Released September 1, 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 Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 35 August 23 -29, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: Bonnie, a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds estimated near 115 mph, made landfall near Cape Fear, NC late Wednesday afternoon, near the same location where Hurricanes Bertha and Fran made landfall in 1996. Mandatory evacuations forced hundreds of thousands of vacationers and residents to flee, but kept injuries and fatalities from the storm to a minimum. After slowly tracking northeastward across eastern North Carolina for over 24 hours and weakening to a tropical storm, Bonnie emerged over the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras, NC and re-intensified to a minimal hurricane, briefly battering southeastern Virginia. According to preliminary reports, Bonnie caused an estimated $1 billion in property damage. In southern Texas, the remnants of Tropical Storm Charley dumped 17.03 inches of rain on Del Rio, TX Sunday, triggering catastrophic flash flooding. Elsewhere, an upper-air trough of low pressure responsible for initially slowing and eventually steering Bonnie back out to sea also triggered widespread showers and thunderstorms along a slow-moving cold front in the central Great Plains, middle Mississippi Valley, and eastern Great Lakes Region. Monsoonal showers dampened portions of the Four Corner States, but the remainder of the Nation was relatively dry as above-normal weekly temperatures were observed across much of the lower 48 States. The week commenced with the demise of Tropical Depression Charley in southern Texas, but not before 17.03 inches of rain from Charley broke the all-time calendar day (8.79 inches on June 13, 1935) and monthly (15.79 inches during September 1964) records at Del Rio, TX. Before Charley, Del Rio had measured a scant 2.89 inches of rain the first 8 1/2 months of 1998, or about 27 percent of normal. High pressure dominated the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast, with nearly a dozen record highs set Sunday and Monday from California eastward to the mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, a stalled cold front draped across the Great Lakes Region and middle Missouri Valley triggered showers and thunderstorms in those areas. In the Atlantic, all eyes were on Hurricane Bonnie as it slowly tracked northwest toward the Carolina coast. To the west of Bonnie, high pressure kept the Southeast hot and dry as a total of two dozen record highs were set on August 25-27, with readings in the mid-to-upper 90's F in Florida and near 100 F in Georgia and Louisiana. On Wednesday about 5 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Bonnie finally made landfall near Cape Fear, NC with sustained winds of 115 mph and a central pressure of 963 millibars (28.44 inches). However, with no dominant steering currents to follow, Bonnie slowly drifted northeastward at 4 to 6 mph and stayed over eastern North Carolina for more than 24 hours before emerging back over the Atlantic Ocean. Largest storm totals (11.31 inches at Jacksonville; 9.21 inches at Wilmington; and 9.09 inches at Cherry Point) occurred just to the east of Bonnie's center, although 4 to 8 inches were common from the Carolina's coastal border northeastward into southeastern Virginia (6.88 inches at Norfolk, VA). Eventually, the upper-air trough over the Great Lakes region picked-up Bonnie and accelerated her northeastward late in the week, away from the New England coast. Bonnie's only effects were some squally conditions near eastern Long Island, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. Farther to the west, a cold front generated strong thunderstorms that dropped 1 to 3 inches of rain on eastern Iowa, northern Missouri, and western Illinois, but convection diminished as the front weakened while it pushed eastward to the Appalachians by week's end. In the Deep South and West, high pressure kept the weather warm and dry as nearly 50 locations