Release October 20,1998 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. 42 October 11 - 17, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Late-week heavy rains halted fieldwork in the western and central Corn Belt following several days of favorable harvest weather. Warm, dry weather continued to aid harvest activities in the eastern Corn Belt (corn and soybeans) and the Southeast (cotton, peanuts, and soybeans). Late in the week, flooding rains (locally in excess of 10 inches) struck southern and eastern Texas, especially in the vicinity of Austin and San Antonio. On the Plains, late-week rainfall further delayed winter wheat planting in eastern areas, and slowed late wheat planting elsewhere. Topsoils remained unfavorably dry, however, in far western portions of the central and southern Plains. Cool weather on the northern Plains slowed winter wheat emergence. Farther west, below-normal temperatures prevailed in California for a fourth consecutive week, while heavy snow fell in portions of the Intermountain West. Weekly temperatures were generally 2 to 6 degrees F below normal in California, the Great Basin, the northern Plains, and the Northwest. In contrast, readings averaged 2 to 8 degrees F above normal in the Corn Belt and the central and southern Plains. Early in the week, cool weather blanketed the Northwest, while locally heavy showers dotted the northern Plains. In California, daily-record lows were set on Sunday in locations such as Redding (37 degrees F) and Stockton (41 degrees F). Farther east, Williston, ND posted a daily-record rainfall (0.49 inches). Meanwhile, very warm air overspread the Southwest, producing consecutive daily-record highs in Tucson, AZ (99 degrees F on both October 12 and 13). Precipitation returned to New England on Wednesday, less than a week after record rains and flooding struck coastal areas. Hartford, CT posted a daily-record rainfall (2.11 inches) for October 14. Portland, ME received 1.20 inches on October 14-15, boosting their monthly rainfall to 10.12 inches. Meanwhile, a warm, dry pattern continued across the Southeast, where New Orleans' Audubon Park notched a record-tying high of 89 degrees F on Thursday. Two days later, highs reached daily-record levels in locations such as Jackson, KY (81 degrees F) and Beckley, WV (79 degrees F). Late in the week, a strong low-pressure system developed over the Intermountain West, tracking slowly eastward onto the central High Plains, then northeastward to the western Great Lakes region. Heavy snow developed in parts of the West, accumulating to a depth of 15 inches at Brian Head, UT, near Cedar City. In Wyoming, October 16-17 snowfall totaled 18.7 inches in Casper and 6.2 inches in Lander. Meanwhile, heavy rain arrived across parts of the northern Plains and western Corn Belt. In South Dakota, storm-total (October 15-17) rainfall reached 2.68 inches in Rapid City and 3.50 inches in Aberdeen. As a result, October-record precipitation totals were established in Rapid City (4.97 inches, breaking their 1982 standard by more than 1 inch) and Aberdeen (6.73 inches, eclipsing a 1983 record). Farther east, October 14-17 rainfall reached 4.63 inches in Moline, IL and 4.34 inches in Cedar Rapids, IA. Cold air trailed the storm into the West, producing several daily-record lows. On Saturday morning, minima dipped to 12 degrees F in Burns, OR, 18 degrees F in Flagstaff, AZ, and 26 degrees F in Boise, ID. Torrential rains erupted across southern and eastern Texas on Saturday. Austin netted 6.24 inches, their greatest single-day October rainfall since 1925, while 5.17 inches fell in College Station. An all-time-record, calendar-day total of 11.26 inches inundated San Antonio, boosting their monthly rainfall to an October-record 13.66 inches. Additional rainfall on October 18-19 included 2.48 inches in Austin and 4.35 inches in San Antonio, raising monthly totals to 12.08 and 18.01 inches, respectively. In addition, San Antonio's total surpassed their previous highest monthly rainfall on record, 15.78 inches in September 1946. We 1 (10-98) National Agricultural Summary October 12 - 18, 1998 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures east of the Rocky Mountains aided ripening of late-developing crops in the Corn Belt and across the South from the southern Great Plains to the southern Atlantic Coastal Plains region. Dry weather from the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys eastward provided nearly ideal harvest conditions. A band of rain extending