Release October 14,1998 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agricultural. For information on "Weekly Weather & Crop Bulletin" call Mark E. Miller at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 41 October 4 - 10, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Widespread precipitation slowed fieldwork in the northern Plains, Midwest, and East. Excessive rainfall (more than 4 inches) halted field activities and caused localized flooding from northeastern Texas to the middle Mississippi Valley, and in parts of the Northeast. In the Northwest and northern High Plains, scattered showers provided beneficial moisture for winter wheat emergence. On the central and southern High Plains, however, a return to dry weather reduced topsoil moisture for wheat establishment. Warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in areas of the Southeast affected by Hurricane Georges in late September, allowing fields to dry and fieldwork to gradually resume. Below-normal weekly temperatures persisted for a third consecutive week in California, slowing crop development, and the cool weather spread eastward to encompass much of the West. Most of the Intermountain West experienced its first widespread freeze of the season, typical for early October. Weekly temperatures ranged from 2 to 6 degrees F above normal in the Southeast, but were as much as 5 degrees F below normal in California and 7 degrees F below normal in the Great Basin. Early in the week, a strong low-pressure system emerged from the central Rockies before tracking northeastward across the upper Midwest on October 5-6. Its attendant cold front drifted eastward, reaching the East Coast States by Thursday. Torrential rain developed along the northern Atlantic Coast toward week's end, as a secondary low-pressure system formed along the front and lingered across the region. On Sunday, daily-record precipitation totals were established in Williston, ND (1.23 inches) and Sioux Falls, SD (2.36 inches). By Monday morning, snow depths in the Colorado Rockies reached 10 inches in Climax and 5 inches in Crested Butte. On the eastern Plains, thunderstorms erupted on October 4-5, producing severe weather and heavy rainfall. Preliminary reports indicated that 20 tornadoes struck Oklahoma on Sunday, the greatest number on record in one State during an October outbreak. A day later in Missouri, rainfalls of 4.83 inches in Columbia and 2.43 inches in Springfield were records for the date. Paducah, KY noted consecutive daily-record totals on October 6 (4.03 inches) and 7 (2.04 inches). Meanwhile, cool air cloaked the Northeast and the West. On Sunday, Traverse City, MI posted a record-tying low of 29 degrees F. A day later, lows dipped to 27 degrees F in Dalton, MA and 28 degrees F in Johnstown, NY. In Oregon, Burns notched consecutive daily-record lows on October 5 (17 degrees F) and 6 (21 degrees F). On the latter date, record lows were also set in Grand Junction, CO (32 degrees F) and Albuquerque, NM (36 degrees F). In contrast, above-normal temperatures prevailed for a fourth consecutive week across the Southeast, resulting in record-tying highs at Paducah (89 degrees F on Monday) and New Orleans' Audubon Park (92 degrees F on Tuesday). Rain developed across the Northeast after midweek. On Thursday, daily-rainfall records were established in locations such as Worcester, MA (2.00 inches) and Harrisburg, PA (1.30 inches). Rainfall intensified across eastern New England at week's end, causing some flooding. On Saturday, 5.61 inches inundated Portland, ME, their fifth-greatest single-day total for any month. Elsewhere in Maine, October 8-11 rainfall reached 11.62 inches in Camp Ellis, south of Portland, and 9.33 inches in Gray. In eastern Massachusetts, storm-total precipitation included 4.34 inches in Boston and 6.73 inches in Milton. Meanwhile, another storm system reached the Northwest late in the week. In Glasgow, MT, October 10-11 rainfall measured 1.37 inches, pushing the monthly total past their 1.80-inch October record set in 1994. We 1 (10-98) National Agricultural Summary October 5 - 11, 1998 Highlights: Seasonable temperatures across most of the Nation aided ripening of late-developing crops in the Corn Belt and Southeast. Harvesting activity steadily continued, despite substantial rainfall in parts of the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Most of the winter wheat-producing region of the central Great Plains remained dry, hindering planting operations and seed germination. Rain