established record highs during August 28-29. In sharp contrast, cooler conditions covered Hawaii and Alaska during the week, including an August record low at Kodiak, AK (34 F on the 29th). We 1 (9-98) National Agricultural Summary August 24 - 30, 1998 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures prevailed over nearly the entire country, pushing row crop development rapidly toward maturity. Rains replenished soil moisture and aided crop development along an arc extending from northeast Kansas through the central and eastern Corn Belt. Scattered showers rejuvenated late-maturing crops in parts of the southern Plains, but the heat and dry conditions stressed crops across most of the Southeast. Dry weather aided harvest progress in the northern Plains and Pacific Northwest, and allowed field preparations for winter wheat seeding to continue in the central and southern Great Plains. Heavy rains flooded crops in low-lying fields along the middle Atlantic Coastal Plains. Corn: High temperatures pushed corn in the dough stage or beyond to 92 percent, and corn dented or beyond advanced to 65 percent. Progress for both stages averaged a week or more ahead of normal, with some areas of the Corn Belt up to 3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. In Michigan and Minnesota, corn dented progress was 3 times the normal pace. Fourteen percent of the crop has ripened, nearly double the normal rate, as hot weather quickly dried maturing fields. In the Missouri Bootheel, dry weather has allowed a third of the crop to be harvested. Crop conditions remained mostly unchanged, as several pockets were aided by soaking rains. However, other areas of the Corn Belt were becoming stressed by the heat and lack of rain. Also, severe winds damaged some fields in the central and eastern Corn Belt, flattening plants in a few isolated fields. Soybeans: Soybeans setting pods advanced to 94 percent, compared with the average pace of 91 percent. Pod setting slowed in the Corn Belt as progress neared 100 percent, but development along the lower Mississippi and Ohio Valleys continued at a rapid pace. Nationally, 5 percent was dropping leaves, as heat quickly matured fields in the Mississippi Delta and parts of the central and northern Great Plains. Conditions improved in parts of the Corn Belt, where additional rain was received, and slightly deteriorated where conditions remained hot and dry. Cotton: Thirty-seven percent of the crop had bolls opening, compared with 27 percent the previous week and 28 percent normally opening bolls by this date. Progress was most advanced in the Mississippi Delta States, followed by the southern Plains and Southeast. Development lagged significantly in the Southwest, where bolls were opening at less than half the normal pace. Harvest was nearly complete along the western Gulf Coast, but was temporarily delayed by rain. Dryland fields in the southern Plains benefited from recent rains, but were still under stress from excessive dryness. Boll rot and insect pressures continued to hamper fields in parts of the Mississippi Delta. Small grains: Dry weather in the northern Great Plains and in the Pacific Northwest allowed the small grain harvest to continue at a good pace. Spring wheat harvested advanced to 89 percent, and the barley harvest was 91 percent complete. Many farmers in the northern Great Plains finished combining nearly 3 weeks early. Harvest was not as advanced in the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, but the pace was rapid and progress was at least a week ahead of normal. Rice: Ninety-four percent of the Nation's rice has developed to the heading stage or beyond, slightly behind the 5-year average. Hot weather accelerated development in California, where heading progress leaped from 60 to 85 percent, but remained well behind the 96 percent average for this date. Harvest progress reached 26 percent, compared with the 20 percent average. In the lower Mississippi Delta and western Gulf Coast, harvest continued at a steady pace and remained more than a week