HDR1012000170101021971200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN Released October 21, 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 October 13 - 19, 1997 HIGHLIGHTS: Ideal weather conditions in the central and eastern Corn Belt allowed fall harvest activity to surge ahead of normal. The largest percentage increase for a week in row-crop harvest activity was recorded in Illinois and Indiana. Some storage shortages were encountered as grain bins filled rapidly, and some elevators only accepted low-moisture corn. Many producers in the Corn Belt concentrated on completing the soybean harvest and planted winter wheat, while waiting for a frost to reduce corn moisture levels before completing the corn harvest. Heavy rains in the central Great Plains slowed row-crop harvest activity, but brought needed moisture to seeded and emerged winter wheat. Favorable conditions along the Pacific Coast allowed fieldwork and seedbed preparation to advance. Dry weather in Florida caused citrus caretakers and vegetable producers to irrigate. Winter wheat in the 19 major producing States was 83 percent (%) planted, 1 percentage point ahead of the 5-year average. The Great Plains and Midwestern States received moisture early in the week that helped germination of wheat already seeded and aided wheat emergence. Some Kansas wheat producers were waiting for fields to dry before seeding their last wheat. Dry weather in the eastern Corn Belt allowed planting progress to advance following the rapid row-crop harvest, with Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio over 10 points ahead of the 5-year average. Winter wheat emerged for the major producing States was 63% complete, up 16 points from last week and 5 points ahead of the average. Wheat condition in the 19 major producing States was rated as 70% good to excellent. Corn in the 17 major producing States was 48% harvested, up 21 points from the previous week and 13 points ahead of the average. Eastern Corn Belt farmers took advantage of ideal fall conditions by pushing the corn harvest significantly ahead of schedule. The first killing frost occurred in the central Corn Belt, and producers hoped it would accelerate the drying of corn for harvest. Producers in the western Corn Belt reported that high winds and corn borer damage caused lodging, stalk breakage, and ear drop. Corn moisture content in Indiana was over 20%, slightly wetter than the usual moisture content. Corn mature at 96% complete was up 5 points from last week and 2 points ahead of normal. Cotton condition was 58 percent good to excellent in the 14 major producing States, down slightly from last week. Cotton bolls were opening on 93% of the cotton acreage, up 5 points from the previous week and 4 points ahead of the average for the Nation. Cotton acreage harvested was estimated at 40%, up 13 points from last week and 4 points behind the average. Cotton condition declined slightly in Texas due to heavy rains that lowered quality and caused lint loss on the later crop along the Upper Coast. Harvest activity resumed in the Texas Blacklands and Plains as fields dried. Cotton defoliation made good progress in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, while harvest in the desert neared completion. California's harvested cotton fields were shredded and disked for pink bollworm control. Louisiana cotton harvested at 92% complete was 15 points ahead of the average due to favorable weather. Sorghum acreage was mature at 94% complete, up 5 points from last week and 5 points ahead of the average. Persistent dry weather allowed the crop to mature quickly in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Sorghum harvest at 58% was up 12 points from the previous week and 3 