from southern Texas northward along the eastern edge of the Great Plains and into the central Corn Belt delayed harvest activites late in the week. Dry conditions in the High Plains aided harvest efforts and allowed winter wheat seeding to continue. Temperatures were below normal along the Pacific coast, but late-planted crops continued to mature and harvest activities maintained a steady pace. Corn: The Nation's corn harvest continued to advance more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average, with 57 percent harvested, compared with the normal 38 percent. Heavy rainfall in northern Illinois and eastern Iowa hampered progress in the central Corn Belt, while dry weather aided progress in the western and eastern Corn Belt. Growers made steady progress in eastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota, despite scattered rains. Harvest was nearly complete in the Southeast and southern Plains. Soybeans: Seventy-one percent of the Nation's soybeans have been harvested, compared with 64 percent normally harvested by this date. Rain and soggy conditions hampered harvest efforts in the central Corn Belt late in the week. Most of the western and eastern Corn Belt and the Mississippi Delta remained dry, and harvest activities continued unhindered. In the Southeast, the harvest pace gained momentum as above-normal temperatures quickly ripened fields and dry weather provided ideal harvest conditions. Cotton: The Nation's cotton crop continued to ripen slightly ahead of the 5-year average, with bolls opening on 96 percent of the crop, compared with the 91 percent normal rate. Development was slightly behind normal in many areas of the Southeast, but well ahead of normal in the southern Plains, especially in Oklahoma, where development was 25 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest progress reached 51 percent, more than 1 week ahead of the normal pace. Dry conditions aided progress from the lower Mississippi Valley eastward to the southern Atlantic Coastal Plains region. Cotton growers in North Carolina harvested one-fourth of their crop. In the Southwest, harvest lagged due to the lateness of the crop, especially in California, where the harvest was just beginning. Winter Wheat: Planting progressed to 75 percent, and emerged to 50 percent. Dry weather allowed growers in the central and southern Great Plains to make substantial planting progress, however planting continued to lag well behind the 5-year average. Dry weather also assisted progress in the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Progress was ahead of normal in Ohio, but remained slightly behind the 5-year average in Illinois. Planting operations were just beginning in the Southeast and Southwest, and began to gain momentum in the Mississippi Delta. Emergence lagged in the central and southern Plains due to the slow planting pace. In the northern Great Plains, rain boosted emergence, while early planting accounted for rapid emergence in the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. Rice: Harvest progressed to 93 percent complete, compared with the normal pace of 91 percent. Harvest was virtually complete along the western Gulf Coast region, and growers in the northern Mississippi Delta region were also nearly finished. In California, harvest activity slowed from the previous week's rapid pace, but continued at a good rate, advancing 15 percentage points. Sorghum: Ninety-six percent of the crop has reached maturity, compared with 91 percent normally mature by this date. Warm weather aided ripening in the central and southern High Plains, where the crop was less advanced. The harvest pace continued to gain momentum, advancing 14 percentage points to 63 percent, ahead of the 56 percent average. In the central and southern Great Plains, harvest activity was limited by rain, except in the High Plains and western Corn Belt, where dry conditions prevailed. Nebraska growers harvested nearly 40 percent of their sorghum. Harvest was virtually complete in most areas of the Mississippi Delta States. Peanuts: Harvest activity increased, advancing 19 percentage points to 57 percent complete, but remained slightly behind the normal pace. Progress was aided by dry weather in the Southeast, but remained well behind normal along the eastern Gulf Coast region, except in Florida, where harvest progress was well ahead of normal. Late-week rains halted harvest operations in the southern Texas coastal plains, while dry weather aided harvest in Oklahoma. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 50 35 50 32 GA : 98 97 97 96 IL : 58 46 55 45 IN : 45 30 24 32 IA : 52 31 45 32 KS : 82 71 76 69 KY : 88 85 73 74 MI : 51 32 7 17 MN : 59 46 54 31 MO : 69 62 68 57 NE : 63 44 41 31 NC : 98 95 86 87 OH : 36 22 12 21 PA : 42 23 24 27 SD : 42 31 30 22 TX : 95 93 93 94 WI : 40 28 12 19 : 17 Sts: 57 43 45 38 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 35 28 35 25 AR : 44 30 33 31 GA : 15 7 15 10 IL : 71 49 88 77 IN : 74 56 85 75 IA : 87 64 93 81 KS : 57 32 58 54 KY : 55 31 30 27 LA : 87 73 84 67 MI : 60 44 55 51 MN : 90 81 96 78 MS : 82 72 67 56 MO : 50 29 58 45 NE : 78 52 77 78 NC : 15 5 12 9 OH : 83 70 79 69 SC : 5 3 6 4 SD : 75 55 81 66 TN : 42 26 23 20 : 19 Sts: 71 53 74 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 *5 28 26 CA : 1 0 3 4 CO : 98 95 99 96 GA : 4 4 3 6 ID : 87 75 84 79 IL : 57 17 81 63 IN : 62 44 77 68 KS : 80 52 92 92 MI : 81 59 83 80 MO : 34 17 59 48 MT : 89 80 95 85 NE : 98 95 99 99 NC : 25 20 18 24 OH : 86 64 83 76 OK : 68 44 82 84 OR : 70 55 80 71 SD : 98 93 99 98 TX : 69 61 72 75 WA : 91 90 98 93 : 19 Sts: 75 58 83 81 -------------------------------------- * 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 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 94 92 95 91 AZ : 99 97 100 100 AR : 99 96 95 96 CA : 95 90 100 100 GA : 89 85 88 90 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 99 99 MO : 100 100 100 97 NM : 94 89 100 98 NC : 99 98 92 98 OK : 99 98 72 74 SC : 97 94 91 93 TN : 100 100 99 100 TX : 94 90 89 83 : 14 Sts: 96 93 93 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 2 10 11 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 87 79 88 85 GA : 2 1 1 3 ID : 50 34 53 43 IL : 20 6 40 25 IN : 31 18 38 29 KS : 49 31 73 67 MI : 60 32 60 51 MO : 13 6 31 23 MT : 64 51 73 54 NE : 91 79 94 92 NC : 5 0 0 4 OH : 53 20 33 31 OK : 33 16 51 48 OR : 51 35 50 37 SD : 88 78 94 88 TX : 47 37 51 55 WA : 81 76 89 77 : 19 Sts: 50 36 62 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 55 48 35 44 AZ : 24 16 44 43 AR : 61 45 39 53 CA : 2 1 38 30 GA : 38 23 33 38 LA : 81 73 87 77 MS : 87 79 57 63 MO : 44 29 42 54 NM : 10 5 9 12 NC : 55 30 17 31 OK : 55 54 11 18 SC : 55 42 21 35 TN : 70 58 40 52 TX : 53 49 29 35 : 14 Sts: 51 43 36 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 95 75 70 76 IL : 88 87 94 88 KS : 99 98 95 92 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 99 95 95 92 NE : 100 98 96 95 NM : 63 49 75 56 OK : 89 71 85 66 SD : 99 95 98 94 TX : 95 92 93 94 : 12 Sts: 96 93 93 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 93 90 92 CA : 70 55 95 75 LA : 100 99 99 99 MS : 98 97 96 94 TX : 100 98 97 99 : 5 Sts : 93 88 94 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 94 94 CO : 23 6 6 22 IL : 34 31 48 35 KS : 62 43 50 47 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 97 97 MO : 69 56 57 54 NE : 60 21 51 37 NM : 12 1 18 11 OK : 29 23 33 24 SD : 62 35 44 38 TX : 73 67 69 78 : 12 Sts: 63 49 56 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 18,:Oct 11,:Oct 18,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 50 34 92 79 FL : 67 39 97 35 GA : 64 43 87 80 NC : 60 *40 46 51 OK : 50 18 40 42 SC : 55 39 67 63 TX : 43 33 39 30 VA : 82 58 86 85 : 8 Sts : 57 38 71 61 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 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 : 5 24 42 27 2 :: NJ : 0 0 80 20 0 AZ : 2 8 22 54 14 :: NM : 10 28 38 23 1 AR : 10 23 40 23 4 :: NY : 0 13 21 66 0 CA : 0 15 35 50 0 :: NC : 13 19 36 31 1 CO : 3 13 34 43 7 :: ND : 5 17 43 32 3 CT : 0 23 30 47 0 :: OH : 5 13 39 37 6 DE : 0 4 30 66 0 :: OK : 11 26 37 26 0 FL : 0 0 60 40 0 :: OR : 2 8 40 49 1 GA : 8 19 37 33 3 :: PA : 11 20 31 34 4 ID : 0 9 41 41 9 :: RI : 0 0 13 66 21 IL : 4 7 30 53 6 :: SC : 2 9 35 51 3 IN : 8 22 44 25 1 :: SD : 1 8 22 57 12 IA : 2 12 29 43 14 :: TN : 10 32 37 21 0 KS : 1 10 31 53 5 :: TX : 18 24 29 23 6 KY : 11 28 45 15 1 :: UT : 3 11 26 56 4 LA : 5 20 42 30 3 :: VT : 0 0 0 38 62 ME : 8 16 47 29 0 :: VA : 23 37 26 14 0 MD : 10 21 25 36 8 :: WA : 0 25 65 10 0 MA : 0 0 48 52 0 :: WV : 2 17 42 36 3 MI : 15 22 29 26 8 :: WI : 1 14 33 43 9 MN : 4 21 38 33 4 :: WY : 1 5 22 60 12 MS : 8 24 38 27 3 :: : MO : 1 6 31 53 9 :: 48 Sts : 6 17 34 38 5 MT : 6 21 45 27 1 :: : NE : 4 12 31 44 9 :: Prev Wk: 7 18 33 37 5 NV : 0 0 6 78 16 :: Prev Yr: 4 14 36 41 5 NH : 0 1 46 50 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 October 27, 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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