Released July 14, 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 July 6 - 12, 1998 Highlights: Extreme heat continued in the southern Plains, Mississippi Delta, and Southeast, further deteriorating crops. In the Corn Belt, crops benefited as seasonable temperatures prevailed and soil moisture supplies were restocked by additional rains. Warm, humid weather sped small grain and row crop development in the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. Crop growth accelerated in California due to warmer weather. Rain interfered with the winter wheat harvest in the central Great Plains, but improved soil moisture levels. Corn: Twenty-four percent of the crop has silked, compared with 12 percent normally silked by this date. Silking progress accelerated across most of the Corn Belt and Great Plains, where hot, humid weather promoted rapid growth. Crop conditions generally improved in the Corn Belt, especially on well-drained soils. Plants in low-lying and poorly drained fields continued to exhibit uneven growth due to excessive moisture and lack of nitrogen. In the Ohio Valley and eastern Corn Belt, some fields were under standing water or contending with heavy weed pressures. Rain in the central Great Plains improved soil moisture levels and aided crop growth. In the southern Great Plains and southern Atlantic Coastal Plains, triple-digit temperatures and drought caused crop conditions to decline further. Soybeans: The Nation's soybean crop continued to develop ahead of normal, with 36 percent of the crop blooming and 5 percent setting pods. The crop was most advanced in the Southeast and Mississippi Delta, but development was hindered in those areas by extreme heat and dry soils. Warm weather, accompanied by adequate soil moisture levels, accelerated development in most of the Corn Belt and central Great Plains States. Farmers replanted previously drowned fields where soils were dry enough and planted double crop soybeans following winter wheat where soil moisture was adequate to germinate seeds. Winter Wheat: Harvest progress reached 76 percent, well ahead of the 63-percent 5-year average for this date. Combining was nearly complete in the southern Great Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Rain slowed harvest progress in the lower Ohio Valley and prevented farmers in Kansas and Texas from completing their harvest. In the central High Plains, harvest progress was temporarily delayed by isolated thunderstorms, but high temperatures dried soils that allowed farmers to quickly resume combining. Mostly sunny conditions prevailed in the eastern Corn Belt, allowing half of the crop to be harvested in Ohio and Michigan. Harvest was just beginning in the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. Cotton: Development continued slightly ahead of normal, with 81 percent squaring and 45 percent setting bolls. Growth improved, with warmer temperatures in the Southwest, but squaring is 1 week behind normal in Arizona and 3 to 4 weeks behind normal in California. In the southern Plains, irrigated fields made good progress setting bolls, while dryland fields continued to drop squares and bolls due to extreme heat and drought. Rain temporarily halted crop deterioration in the Mississippi Delta, but cotton conditions in the Southeast continued to decline due to drought conditions. Rice: Development remained more than 1 week ahead of normal, with 27 percent headed compared with 15 percent normally headed by this date. Early-seeded paddies were ripening fast in the western Gulf Coast rice-producing region. Heat stress was responsible for some blank heads, but conditions were mostly