points ahead of the average. Harvest activity advanced in Illinois from last week by 29 points. Nebraska sorghum harvest, at 54% complete, was 23 points ahead of the average. Rice harvest reached 95% complete, 3 points ahead of the average, and 1 point ahead of last year. Rice harvest in California, at 96% complete, was up 6 points from last week and 18 points ahead of normal. In Texas, rice harvest activity was slowed by wet conditions along the Upper Coast and was 3 points behind the average. Soybean acreage harvested, at 76% complete, was up 12 points from the previous week and 11 points ahead of the average. Ideal harvesting weather in parts of the Corn Belt spurred harvest activity and pushed soybean development beyond the frost damage stage. The percentage of soybean acreage harvested was at least 10 points ahead of normal in the Corn Belt. Missouri, soybean harvest is the most advanced since 1987. The soybean harvest slowed in Nebraska, where producers waited for a hard freeze to eliminate harvesting problems from green stems. Soybeans harvested in Minnesota, at 97% complete, were 20 points ahead of the average. Nationwide, soybean leaves were dropping on 96% of the acreage, 2 points ahead of last year. National Weather Summary Volume 84, No. 42 October 12 - 18, 1997 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: A strong cold front swept eastward, reaching the East Coast by midweek, ending a spell of late-season warmth across the Central and Eastern States. After heavy early-week rains, breezy, dry conditions allowed for a rapid return to summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting across the Plains and Midwest. Widespread frost and freezing temperatures occurred in the Midwest and Northeast from midweek onward, approximately on schedule, having no effect on already mature crops. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 6 degrees F below normal from Missouri southwestward to New Mexico, and ranged from 2 to 5 degrees F below normal from Iowa to Ohio. Much-needed dry weather returned to coastal Texas after a final day of torrential rain on Monday. Farther west, persistent high pressure over the interior West generated strong offshore (Santa Ana) winds across southern California, resulting in several daily-record highs and weekly departures of +4 to +9 degrees F. Late in the week, a low-pressure system developed near the southern Atlantic Coast, producing heavy, but much-needed, rainfall. Early in the week, heavy rain fell across the Plains and Midwest as the cold front punched eastward. On Sunday, daily-record rainfall was reported in a half-dozen cities, including Pierre, SD (2.04 inches) and Des Moines, IA (2.02 inches). By Monday, rain changed to snow flurries across the upper Midwest. In Rochester, Monday's light snow fell 2 days after a high of 76 degrees F and 10 days after an October-record high of 93 degrees F. In North Dakota, highs on Monday struggled to just 33 degrees F in Bismarck and Jamestown. A handful of daily-record lows were established in the front's wake, including 31 degrees F in Wenatchee, WA on Sunday, 22 degrees F in Pueblo, CO on Monday, and 37 degrees F in San Angelo, TX on Tuesday. Temperatures rebounded quickly on the Plains, returning to highs in the 60's and 70's by late in the week. In Wyoming, daily-record highs were tied on Friday in Casper (77 degrees F) and Rawlins (71 degrees F). Farther west, highs on Thursday in southern California soared to daily-record levels in Chatsworth (101 degrees F) and Lompoc (98 degrees F). A day later, Redmond, OR noted a daily-record high of 85 degrees F. A final heavy day of rain in Texas, on October 13, resulted in daily-record totals in Brownsville (4.60 inches), Victoria (2.97 inches), and