmers made good progress, but harvest lagged behind the normal pace. Condition of the peanut crop rated mostly fair to good. Winter Wheat: Planting of the 1998 winter wheat crop advanced to 58% complete, 7 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the average. Very warm, dry weather across the interior United States allowed seeding to progress rapidly in many winter wheat-producing States, especially Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Thirty-two percent of the acreage was emerged by week's end, ahead of 27% emerged in 1996 and the average of 31%. Emergence was significantly ahead of normal in Colorado, Montana, and Washington after good planting weather in September. National Weather Summary Volume 84, No. 40 September 28 - October 4, 1997 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Dry, very warm weather (weekly temperatures 6 to 12 degrees F above normal) prevailed on the Plains, promoting winter wheat planting and growth, but reducing topsoil moisture. Across the Western and Central States, more than 70 daily-record highs and a dozen monthly records were set during the week. Meanwhile, rainfall preceded a shot of cool air in the East. Much of the Northeast received frost or a freeze on Thursday morning, resulting in a dozen daily-record lows. High winds accompanied the surge of cool air across the Midwestern, Great Lakes, and Northeastern States. Farther west, stormy, cooler weather overspread the Pacific Northwest. Early in the week, a very strong low-pressure system crossed eastern Canada. On Tuesday, the storm's central pressure dropped to at least 28.76 inches (974 millibars). A day earlier, September barometric-pressure records were set in Milwaukee, WI (29.30 inches, or 992 millibars) and Binghamton, NY (29.26 inches, or 991 millibars). By October 1, Binghamton reported its first wet snowflakes of the season. Farther west, wind gusts on Monday were clocked to 56 mph in Peru, IL, 54 mph in Kenosha, WI, 51 mph in Ottumwa, IA, and 49 mph in Rochester, MN. Warmth spread eastward during the week in response to an area of intensifying storminess over the eastern Pacific Ocean. On Sunday, Lompoc, CA (100 degrees F) notched a daily-record high. A day later, Walla Walla, WA recorded 89 degrees F. October-record warmth first appeared in Boise, ID (94 degrees F) on Wednesday, spreading into the Plains and Midwest on October 2-3. On Thursday, monthly record highs soared to 98 degrees F in Pierre, SD and 97 degrees F in McCook, NE. October records on Friday included 95 degrees F in Mason City, IA and 93 degrees F in Rochester, MN. Rochester's maximum was its highest since June 29, 1996, and well above the year's previous highest temperature of 88 degrees F. In contrast, daily-record lows on Thursday included 30 degrees F in Scranton, PA, 32 degrees F in Atlantic City, NJ, and 32 degrees F at Virginia's Dulles Airport. Although not a record, Lansing, MI logged 30 degrees F. Before the chill arrived, early-week rainfall totaled 1 to 3 inches along the Appalachian cordillera, with localized amounts in excess of 4 inches from West Virginia to western New York. Along the West Coast, heavy rainfall and high winds arrived on Wednesday. In Oregon, Florence collected a daily-record rainfall (1.74 inches), while Cape Blanco clocked a wind gust to 76 mph. Florence's winds gusted to 60 mph on October 1, and 63 mph a day later. Another wave of rain arrived on Saturday, resulting in a daily-record rainfall (1.01 inches) in Salem, OR. At week's end, a batch of tropical moisture moved northward into southern Texas, sparking beneficial