unchanged from the previous week. Small grains: Hot, dry weather pushed into the northern Plains, speeding development of small grains. Eighty-seven percent of the spring wheat and 83 percent of the barley had headed. Development of both crops remained well ahead of normal in the northern Plains States and Pacific Northwest due to above-normal temperatures. In Idaho, temperatures were near normal, but development of small grains remained behind normal. Oats headed was 93 percent, more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average of 81 percent. Other crops: Grain sorghum was 24 percent headed, slightly behind both last year and the 5-year average. Well over half of the crop was headed in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Texas. Harvest continued along the western Gulf Coast, where hot, dry conditions caused rapid maturing and some lodging. Peanuts pegging, at 61 percent, was slightly ahead of normal. Hot, dry weather continued to stress the crop in the eastern Gulf Coast peanut-producing area. The middle Atlantic Coast peanut-producing region has not suffered from extreme heat and dry weather. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 28 July 5 - 11, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Significant rain fell from the central Plains to the Southern Atlantic Coast, helping to extinguish some of Florida's wildfires and improving soil moisture throughout the region. Extremely hot (weekly temperatures 3 to 9 degrees F above normal), mostly dry weather persisted, however, from eastern New Mexico to Louisiana. Farther north, dry weather followed early-week rainfall in the Corn Belt, allowing soils to dry after a month-long period of above-normal precipitation. Rainfall also diminished on the northern Plains, where temperatures were up to 5 degrees F above normal, but occasional showers kept soils wet in parts of the Northeast, where departures ranged from -2 to -6 degrees F. In California's Central Valley, more than 2 months of cool weather ended as temperatures approached normal levels. Meanwhile, seasonal showers dotted the Four Corners region, and warm weather (as much as 7 degrees F above normal) continued for a second consecutive week in the interior Northwest. Extreme heat persisted across much of the South for the entire week. In Shreveport, LA, maxima reached triple digits on all 7 days, including consecutive daily-record highs of 105 degrees F on July 10-11. Tallahassee, FL notched another 3 days with highs at or above 100 degrees F (including 101 degrees F on July 5), bringing their yearly total to 16. Their former annual record of 12 days was set in 1931. In Little Rock, AR, a maximum of 104 degrees F on Monday was their highest since a 110-degree reading on July 31, 1986. Little Rock's highs reached triple digits for the first six times this year from July 5-10--including a high of 106 degrees F on Tuesday--surpassing last year's total of 3 days, but remaining far short of their record-setting years of 1954 (46 days) and 1980 (41 days). In Memphis, TN, maxima reached or exceeded 100 degrees F on 3 consecutive days (July 5-7)--including a daily-record-tying high of 102 degrees F on Monday--their first occurrence of more than a single 100-degree day in a year since 1990, when 8 such days were observed. Late-week clouds and rainfall ended Memphis' streak of 90-degree days at 31 (June 10 - July 10), well short of their 1980 record of 54 days. In Texas, however, little rain fell, as Houston marked their driest March 17 - July 11 period on record. This year's 4.52-inch total was less than the previous record total of 5.19 inches that fell during