Corpus Christi (2.18 inches). Victoria's 1997 rainfall reached 62.66 inches, surpassing their annual record set in 1919, and their daily-record total was their 14th such event this year. By storm's end, monthly rainfall in Texas reached 14.04 inches in Sarita, 13.77 inches in Brownsville, and an October-record 11.92 inches in Corpus Christi. Along the east coast, disturbances traveling along a stalled front brought rain from Florida to New England at week's end. One to 2-inch totals relieved long-term dryness in the mid-Atlantic States. Extremely cold weather expanded across much of Alaska during the week, holding temperatures 5 to 12 degrees F below normal. On Sunday, Northway notched a daily-record low of -7 degrees F. The Denali National Park Airstrip recorded -11 degrees F. Later in the week, the daily-record chill shifted westward and southward to the coasts, producing lows of 7 degrees F in King Salmon on Thursday and 2 degrees F in Kotzebue on Friday. Corn: Percent Mature, Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 99 94 98 92 CO : 53 30 33 28 GA : 100 100 100 100 GA : 97 97 95 95 IL : 98 93 93 97 IL : 59 28 33 42 IN : 98 94 92 98 IN : 25 15 22 33 IA : 100 99 97 99 IA : 49 22 16 27 KS : 100 99 100 100 KS : 78 64 68 68 KY : 100 94 100 99 KY : 75 60 73 72 MI : 79 55 92 82 MI : 7 5 13 17 MN : 99 97 99 88 MN : 59 22 24 24 MO : 100 100 100 99 MO : 69 59 61 54 NE : 99 94 100 99 NE : 45 20 21 28 NC : 100 100 100 100 NC : 87 82 86 86 OH : 76 64 77 87 OH : 13 4 14 22 PA : 77 62 80 77 PA : 25 17 29 26 SD : 99 96 98 90 SD : 32 20 17 20 TX : 98 97 100 100 TX : 93 90 94 95 WI : 88 75 79 80 WI : 13 6 11 19 : : 17 Sts: 96 91 95 94 17 Sts: 48 27 29 35 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 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 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 91 85 83 75 AL : 37 21 29 23 AR : 72 56 75 67 AR : 34 24 36 33 GA : 89 84 85 85 GA : 16 12 10 10 IL : 99 98 96 99 IL : 89 81 56 78 IN : 100 100 100 100 IN : 87 72 50 75 IA : 100 100 99 100 IA : 94 88 80 81 KS : 98 97 95 97 KS : 59 54 57 57 KY : 87 82 85 88 KY : 32 18 21 27 LA : 98 95 97 91 LA : 86 72 81 62 MI : 100 99 100 100 MI : 60 27 36 46 MN : 99 99 99 99 MN : 97 91 93 77 MS : 92 82 91 86 MS : 69 55 64 52 MO : 100 94 91 94 MO : 60 45 43 47 NE : 100 100 100 100 NE : 79 63 87 82 NC : 68 47 67 68 NC : 12 9 8 8 OH : 100 98 94 99 OH : 84 50 42 69 SC : 36 28 40 39 SC : 6 3 5 3 SD : 100 100 100 100 SD : 82 73 79 65 TN : 89 75 90 89 TN : 25 13 17 20 : : 19 Sts: 96 93 94 95 19 Sts: 76 64 59 65 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 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 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 30 16 31 28 AR : 11 3 10 12 CA : 3 1 9 5 CA : 0 0 1 1 CO : 99 97 97 97 CO : 89 85 86 87 GA : 3 3 6 8 GA : 1 1 3 4 ID : 86 75 89 83 ID : 54 45 50 47 IL : 85 55 53 66 IL : 45 9 20 27 IN : 81 51 55 69 IN : 41 17 23 30 KS : 92 90 92 93 KS : 77 52 70 69 MI : 86 64 76 80 MI : 64 38 36 51 MO : 61 44 48 48 MO : 33 17 22 24 MT : 96 90 94 87 MT : 74 66 58 55 NE : 99 97 99 100 NE : 95 87 88 94 NC : 18 15 24 25 NC : 0 0 6 7 OH : 88 50 60 75 OH : 37 9 24 34 OK : 83 78 88 86 OK : 53 38 54 52 OR : 81 72 79 71 OR : 53 33 41 37 SD : 99 98 96 99 SD : 95 85 80 89 TX : 73 67 90 76 TX : 52 42 77 57 WA : 99 94 97 94 WA : 90 80 88 76 : : 19 Sts: 83 76 83 82 19 Sts: 63 47 60 58 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 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 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 97 85 94 89 AL : 37 20 51 45 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AZ : 45 38 34 48 AR : 95 94 99 96 AR : 41 30 65 56 CA : 100 100 100 100 CA : 40 25 40 34 GA : 89 83 91 88 GA : 35 21 43 36 LA : 100 99 100 100 LA : 92 57 