Released April 28, 1998, 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 (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Agricultural Summary April 20 - 26, 1998 Highlights: Temperatures averaged above normal across most of the northern half of the Nation, allowing fieldwork and planting to accelerate. The warm weather also promoted crop emergence and growth. Planting and fieldwork also increased in California and the Southwest, where much warmer temperatures replaced the cooler weather that had prevailed for 3 weeks. Below-normal temperatures hampered crop development, and rain delayed fieldwork across much of the Southeast. Winter wheat: Winter wheat headed increased to 14 percent, slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Warm weather continued to promote rapid development in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Development was especially advanced in Arkansas, with almost three quarters of the crop headed. In Kansas, most of the crop was in the jointing stage, but none had reached the heading stage. Warm weather also provided excellent growing conditions in the northern Plains. The soft red winter wheat crop in the eastern Corn Belt continued to develop ahead of normal as well, with a small percentage of the crop headed. Fields in southern Texas were rapidly maturing. Nationally, conditions remained nearly unchanged, but in northern Texas, rain was needed to prevent further crop deterioration. Corn: Fifteen percent of the intended corn crop has been planted, 2 percentage points behind this time last year, but equal to the 5-year average. Excellent planting weather in States along the fringes of the Corn Belt offset slow progress elsewhere. Above-normal temperatures and dry conditions allowed farmers in Minnesota and Kansas to plant at a near record pace. Good weather also permitted excellent progress in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri. Planting got underway near midweek across the heart of the Corn Belt, but progress was slow and remained behind normal due to rainy weather and continued muddy field conditions. Planting remained ahead of the 5-year average in Texas, where planting continued in the High Plains. Recently planted fields were emerging, with good stands and remained in good condition despite continued windy, dry weather. Cotton: Planting progress increased to 15 percent, 5 percentage points behind this time last year and 7 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Progress was slowed by below-normal temperatures and rain across parts of the Southeast. In the southern Plains, warm soil temperatures provided ideal conditions for planting. Early-planted fields were emerging, with good stands despite dry soils. Cotton planting in the Southwest remained well behind normal despite much warmer temperatures that allowed farmers to substantially accelerate planting. Cotton fields in the desert areas were squaring and setting bolls. Rice: Rice farmers advanced their planting to 54 percent of the intended acreage, 13 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Mississippi growers made excellent progress, nearly doubling planted acres in spite of rain that delayed fieldwork in some areas. California growers had not started planting. Small grains: Aided by excellent weather, farmers made rapid progress planting small grains. Spring wheat seeded advanced to 36 percent, more than double the normal rate of 15 percent. Barley planted substantially increased to 33 percent, also well ahead of the normal pace. Oats seeded advanced to 48 percent of intended acres, compared with 27 percent normally planted by this date. Planting progress advanced most in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but other States made good progress as well. Warm weather promoted rapid germination of many previously planted small grains. Other crops: Sorghum planting advanced slightly to 18 percent, 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Progress was limited to the southern Plains and the Mississippi Delta States. Peanut planting was slowed by rain and advanced only 2 percent from the previous week. Rain delayed progress most in Georgia and South Carolina, where one fifth of the crop would normally be planted by this date. Sugar beet planting was ahead of normal across most of the northern Plains and Rocky Mountain States, and many early-planted fields were emerging. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 17 April 19 - 25, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Warmer and slightly drier weather in the Corn Belt allowed for some fieldwork and planting. Similar improvement occurred in California and the Southwest. In the East, early- to midweek rains were replaced by beneficial late-week dryness, while on the Plains, warm weather spurred wheat planting and development. Short-term dryness (5 weeks) persisted across parts of Texas, the immediate Gulf Coast, and most of Florida. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 9 degrees F below normal in the Southeast, but ranged from 2 to 9 degrees F above normal in the West and across the Nation's northern tier. During the first half of the week, cool air lingered across the Plains and Midwest. On Sunday, lows dipped to the freezing mark (32 degrees F) as far south as Lubbock, TX. Two days later, San Angelo, TX (38 degrees F) posted a daily-record low. From April 22-25, more than a dozen daily-record lows were set across the Gulf Coast region, including 42 degrees F in College Station, TX on Wednesday, and 45 degrees F in Baton Rouge, LA on Friday. Warmth arrived along the West Coast on Tuesday, where Oakland, CA notched a daily-record high of 82 degrees F. Two days later, daily records were established in Blanding, UT (80 degrees F) and Glasgow, MT (82 degrees F). Farther south, highs on Wednesday soared to 100 degrees F in Thermal, CA and 101 degrees F in Yuma, AZ. At week's end, highs rose to 87 degrees F in Topeka, KS and 93 degrees F in Lubbock. Weekly rainfall ranged from 1 to 3 inches along the Appalachian Cordillera, continuing a wet spell that pushed monthly rainfall (through April 26) to 10.46 inches in Knoxville, TN and 9.59 inches in Athens, GA. Late in the week, wet weather returned to parts of the West and Midwest. During a 24-hour period on April 25-26, 4 inches of new snow fell on Arizona's Mt. Lemmon. In Iowa, 2.40 inches of rain drenched Sioux City during the same period. In contrast, monthly rainfall through the 26th was as low as 0.02 inches in Daytona Beach, FL, 0.05 inches in San Antonio, TX, and 0.07 inches in New Orleans, LA. San Antonio's driest April on record (0.11 inches) occurred in 1984. The Mississippi River crest passed Caruthersville, MO on Saturday, about 6.1 feet above flood stage (afs). Two days later, on April 27, the river was cresting in Memphis, TN, approximately 0.7 feet below flood stage. The lower Ohio River remained in flood at week's end, with the crest approaching Shawneetown, IL (8.7 feet afs on April 26). Alaska remained in a very mild pattern, as weekly temperatures ranged from 2 to 13 degrees F above normal. On April 24-25, Cold Bay logged consecutive daily-record highs (48 and 49 degrees F). Anchorage also tallied a record (58 degrees F) on Saturday. Meanwhile, Hawaii's 6-month drought continued. With 0.03 inches during the week, Honolulu's year-to-date rainfall reached 1.55 inches (17 percent of normal). Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 14 2 10 15 GA : 82 77 92 93 IL : 7 1 33 17 IN : 3 0 26 11 IA : 3 0 3 11 KS : 55 12 18 26 KY : 32 27 34 29 MI : 5 0 0 1 MN : 26 0 8 7 MO : 30 14 21 28 NE : 12 1 5 10 NC : 51 46 77 68 OH : 4 2 34 13 PA : 7 *5 7 4 SD : 8 0 0 1 TX : 74 60 60 66 WI : 4 0 3 2 : 17 Sts: 15 5 17 15 -------------------------------------- * Revised. These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 74 47 69 48 CA : 85 60 98 95 CO : 0 0 0 0 GA : 66 43 92 79 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 1 0 0 0 IN : 5 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 2 1 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 8 1 5 4 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 35 20 33 35 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 31 12 31 27 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 39 28 41 35 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 19 Sts: 14 8 15 13 -------------------------------------- These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 27 19 24 31 AZ : 52 31 74 75 AR : 2 0 4 8 CA : 25 10 87 67 GA : 10 8 12 20 LA : 13 1 9 16 MS : 5 2 9 17 MO : 3 0 3 3 NM : 25 10 57 43 NC : 9 7 8 11 OK : 7 0 0 1 SC : 6 4 14 17 TN : 3 0 3 5 TX : 19 16 15 18 : 14 Sts: 15 10 20 22 -------------------------------------- These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 47 31 47 35 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 31 22 48 31 MS : 44 23 46 45 MO : 2 0 2 4 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 1 OK : 4 2 3 4 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 50 48 48 56 : 12 Sts: 18 17 18 20 -------------------------------------- These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 65 41 62 63 MN : 33 3 1 12 MT : 40 16 9 22 ND : 23 3 0 6 SD : 70 38 2 23 : 5 Sts : 36 12 4 15 -------------------------------------- These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 55 37 42 39 CA : 0 0 13 4 LA : 85 77 70 64 MS : 64 35 75 57 TX : 82 73 23 56 : 5 Sts : 54 41 43 41 -------------------------------------- These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 48 22 77 65 MI : 64 *50 63 26 MN : 56 16 22 21 NE : 79 38 70 67 ND : 16 2 0 3 OH : 72 64 78 49 PA : 63 50 58 43 SD : 68 28 4 23 WI : 46 10 35 23 : 9 Sts : 48 21 31 27 -------------------------------------- * Revised. These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 47 30 42 51 MN : 30 3 2 9 MT : 38 13 9 23 ND : 15 1 0 5 SD : 67 26 1 17 WA : 77 73 43 53 : 6 Sts : 33 15 12 20 -------------------------------------- These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 6 32 53 9 CA : 0 0 30 35 35 CO : 5 6 16 40 33 GA : 1 6 28 57 8 ID : 0 1 5 60 34 IL : 1 2 16 66 15 IN : 0 2 13 58 27 KS : 0 3 17 57 23 MI : 1 4 11 53 31 MO : 1 11 31 48 9 MT : 2 10 27 50 11 NE : 1 6 22 59 12 NC : 1 13 29 53 4 OH : 0 1 12 53 34 OK : 0 2 15 79 4 OR : 0 0 9 69 22 SD : 0 1 8 62 29 TX : 1 8 39 44 8 WA : 0 0 9 66 25 : 19 Sts : 1 4 20 57 18 : Prev Wk : 0 4 20 58 18 Prev Yr : 5 14 33 41 7 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 6 11 15 FL : 9 1 13 NA GA : 5 2 13 21 NC : 3 1 3 4 OK : 6 1 0 0 SC : 2 0 21 20 TX : 1 0 0 2 VA : 4 1 4 6 : 8 Sts : 4 2 8 12 -------------------------------------- These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. VP=Very poor, P=Poor, F=Fair, G=Good, E=Excellent National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1997 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 p.m. ET on May 5, 1998. 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's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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