the same 117-day period in 1901. In Florida, heat continued despite scattered showers and thunderstorms. In Melbourne, where high temperatures were last below normal on April 25 (above normal on 77 consecutive days), daily-record highs have been set or tied on 28 days since June 1. Although Melbourne's July 6-11 rainfall totaled 4.22 inches, their March 21 - July 11 (113-day) total was only 6.17 inches (43 percent of normal). In nearby Orlando, July 6-11 rainfall was 2.04 inches, boosting their total since March 21 to 3.23 inches (22 percent of normal). More significant relief occurred in west-central Florida, where Tampa's July 1-11 rainfall reached 9.76 inches. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Nation's year-to-date wildfires burned 1.38 million acres (about 2,155 square miles) through July 13, 112 percent of the 10-year average. Of that acreage, nearly 70 percent (0.96 million acres) burned in the Southern Region, comprised of all or parts of 13 States from Oklahoma and Texas eastward. Meanwhile, temperatures again failed to reach triple digits in most of California's San Joaquin Valley. Highs peaked at 99 degrees F in Bakersfield (on July 8 and 9) and Fresno (on July 7 and 8), allowing the cities to mark their latest occurrences of 100-degree heat. The previous records were set on July 5, 1965, and July 6, 1958, respectively. Farther east, significant rain ended by midweek across the northern Plains and Midwest. Before then, however, Des Moines, IA netted a daily-record total (3.47 inches) on Monday. In the upper (southern) Red River Valley and adjoining areas, year-to-date rainfall through July 11 surpassed annual normals in several locations, including Fargo, ND (20.09 inches, including 16.20 inches since May 1). In Vermont, Burlington's monthly rainfall surpassed their July normal by the 8th, reaching 4.85 inches by July 11. May 31 - July 11 (42-day) rainfall in Burlington totaled 14.85 inches (307 percent of normal). During a 16-day period ending on July 11, 9.68 inches pelted Rochester, NY, fueled by daily-record totals on June 26 (1.65 inches), 30 (1.87 inches), July 4 (2.61 inches), and 8 (1.35 inches). Corn: Percent Silking, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 6 0 1 3 GA : 98 97 94 96 IL : 31 5 4 11 IN : 18 4 1 8 IA : 3 0 3 5 KS : 50 31 36 34 KY : 40 30 17 39 MI : 12 0 0 2 MN : 38 3 1 5 MO : 60 40 31 29 NE : 24 1 2 10 NC : 70 60 59 76 OH : 9 2 1 4 PA : 9 1 3 7 SD : 0 0 0 2 TX : 73 57 58 69 WI : 4 0 0 2 : 17 Sts: 24 8 8 12 -------------------------------------- These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Blooming, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 30 13 11 15 AR : 26 17 9 16 GA : 20 18 20 21 IL : 27 7 24 21 IN : 28 9 15 19 IA : 46 25 30 27 KS : 50 27 39 22 KY : 7 6 7 14 LA : 70 60 41 36 MI : 26 20 6 11 MN : 49 16 9 20 MS : 76 60 39 37 MO : 28 11 19 14 NE : 25 6 16 17 NC : 15 10 12 9 OH : 44 17 31 25 SC : 25 20 26 15 SD : 37 18 19 17 TN : 12 5 6 8 : 19 Sts: 36 17 21 21 -------------------------------------- These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Squaring, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 90 83 58 80 AZ : 92 82 99 98 AR : 100 96 97 97 CA : 25 *20 89 84 GA : 90 87 85 93 LA : 100 97 90 96 MS : 99 96 83 93 MO : 100 95 68 90 NM : 87 80 79 77 NC : 75 65 72 67 OK : 60 48 48 54 SC : 80 67 75 83 TN : 96 90 85 94 TX : 79 61 77 73 : 14 Sts: 81 71 80 82 -------------------------------------- * Revised. These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 12 NA 0 1 AR : 7 NA 2 6 GA : 3 NA 4 4 IL : 2 NA 1 1 IN : 0 NA 0 0 IA : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 6 NA 11 3 KY : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 39 NA 15 15 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 4 NA 0 1 MS : 44 NA 0 0 MO : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 1 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 4 NA 1 1 SC : 10 NA NA NA SD : 11 NA 1 0 TN : 0 NA 0 1 : 19 Sts: 5 NA 1 1 -------------------------------------- These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 45 28 14 25 AZ : 22 18 73 68 AR : 71 35 6 33 CA : 4 2 19 15 GA : 65 40 28 47 LA : 88 51 37 61 MS : 77 52 42 47 MO : 67 30 4 20 NM : 19 8 24 25 NC : 25 10 9 25 OK : 0 0 0 7 SC : 30 17 26 33 TN : 35 20 8 19 TX : 39 21 19 24 : 14 Sts: 45 26 21 31 -------------------------------------- These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 94 97 CA : 75 50 97 91 CO : 69 35 46 34 GA : 100 100 99 100 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 92 88 78 81 IN : 92 73 41 55 KS : 98 97 93 82 MI : 60 10 0 3 MO : 95 88 87 77 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 36 26 23 29 NC : 99 96 99 94 OH : 83 30 3 32 OK : 100 100 96 97 OR : 0 0 3 2 SD : 5 2 0 3 TX : 98 95 92 93 WA : 4 0 0 1 : 19 Sts: 76 69 66 63 -------------------------------------- These 19 States harvested 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 60 33 74 67 MN : 96 90 70 80 MT : 83 53 66 63 ND : 83 53 63 62 SD : 95 80 79 82 WA : 100 99 99 93 : 6 Sts : 83 59 69 68 -------------------------------------- These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Peanuts: Percent Pegging, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 65 56 47 50 FL : 57 50 84 NA GA : 69 66 61 76 NC : 55 45 42 26 OK : 73 59 71 50 SC : 50 40 53 26 TX : 45 26 36 42 VA : 70 60 19 NA : 8 Sts : 61 52 52 56 -------------------------------------- These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 60 34 76 70 MN : 97 90 73 81 MT : 93 69 74 68 ND : 80 60 63 57 SD : 98 86 83 85 : 5 Sts : 87 69 70 67 -------------------------------------- These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Oats: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 98 94 100 96 MI : 99 97 88 84 MN : 98 91 87 90 NE : 100 99 99 100 ND : 79 57 55 54 OH : 100 97 99 98 PA : 95 90 93 93 SD : 94 84 81 84 WI : 100 97 97 82 : 9 Sts : 93 84 83 81 -------------------------------------- These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 58 NA 15 27 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 2 NA 2 2 KS : 9 NA 14 5 LA : 61 NA 30 52 MS : 68 NA 62 52 MO : 20 NA 4 6 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 6 NA 8 10 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 54 NA 55 63 : 12 Sts: 24 NA 25 25 -------------------------------------- These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Jul 12,:Jul 5, :Jul 12,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 17 8 0 5 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 58 40 36 41 MS : 31 16 22 16 TX : 65 50 30 44 : 5 Sts : 27 17 11 15 -------------------------------------- These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 37 32 25 0 AR : 7 23 36 28 6 GA : 41 25 24 10 0 IL : 4 9 31 43 13 IN : 3 8 32 43 14 IA : 3 8 21 49 19 KS : 0 2 17 62 19 KY : 0 6 23 52 19 LA : 12 25 40 21 2 MI : 2 7 24 53 14 MN : 2 7 28 47 16 MS : 6 16 24 43 11 MO : 2 12 36 41 9 NE : 2 4 15 63 16 NC : 6 12 40 41 1 OH : 2 6 27 48 17 SC : 11 21 47 21 0 SD : 1 3 12 54 30 TN : 1 6 29 53 11 : 19 Sts : 3 9 27 47 14 : Prev Wk : 3 9 29 48 11 Prev Yr : 1 6 27 55 11 -------------------------------------- Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 3 16 56 25 GA : 46 19 19 16 0 IL : 5 11 25 46 13 IN : 3 9 30 42 16 IA : 3 8 19 47 23 KS : 1 5 19 62 13 KY : 1 8 16 53 22 