81 76 MS : 100 91 100 100 MS : 61 36 76 63 MO : 100 100 100 96 MO : 43 39 61 57 NM : 100 97 99 98 NM : 10 6 20 14 NC : 93 88 100 99 NC : 18 8 33 32 OK : 73 68 70 70 OK : 12 5 9 19 SC : 91 89 96 94 SC : 22 14 52 36 TN : 100 96 100 99 TN : 42 27 71 52 TX : 90 83 85 78 TX : 30 25 24 35 : : 14 Sts: 93 88 92 89 14 Sts: 40 27 45 44 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 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 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 74 45 72 77 IL : 95 90 90 90 KS : 96 91 92 87 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 98 100 100 MO : 95 93 92 92 NE : 96 95 92 95 NM : 80 45 36 62 OK : 86 80 74 67 SD : 99 95 97 92 TX : 93 90 97 94 : 12 Sts: 94 89 92 89 -------------------------------------- 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 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 95 89 96 95 AL : 93 88 67 NA CO : 7 3 35 27 FL : 97 96 78 NA IL : 52 23 17 36 GA : 88 79 71 NA KS : 52 35 42 43 NC : 50 21 52 NA LA : 100 100 100 99 OK : 43 24 46 NA MS : 97 95 97 98 SC : 69 56 71 NA MO : 59 48 56 56 TX : 40 33 34 NA NE : 54 35 14 31 VA : 88 74 84 NA NM : 20 6 1 12 : OK : 35 22 20 23 8 Sts : 73 63 61 NA SD : 47 29 50 39 -------------------------------------- TX : 70 66 71 81 These 8 States produced 99% of the : 1996 peanut crop. 12 Sts: 58 46 49 55 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1996 sorghum crop. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1992- State:Oct 19,:Oct 12,:Oct 19,: 1996 : 1997 : 1997 : 1996 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 87 98 93 CA : 96 90 73 78 LA : 99 99 100 99 MS : 97 92 100 94 TX : 97 95 100 100 : 5 Sts : 95 91 94 92 -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 97% of the 1996 rice crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 0 5 22 58 15 AL : 4 16 43 35 2 CA : 0 0 55 45 0 AZ : 0 3 21 52 24 CO : 1 5 26 54 14 AR : 0 7 32 44 17 GA : 0 0 38 54 8 CA : 0 0 10 60 30 ID : 0 0 2 86 12 GA : 4 15 38 36 7 IL : 0 2 25 66 7 LA : 3 11 43 37 6 IN : 2 2 42 48 6 MS : 0 6 24 44 26 KS : 0 1 19 65 15 MO : 0 20 36 43 1 MI : 0 2 27 58 13 NM : 4 6 20 55 15 MO : 0 2 35 57 6 NC : 1 9 35 52 3 MT : 4 13 49 30 4 OK : 0 1 19 65 15 NE : 1 2 30 60 7 SC : 1 6 29 54 10 NC : 0 1 16 70 13 TN : 1 5 22 62 10 OH : 1 5 34 51 9 TX : 4 12 32 42 10 OK : 0 1 27 68 4 : OR : 0 0 17 80 3 14 Sts : 2 10 30 46 12 SD : 0 1 10 53 36 : TX : 4 10 35 43 8 Prev Wk : 2 7 32 47 12 WA : 0 0 23 72 5 Prev Yr : 3 10 28 44 15 : -------------------------------------- 19 Sts : 1 3 26 60 10 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------- 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 : 7 26 39 28 0 :: NJ : 0 0 70 30 0 AZ : 10 10 24 41 15 :: NM : 0 7 28 60 5 AR : 2 20 44 32 2 :: NY : 0 0 57 43 0 CA : 5 20 40 35 0 :: NC : 4 15 42 37 2 CO : 3 6 23 46 22 :: ND : 17 33 37 13 0 CT : 0 3 55 42 0 :: OH : 6 14 39 34 7 DE : 6 30 38 26 0 :: OK : 2 9 35 50 4 FL : 0 25 30 45 0 :: OR : 0 2 45 36 17 GA : 3 18 48 30 1 :: PA : 5 20 33 40 2 ID : 0 5 30 45 20 :: RI : 0 0 13 87 0 IL : 4 16 43 35 2 :: SC : 4 18 47 30 1 IN : 14 21 36 27 2 :: SD : 1 3 21 59 16 IA : 6 20 36 32 6 :: TN : 2 13 38 42 5 KS : 2 7 32 55 4 :: TX : 5 15 43 32 5 KY : 14 31 35 18 2 :: UT : 0 4 14 61 21 LA : 4 18 50 26 2 :: VT : 0 37 27 36 0 ME : 0 0 45 55 0 :: VA : 20 30 40 10 0 MD : 3 14 41 40 2 :: WA : 0 12 54 33 1 MA : 5 14 81 0 0 :: WV : 10 16 36 35 3 MI : 4 21 48 22 5 :: WI : 0 6 32 56 6 MN : 4 16 34 39 7 :: WY : 2 3 16 65 14 MS : 2 16 38 40 4 :: : MO : 2 13 41 43 1 :: 48 Sts : 4 14 36 41 5 MT : 4 15 35 40 6 :: : NE : 5 16 31 46 2 :: Prev Wk: 5 14 36 39 6 NV : 0 0 0 95 5 :: Prev Yr: 3 12 36 42 7 NH : 0 13 53 34 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 28, 1997. 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