rainfall. Corn: Percent Mature, Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 81 63 81 65 CO : 10 2 10 8 GA : 100 100 100 100 GA : 94 92 90 92 IL : 86 56 80 87 IL : 13 4 14 15 IN : 86 52 68 83 IN : 5 4 8 13 IA : 96 80 82 84 IA : 8 3 5 10 KS : 97 83 94 92 KS : 47 24 30 40 KY : 82 65 94 91 KY : 34 22 44 47 MI : 24 15 50 52 MI : 2 1 5 8 MN : 92 45 81 68 MN : 6 2 6 6 MO : 98 89 93 90 MO : 50 28 43 34 NE : 86 67 84 84 NE : 11 4 6 10 NC : 100 96 100 100 NC : 71 65 70 72 OH : 32 17 36 63 OH : 1 0 6 9 PA : 50 30 55 49 PA : 10 7 14 10 SD : 85 60 75 69 SD : 7 2 6 7 TX : 96 92 98 96 TX : 86 76 83 84 WI : 50 25 45 57 WI : 4 1 5 7 : : 17 Sts: 82 59 77 79 17 Sts: 15 9 14 16 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 17 States produced 90% of the These 17 States produced 92% of the 1996 corn crop. 1996 corn crop. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 68 57 49 51 AL : 8 3 9 7 AR : 40 23 43 36 AR : 14 7 16 11 GA : 76 64 62 59 GA : 7 1 2 4 IL : 91 76 69 86 IL : 46 11 15 33 IN : 95 84 77 93 IN : 27 6 11 29 IA : 99 81 81 89 IA : 56 7 19 28 KS : 89 80 81 84 KS : 30 6 14 20 KY : 56 35 51 56 KY : 11 7 3 7 LA : 90 75 74 69 LA : 60 41 41 33 MI : 70 51 66 86 MI : 8 3 6 13 MN : 99 96 97 90 MN : 69 14 18 20 MS : 77 68 71 68 MS : 47 34 31 27 MO : 82 60 53 67 MO : 25 4 10 13 NE : 98 91 89 93 NE : 30 5 18 32 NC : 29 24 33 33 NC : 4 0 5 2 OH : 88 74 69 92 OH : 19 4 11 25 SC : 24 17 14 16 SC : 2 0 2 1 SD : 99 94 95 91 SD : 36 8 12 18 TN : 58 38 64 57 TN : 6 2 4 4 : : 19 Sts: 86 72 73 80 19 Sts: 37 9 15 23 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the These 19 States produced 94% of the 1996 soybean crop. 1996 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 4 1 9 8 AR : 1 0 4 3 CA : 0 0 1 1 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 93 81 77 87 CO : 76 48 49 61 GA : 1 1 2 4 GA : 0 0 1 2 ID : 59 40 58 56 ID : 25 16 18 21 IL : 12 3 5 13 IL : 1 0 1 2 IN : 20 11 13 21 IN : 5 4 2 3 KS : 60 32 50 61 KS : 28 15 22 32 MI : 40 21 27 40 MI : 10 5 10 17 MO : 20 7 15 16 MO : 4 0 4 4 MT : 77 66 60 62 MT : 38 34 15 20 NE : 93 72 83 91 NE : 68 50 48 65 NC : 10 8 14 15 NC : 0 0 0 0 OH : 19 2 11 24 OH : 1 0 3 3 OK : 60 28 43 58 OK : 22 9 17 23 OR : 50 24 31 40 OR : 21 8 9 14 SD : 95 86 71 89 SD : 70 54 47 68 TX : 59 49 73 60 TX : 34 24 49 36 WA : 90 78 87 78 WA : 72 55 67 59 : : 19 Sts: 58 40 51 56 19 Sts: 32 21 27 31 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the These 19 States produced 92% of the 1996 winter wheat crop. 1996 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 71 61 85 78 AL : 8 6 25 20 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AZ : 30 25 20 24 AR : 90 79 94 86 AR : 15 5 27 21 CA : 100 100 100 99 CA : 15 10 14 10 GA : 77 69 86 83 GA : 10 6 19 18 LA : 97 91 100 98 LA : 40 21 44 45 MS : 88 85 99 97 MS : 21 8 46 36 MO : 97 85 91 85 MO : 20 5 30 21 NM : 84 80 91 86 NM : 3 2 9 3 NC : 79 65 92 94 NC : 3 1 15 14 OK : 62 49 55 54 OK : 1 0 1 7 SC : 77 70 89 87 SC : 8 6 32 17 TN : 92 83 98 96 TN : 13 3 36 22 TX : 76 65 65 62 TX : 23 20 19 27 : : 14 Sts: 83 74 82 79 14 Sts: 18 12 24 24 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 14 States produced 99% of the These 14 States produced 98% of the 1996 cotton crop. 1996 cotton crop. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 92 100 98 CO : 14 4 32 40 IL : 71 38 53 69 KS : 73 51 69 59 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 96 92 100 100 MO : 84 69 79 74 NE : 87 71 68 68 NM : 14 9 35 31 OK : 67 56 45 34 SD : 88 62 85 68 TX : 86 78 87 86 : 12 Sts: 78 63 74 69 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1996 sorghum crop. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 81 72 88 85 AL : 74 66 40 NA CO : 2 1 7 5 FL : 78 61 59 NA IL : 4 1 4 9 GA : 65 50 43 NA KS : 23 11 15 16 NC : 10 6 18 NA LA : 99 95 98 93 OK : 12 2 19 NA MS : 93 76 91 91 SC : 45 34 41 NA MO : 36 21 29 34 TX : 27 19 11 NA NE : 13 2 2 9 VA : 27 9 50 NA NM : 2 0 0 5 : OK : 12 7 15 14 8 Sts : 49 37 34 NA SD : 12 3 12 7 -------------------------------------- TX : 61 58 65 73 These 8 States produced 99% of the : 1996 peanut crop. 12 Sts: 36 28 33 37 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1996 sorghum crop. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 5, :Sep 28,:Oct 5, : 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 58 85 78 CA : 70 60 42 41 LA : 96 92 98 95 MS : 84 66 86 80 TX : 93 87 100 96 : 5 Sts : 82 69 81 77 -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 97% of the 1996 rice 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 5 21 55 14 AL : 5 16 48 29 2 GA : 1 8 39 46 6 AR : 2 13 37 40 8 IL : 2 10 37 45 6 GA : 15 24 40 20 1 IN : 2 8 35 48 7 IL : 2 9 32 49 8 IA : 1 5 27 53 14 IN : 2 6 33 49 10 KS : 1 4 18 61 16 IA : 1 4 26 53 16 KY : 5 15 45 33 2 KS : 0 2 20 61 17 MI : 2 9 36 42 11 KY : 1 10 35 45 9 MN : 1 3 20 58 18 LA : 4 18 27 46 5 MO : 9 19 40 29 3 MI : 2 7 37 41 13 NE : 2 6 25 51 16 MN : 1 5 26 56 12 NC : 3 13 32 49 3 MS : 2 7 30 47 14 OH : 1 6 24 50 19 MO : 2 15 37 40 6 PA : 13 29 33 23 2 NE : 1 11 37 43 8 SD : 0 3 10 54 33 NC : 5 14 21 53 7 TX : 0 0 3 66 31 OH : 1 5 23 50 21 WI : 1 2 11 57 29 SC : 3 15 37 40 5 : SD : 1 5 15 51 28 17 Sts : 2 7 27 50 14 TN : 1 5 26 50 18 : : Prev Wk : 2 7 26 51 14 19 Sts : 2 8 29 49 12 Prev Yr : 2 7 26 48 17 : -------------------------------------- Prev Wk : 2 8 30 49 11 Prev Yr : 2 8 31 48 11 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 11 69 13 1 AZ : 0 6 20 50 24 AR : 1 12 38 40 9 CA : 0 0 15 60 25 GA : 4 14 36 40 6 LA : 4 13 45 33 5 MS : 1 7 37 43 12 MO : 0 20 36 43 1 NM : 0 3 27 61 9 NC : 3 11 38 44 4 OK : 0 1 18 73 8 SC : 2 11 31 48 8 TN : 1 5 22 62 10 TX : 1 9 28 51 11 : 14 Sts : 2 9 32 47 10 : Prev Wk : 2 11 33 46 8 Prev Yr : 2 12 29 44 13 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 24 29 38 8 1 FL : 0 6 64 29 1 GA : 4 18 47 29 2 NC : 2 14 48 36 0 OK : 0 2 35 60 3 SC : 4 12 35 48 1 TX : 9 16 35 32 8 VA : 5 21 35 35 4 : 8 Sts : 7 17 43 30 3 : Prev Wk : 5 21 42 27 5 Prev Yr : 2 8 36 45 9 -------------------------------------- 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 : 4 26 44 25 1 :: NJ : 0 0 60 40 0 AZ : 8 9 27 45 11 :: NM : 1 7 26 60 6 AR : 4 26 37 31 2 :: NY : 0 7 14 75 4 CA : 5 25 35 35 0 :: NC : 4 11 35 46 4 CO : 4 5 22 58 11 :: ND : 13 36 34 17 0 CT : 0 0 29 71 0 :: OH : 2 9 34 46 9 DE : 4 28 46 22 0 :: OK : 3 10 30 49 8 FL : 0 10 50 35 5 :: OR : 4 5 46 34 11 GA : 2 19 48 29 2 :: PA : 5 20 35 40 0 ID : 0 9 16 53 22 :: RI : 0 0 20 53 27 IL : 3 13 36 43 5 :: SC : 5 30 43 21 1 IN : 12 21 40 24 3 :: SD : 1 2 22 58 17 IA : 8 18 27 37 10 :: TN : 3 13 37 42 5 KS : 2 6 28 58 6 :: TX : 6 22 43 26 3 KY : 9 23 39 26 3 :: UT : 0 3 7 71 19 LA : 2 18 48 30 2 :: VT : 0 0 55 37 8 ME : 0 19 26 18 37 :: VA : 12 32 45 11 0 MD : 4 12 42 40 2 :: WA : 2 18 38 41 1 MA : 3 7 20 70 0 :: WV : 3 10 30 52 5 MI : 1 11 52 28 8 :: WI : 0 2 25 59 14 MN : 5 11 38 42 4 :: WY : 2 2 11 69 16 MS : 6 17 31 42 4 :: : MO : 3 15 43 37 2 :: 48 Sts : 4 15 34 41 6 MT : 7 14 37 37 5 :: : NE : 6 17 32 42 3 :: Prev Wk: 4 14 34 42 6 NV : 0 0 10 77 13 :: Prev Yr: 3 11 34 44 8 NH : 0 6 40 54 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 October 15, 1997. 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