MI : 2 9 24 51 14 MN : 1 5 21 51 22 MO : 1 9 29 46 15 NE : 0 4 19 61 16 NC : 10 22 35 31 2 OH : 2 6 23 50 19 PA : 1 3 20 62 14 SD : 1 2 8 51 38 TX : 23 25 30 20 2 WI : 0 2 13 46 39 : 17 Sts : 3 8 21 49 19 : Prev Wk : 3 7 24 50 16 Prev Yr : 1 4 22 56 17 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 12 39 33 15 1 AZ : 3 15 35 29 18 AR : 2 12 33 42 11 CA : 10 50 30 10 0 GA : 25 25 28 19 3 LA : 2 9 54 33 2 MS : 2 8 25 50 15 MO : 0 23 24 42 11 NM : 0 2 31 54 13 NC : 1 5 31 62 1 OK : 0 14 31 47 8 SC : 6 21 43 30 0 TN : 0 6 27 53 14 TX : 23 22 32 21 2 : 14 Sts : 14 21 31 29 5 : Prev Wk : 14 20 30 30 6 Prev Yr : 2 8 30 47 13 -------------------------------------- Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 0 6 22 50 22 MI : 1 16 44 35 4 MN : 1 7 24 59 9 NE : 3 4 18 46 29 ND : 0 3 28 58 11 OH : 0 5 25 60 10 PA : 1 2 25 60 12 SD : 0 2 11 64 23 WI : 0 3 18 65 14 : 9 Sts : 0 4 22 59 15 : Prev Wk : 0 4 21 60 15 Prev Yr : 2 8 31 48 11 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 21 37 34 4 CO : 0 6 20 68 6 IL : 10 13 29 45 3 KS : 1 5 21 65 8 LA : 2 23 48 24 3 MS : 7 9 33 50 1 MO : 0 11 39 44 6 NE : 0 2 23 68 7 NM : 32 39 19 9 1 OK : 3 31 45 20 1 SD : 0 1 8 79 12 TX : 24 25 36 13 2 : 12 Sts : 10 14 28 43 5 : Prev Wk : 8 15 33 40 4 Prev Yr : 0 3 22 61 14 -------------------------------------- Barley: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 0 0 3 58 39 MN : 7 15 26 46 6 MT : 1 9 36 46 8 ND : 1 4 21 55 19 SD : 0 2 16 61 21 WA : 0 5 33 48 14 : 6 Sts : 1 6 23 52 18 : Prev Wk : 1 6 24 52 17 Prev Yr : 1 10 27 51 11 -------------------------------------- Spring Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 0 0 3 64 33 MN : 4 12 29 48 7 MT : 2 10 32 48 8 ND : 1 4 26 52 17 SD : 0 1 15 58 26 : 5 Sts : 1 6 26 52 15 : Prev Wk : 1 5 27 52 15 Prev Yr : 3 15 32 45 5 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 9 30 53 8 0 FL : 0 12 69 19 0 GA : 16 24 31 27 2 NC : 0 0 2 98 0 OK : 0 8 46 45 1 SC : 13 30 42 15 0 TX : 6 13 37 34 10 VA : 0 1 19 73 7 : 8 Sts : 9 17 36 35 3 : Prev Wk : 9 20 34 33 4 Prev Yr : 0 2 25 63 10 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 4 30 51 14 CA : 0 0 50 50 0 LA : 1 3 36 51 9 MS : 1 3 24 65 7 TX : 0 3 34 56 7 : 5 Sts : 1 3 34 53 9 : Prev Wk : 1 5 33 51 10 Prev Yr : 0 3 34 52 11 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 23 30 35 12 0 :: NJ : 0 0 0 100 0 AZ : 0 13 28 41 18 :: NM : 12 30 40 17 1 AR : 7 28 44 20 1 :: NY : 0 5 5 64 26 CA : 0 5 15 40 40 :: NC : 9 18 38 33 2 CO : 5 14 36 43 2 :: ND : 1 8 40 44 7 CT : 0 0 7 88 5 :: OH : 1 6 21 51 21 DE : 0 8 16 74 2 :: OK : 12 26 43 19 0 FL : 10 25 60 5 0 :: OR : 0 0 11 60 29 GA : 34 33 22 11 0 :: PA : 1 6 37 53 3 ID : 0 0 12 56 32 :: RI : 0 0 0 92 8 IL : 1 3 16 64 16 :: SC : 11 34 40 15 0 IN : 1 3 21 62 13 :: SD : 1 2 10 57 30 IA : 1 4 19 52 24 :: TN : 2 8 27 52 11 KS : 1 7 30 53 9 :: TX : 33 36 26 5 0 KY : 0 1 19 58 22 :: UT : 0 1 17 66 16 LA : 35 29 26 10 0 :: VT : 0 0 12 80 8 ME : 0 6 15 58 21 :: VA : 0 7 31 55 7 MD : 1 9 26 58 6 :: WA : 5 20 15 45 15 MA : 0 0 2 96 2 :: WV : 0 2 16 74 8 MI : 13 19 35 30 3 :: WI : 0 2 18 62 18 MN : 2 10 23 52 13 :: WY : 1 6 32 55 6 MS : 21 23 25 29 2 :: : MO : 0 9 29 55 7 :: 48 Sts : 8 14 26 41 11 MT : 6 16 39 35 4 :: : NE : 1 5 22 58 14 :: Prev Wk: 7 14 25 41 13 NV : 0 0 7 66 27 :: Prev Yr: 2 8 30 50 10 NH : 0 3 18 76 3 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-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 July 21, 1998. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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 of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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