ahead of normal. Warm weather aided crop conditions in California. Sorghum: Ninety-six percent of the crop has headed, 62 percent has begun turning color, and 26 percent has ripened. Warm weather accelerated development in the southern Corn Belt and central Great Plains, where fields were rapidly turning color. In the lower Mississippi Delta, nearly all fields were mature. Conditions declined slightly, as hot, dry weather stressed fields in the central Great Plains. Other crops: The peanut harvest began along parts of the southern Atlantic Coast and southern Plains and coastal areas of the eastern Gulf Coast. However, harvest had not started in the inland peanut-producing areas of the Southeast. With a return of hot, dry weather, peanut conditions began to deteriorate after a few weeks of modest improvements. Field preparations continued for winter wheat seeding in the Great Plains and a few fields were planted in the southern Plains. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 29 0 26 23 GA : 100 97 99 100 IL : 63 44 50 47 IN : 58 35 34 40 IA : 71 26 39 34 KS : 80 50 70 62 KY : 83 65 71 77 MI : 60 21 4 13 MN : 74 52 22 24 MO : 85 69 78 69 NE : 71 41 38 39 NC : 80 70 84 89 OH : 41 20 16 31 PA : 29 13 26 28 SD : 50 29 32 27 TX : 97 92 87 89 WI : 49 22 7 21 : 17 Sts: 65 39 39 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 GA : 98 NA 94 97 IL : 11 NA 3 3 IN : 15 NA 3 3 IA : 11 NA 6 5 KS : 27 NA 16 17 KY : 23 NA 18 22 MI : 7 NA 0 0 MN : 2 NA 0 1 MO : 45 NA 21 21 NE : 3 NA 0 2 NC : 60 NA 64 73 OH : 3 NA 0 1 PA : 3 NA 4 3 SD : 12 NA 6 3 TX : 81 NA 59 61 WI : 5 NA 0 2 : 17 Sts: 14 NA 7 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 78 75 71 74 AR : 82 70 81 79 GA : 80 71 82 83 IL : 91 86 98 93 IN : 96 87 96 94 IA : 100 99 100 96 KS : 98 97 95 89 KY : 77 62 74 74 LA : 99 96 99 96 MI : 100 98 100 94 MN : 99 99 99 96 MS : 98 96 89 90 MO : 89 77 94 84 NE : 99 97 100 96 NC : 73 51 73 68 OH : 100 96 99 96 SC : 60 45 68 67 SD : 97 92 99 92 TN : 80 69 72 76 : 19 Sts: 94 89 95 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 81 63 76 83 CO : 21 8 12 21 IL : 47 16 36 30 KS : 50 30 49 37 LA : 99 99 96 93 MS : 95 92 89 91 MO : 75 57 64 55 NE : 61 20 34 31 NM : 15 11 10 14 OK : 51 43 50 41 SD : 55 33 31 26 TX : 81 75 74 78 : 12 Sts: 62 46 55 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 1 3 3 AR : 3 1 1 4 GA : 5 1 2 6 IL : 1 0 1 1 IN : 9 5 4 3 IA : 0 0 1 1 KS : 11 10 8 6 KY : 5 1 1 4 LA : 25 12 15 12 MI : 9 0 0 1 MN : 4 0 0 1 MS : 26 19 16 13 MO : 0 0 0 0 NE : 1 0 1 2 NC : 0 0 0 0 OH : 5 0 2 3 SC : 0 0 4 1 SD : 16 8 9 10 TN : 0 0 0 2 : 19 Sts: 5 2 3 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 99 CO : 97 90 91 82 IL : 88 79 96 90 KS : 98 95 97 94 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 97 100 94 NE : 99 97 97 94 NM : 47 35 83 72 OK : 88 86 87 87 SD : 94 78 94 88 TX : 97 96 94 96 : 12 Sts: 96 93 95 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 38 22 18 20 AZ : 38 19 66 76 AR : 32 9 9 20 CA : 1 1 56 36 GA : 37 31 9 31 LA : 79 62 39 46 MS : 73 53 16 44 MO : 24 14 14 16 NM : 13 7 26 23 NC : 25 13 12 19 OK : 25 10 2 6 SC : 31 25 13 17 TN : 23 10 3 17 TX : 37 31 22 25 : 14 Sts: 37 27 22 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 80 53 58 52 MN : 95 91 67 56 MT : 87 74 53 50 ND : 86 74 64 49 SD : 99 96 92 93 : 5 Sts : 89 79 65 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 39 NA 13 38 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 3 NA 0 1 KS : 8 NA 6 4 LA : 95 NA 80 70 MS : 71 NA 59 64 MO : 27 NA 8 12 NE : 2 NA 0 1 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 6 NA 4 10 SD : 10 NA 3 4 TX : 58 NA 54 64 : 12 Sts: 26 NA 22 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 74 55 64 55 MN : 98 97 75 71 MT : 88 69 53 48 ND : 95 88 77 68 SD : 98 97 89 95 WA : 92 80 92 79 : 6 Sts : 91 79 71 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 84% of last year's barley acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 90 98 96 CA : 85 60 100 96 LA : 99 97 96 96 MS : 95 92 89 95 TX : 100 99 99 99 : 5 Sts : 94 87 97 