aided wheat emergence and growth in the northern Plains and eastern Corn Belt. Dry weather allowed harvest efforts to gain momentum in the Southwest, as late-developing crops slowly matured. Heavy rainfall caused local flooding in the Northeast. Corn: Forty-three percent of the Nation's corn crop has been harvested, more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average of 25 percent. Farmers made steady progress across the Corn Belt, although progress in some areas, particularly Missouri and Indiana, was hindered by rain. Strong winds caused some lodging in isolated areas across the Corn Belt. Soybeans: The Nation's soybeans continued to ripen ahead of normal, with 94 percent dropping leaves compared with the 89 percent average for this date. Above-normal temperatures east of the Mississippi River promoted ripening in parts of the eastern Corn Belt and Southeast where development was less advanced. Harvest progress advanced to 53 percent complete, compared with the 44 percent normal pace. Farmers in the Corn Belt, Mississippi Delta, and Great Plains made good progress despite rains that temporarily halted harvest efforts in several areas. Harvest activity was just beginning along the southern Atlantic Coast. Cotton: Ninety-three percent of the Nation's cotton fields have progressed to the boll opening stage and 43 percent has been harvested. Progress remained slightly more than 1 week ahead of average for both stages. Heavy rainfall interrupted harvest efforts in the northern and extreme southern areas of the Mississippi Delta, as well as parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Most of the other Southeastern States also experienced slow progress. Dry conditions in the central Mississippi Delta region and western Oklahoma aided harvest progress. Winter Wheat: Seeding advanced to 58 percent, but remained several days behind normal as many farmers in the central and southern Great Plains continued to wait for rain to improve soil moisture. In the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, favorable weather allowed growers to move ahead of the 5-year average. Growers in the eastern Corn Belt also made rapid seeding progress, especially in Ohio, where progress was well ahead of normal. Indiana growers also made good progress, moving slightly ahead of normal, despite widespread showers that limited their progress. In the southern Corn Belt and northern Delta region, rain severely curtailed planting. Emergence reached 36 percent, behind the 42 percent average for this date. In the central and southern Plains and southern Corn Belt, emergence was behind normal due to slow planting progress. Emergence was ahead of normal in the northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and the eastern Corn Belt, where rain aided emergence. Rice: Harvest progressed to 88 percent complete, compared with the normal pace of 85 percent. Harvest activity slowed in the Delta rice-producing States, where nearly all farmers were finished combining. In California, the harvest pace accelerated, advancing 25 percentage points, but remained slightly behind normal. Sorghum: Ninety-three percent of the crop has matured, compared with 83 percent normally mature by this date. Despite cool weather, progress was rapid in the central and southern High Plains, where the crop was less advanced. The harvest pace slowly gained momentum, advancing 8 percentage points to 49 percent, slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was virtually complete in most areas of the Delta States, while harvest was just beginning in the central and southern High Plains. Fair weather allowed Illinois growers to harvest nearly one-fourth of their sorghum. Peanuts: Harvesting progressed to 38 percent, up 10 percentage points, but more than 1 week behind the 53 percent normal pace. Progress fell further behind normal in the major peanut-producing States in the Southeast due to wet fields. Harvest was active in the middle Atlantic Coast States, allowing progress to remain near normal. In the southern Plains, the harvest pace was slow, but remained more than a week ahead of the 5-year average in Texas. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 35 13 27 19 GA : 97 96 97 95 IL : 46 33 26 27 IN : 30 19 14 21 IA : 31 19 20 17 KS : 71 66 62 54 KY : 85 69 56 61 MI : 32 23 5 11 MN : 46 29 20 15 MO : 62 52 58 46 NE : 44 31 19 18 NC : 95 90 80 81 OH : 22 15 4 12 PA : 23 18 16 18 SD : 31 *22 18 13 TX : 93 88 89 90 WI : 28 17 6 11 : 17 Sts: 43 31 25 25 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 28 16 19 14 AR : 30 20 23 19 GA : 7 4 11 6 IL : 49 37 76 59 IN : 56 45 66 54 IA : 64 51 83 57 KS : 32 20 51 35 KY : 31 22 17 14 LA : 73 65 70 53 MI : 44 29 24 26 MN : 81 68 88 51 MS : 72 62 54 44 MO : 29 19 42 27 NE : 52 36 58 55 NC : 5 2 8 5 OH : 70 55 46 45 SC : 3 1 3 2 SD : 55 43 68 41 TN : 26 15 12 10 : 19 Sts: 53 41 60 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 6 3 14 14 CA : 0 0 1 2 CO : 95 88 96 92 GA : 4 1 3 4 ID : 75 48 73 64 IL : 17 7 49 35 IN : 44 24 47 42 KS : 52 42 86 80 MI : 59 48 61 59 MO : 17 12 41 31 MT : 80 49 88 76 NE : 95 91 96 97 NC : 20 15 14 19 OH : 64 34 46 48 OK : 44 32 75 72 OR : 55 *25 69 58 SD : 93 88 98 95 TX : 61 52 66 66 WA : 90 73 93 87 : 19 Sts: 58 46 74 70 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 92 90 83 86 AZ : 97 95 100 100 AR : 96 93 93 93 CA : 90 75 100 100 GA : 85 85 82 87 LA : 100 100 99 99 MS : 100 100 91 97 MO : 100 100 100 94 NM : 89 80 95 93 NC : 98 95 87 96 OK : 98 97 67 67 SC : 94 88 87 89 TN : 100 100 95 99 TX : 90 81 82 75 : 14 Sts: 93 87 87 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 1 3 4 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 79 65 84 75 GA : 1 0 1 2 ID : 34 16 42 30 IL : 6 1 8 7 IN : 18 2 15 10 KS : 31 23 49 45 MI : 32 15 34 31 MO : 6 2 15 11 MT : 51 16 62 37 NE : 79 67 84 79 NC : 0 0 0 0 OH : 20 2 8 12 OK : 16 7 36 31 OR : 35 10 31 25 SD : 78 66 83 79 TX : 37 25 41 45 WA : 76 63 79 67 : 19 Sts: 36 25 46 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 48 42 18 30 AZ : 16 13 37 32 AR : 45 31 28 35 CA : 1 1 24 17 GA : 23 18 19 27 LA : 73 71 55 62 MS : 79 59 34 50 MO : 29 27 36 40 NM : 5 3 6 6 NC : 30 25 7 21 OK : 54 16 4 12 SC : 42 30 13 26 TN : 58 38 25 37 TX : 49 39 25 30 : 14 Sts: 43 34 25 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 79 71 83 68 AR : 70 56 54 50 GA : 71 50 83 74 IL : 96 84 97 95 IN : 98 96 99 98 IA : 100 98 100 96 KS : 99 94 96 95 KY : 85 69 78 74 LA : 96 91 94 84 MI : 100 91 95 96 MN : 99 99 99 94 MS : 97 88 81 79 MO : 91 80 92 83 NE : 100 98 100 99 NC : 50 35 44 47 OH : 100 97 97 96 SC : 17 15 27 23 SD : 100 100 100 99 TN : 90 78 73 75 : 19 Sts: 94 88 92 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 98 99 100 CO : 75 51 41 56 IL : 87 61 87 80 KS : 98 90 88 82 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 98 99 MO : 95 89 92 85 NE : 98 94 94 87 NM : 49 20 41 40 OK : 71 61 78 51 SD : 95 91 94 88 TX : 92 85 89 90 : 12 Sts: 93 85 87 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 94 88 90 CO : 6 3 3 11 IL : 31 7 20 17 KS : 43 31 33 30 LA : 100 100 100 97 MS : 100 100 95 95 MO : 56 43 46 44 NE : 21 13 32 21 NM : 1 0 5 5 OK : 23 20 21 18 SD : 35 31 27 18 TX : 67 63 65 74 : 12 Sts: 49 41 44 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 86 86 86 CA : 55 30 87 59 LA : 99 99 99 97 MS : 97 93 91 89 TX : 98 97 95 97 : 5 Sts : 88 80 90 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 11,:Oct 4, :Oct 11,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 34 27 86 69 FL : 39 26 93 32 GA : 43 32 77 71 NC : 35 20 19 31 OK : 18 11 22 27 SC : 39 29 54 51 TX : 33 26 32 21 VA : 58 38 67 70 : 8 Sts : 38 28 60 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 6 23 41 28 2 :: NJ : 0 10 60 30 0 AZ : 2 8 22 54 14 :: NM : 9 28 39 22 2 AR : 10 32 40 16 2 :: NY : 0 4 19 67 10 CA : 0 20 30 50 0 :: NC : 14 28 35 22 1 CO : 2 9 32 50 7 :: ND : 8 18 38 32 4 CT : 0 46 24 30 0 :: OH : 4 16 42 33 5 DE : 0 24 36 40 0 :: OK : 15 27 41 17 0 FL : 0 0 40 55 5 :: OR : 2 9 42 46 1 GA : 7 16 40 33 4 :: PA : 10 35 39 16 0 ID : 0 12 33 45 10 :: RI : 0 0 18 68 14 IL : 3 15 29 47 6 :: SC : 1 9 34 53 3 IN : 11 22 45 21 1 :: SD : 1 6 23 54 16 IA : 5 16 30 36 13 :: TN : 17 30 33 20 0 KS : 2 10 41 41 6 :: TX : 17 23 32 21 7 KY : 13 28 42 16 1 :: UT : 0 8 29 51 12 LA : 7 18 41 32 2 :: VT : 0 0 4 80 16 ME : 5 31 44 20 0 :: VA : 23 38 25 14 0 MD : 11 27 28 32 2 :: WA : 0 18 52 30 0 MA : 0 15 43 38 4 :: WV : 8 26 33 32 1 MI : 20 27 29 19 5 :: WI : 7 9 31 46 7 MN : 3 22 34 38 3 :: WY : 1 7 21 61 10 MS : 8 20 34 36 2 :: : MO : 1 6 28 53 12 :: 48 Sts : 7 18 33 37 5 MT : 11 28 37 23 1 :: : NE : 4 13 34 45 4 :: Prev Wk: 9 19 33 34 5 NV : 0 0 4 74 22 :: Prev Yr: 5 14 36 39 6 NH : 0 16 27 52 5 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 after 12 p.m. ET on October 20, 1998. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs 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, D.C., 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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