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 81 55 68 66 GA : 100 100 100 100 IL : 90 83 85 85 IN : 93 83 90 89 IA : 92 75 82 69 KS : 99 97 96 91 KY : 95 89 95 96 MI : 97 65 29 44 MN : 99 95 79 62 MO : 100 93 99 90 NE : 94 86 92 83 NC : 95 90 99 97 OH : 86 75 85 86 PA : 73 70 62 70 SD : 90 80 75 68 TX : 100 97 98 98 WI : 84 69 59 62 : 17 Sts: 92 82 82 77 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 6 1 1 6 CA : 0 0 9 2 LA : 77 66 63 61 MS : 21 8 3 11 TX : 77 64 32 55 : 5 Sts : 26 19 17 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 30,:Aug 23,:Aug 30,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 NA 0 0 FL : 9 NA 8 2 GA : 0 NA 1 1 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 0 NA 0 0 SC : 5 NA 7 7 TX : 1 NA 1 1 VA : 0 NA 0 0 : 8 Sts : 1 NA 1 1 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 4 6 59 30 GA : 36 29 25 9 1 IL : 2 7 26 51 14 IN : 2 6 29 47 16 IA : 2 7 22 46 23 KS : 0 3 19 57 21 KY : 1 3 25 54 17 MI : 6 22 30 38 4 MN : 1 5 19 50 25 MO : 2 12 32 41 13 NE : 0 2 13 63 22 NC : 10 30 38 19 3 OH : 2 5 23 51 19 PA : 3 9 28 50 10 SD : 0 3 12 50 35 TX : 7 17 31 42 3 WI : 4 6 19 45 26 : 17 Sts : 2 7 22 50 19 : Prev Wk : 3 7 22 48 20 Prev Yr : 3 8 27 48 14 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 13 9 34 42 2 AZ : 3 16 47 22 12 AR : 1 15 38 38 8 CA : 0 0 60 40 0 GA : 13 25 34 26 2 LA : 18 12 35 30 5 MS : 3 9 37 43 8 MO : 10 25 34 30 1 NM : 0 0 21 53 26 NC : 1 3 25 65 6 OK : 17 14 25 37 7 SC : 9 20 38 33 0 TN : 2 10 28 48 12 TX : 25 26 29 17 3 : 14 Sts : 14 18 34 30 4 : Prev Wk : 14 18 32 31 5 Prev Yr : 1 10 29 49 11 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 7 42 43 3 AR : 9 23 35 29 4 GA : 29 23 33 14 1 IL : 3 7 25 48 17 IN : 2 6 26 48 18 IA : 2 4 18 47 29 KS : 0 4 21 52 23 KY : 1 5 29 50 15 LA : 13 25 34 24 4 MI : 2 17 35 39 7 MN : 0 4 21 52 23 MS : 5 16 34 39 6 MO : 3 14 30 41 12 NE : 0 1 14 68 17 NC : 3 11 20 61 5 OH : 2 5 23 50 20 SC : 11 24 45 20 0 SD : 0 2 12 53 33 TN : 3 9 20 50 18 : 19 Sts : 3 8 24 47 18 : Prev Wk : 3 8 24 46 19 Prev Yr : 2 8 29 49 12 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 18 38 37 3 CO : 0 0 12 66 22 IL : 6 1 27 57 9 KS : 0 4 22 59 15 LA : 1 22 43 31 3 MS : 1 8 41 50 0 MO : 1 8 28 50 13 NE : 0 0 16 71 13 NM : 21 36 36 7 0 OK : 6 8 15 70 1 SD : 0 2 10 69 19 TX : 18 30 31 20 1 : 12 Sts : 7 14 25 45 9 : Prev Wk : 8 13 23 45 11 Prev Yr : 1 6 25 56 12 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 8 15 53 21 3 FL : 0 3 27 70 0 GA : 8 15 39 33 5 NC : 0 2 22 69 7 OK : 1 9 45 43 2 SC : 13 27 43 17 0 TX : 11 15 31 36 7 VA : 1 5 28 61 5 : 8 Sts : 7 12 37 39 5 : Prev Wk : 4 10 37 41 8 Prev Yr : 2 9 35 45 9 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 8 30 46 15 CA : 0 0 5 80 15 LA : 0 3 35 54 8 MS : 0 5 27 58 10 TX : 0 5 30 60 5 : 5 Sts : 0 5 26 57 12 : Prev Wk : 1 5 29 56 9 Prev Yr : 0 2 30 52 16 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 7 52 38 2 :: NJ : 0 50 50 0 0 AZ : 0 10 24 64 2 :: NM : 3 29 32 34 2 AR : 15 34 31 19 1 :: NY : 0 16 30 41 13 CA : 0 10 20 70 0 :: NC : 17 29 33 20 1 CO : 2 6 20 56 16 :: ND : 5 21 44 28 2 CT : 0 42 52 6 0 :: OH : 4 11 32 44 9 DE : 0 21 34 43 2 :: OK : 20 27 34 19 0 FL : 0 0 25 75 0 :: OR : 2 2 28 52 16 GA : 14 22 38 25 1 :: PA : 20 22 32 25 1 ID : 0 11 31 41 17 :: RI : 0 0 36 60 4 IL : 4 10 27 51 8 :: SC : 11 16 43 30 0 IN : 2 10 31 45 12 :: SD : 1 4 22 52 21 IA : 3 11 30 43 13 :: TN : 2 9 32 47 10 KS : 1 6 33 53 7 :: TX : 24 31 33 11 1 KY : 4 14 40 38 4 :: UT : 0 10 22 65 3 LA : 20 26 31 22 1 :: VT : 0 0 57 19 24 ME : 13 15 46 26 0 :: VA : 13 37 31 19 0 MD : 8 31 36 22 3 :: WA : 10 30 50 9 1 MA : 0 33 26 41 0 :: WV : 2 13 46 37 2 MI : 29 29 27 13 2 :: WI : 2 6 26 52 14 MN : 3 14 32 45 6 :: WY : 1 7 24 58 10 MS : 5 16 34 40 5 :: : MO : 2 9 41 43 5 :: 48 Sts : 7 16 32 39 6 MT : 6 22 54 17 1 :: : NE : 1 4 16 60 19 :: Prev Wk: 7 15 32 40 6 NV : 0 0 26 66 8 :: Prev Yr: 5 14 33 40 8 NH : 0 2 47 49 2 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 September 8, 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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