Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 18, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and 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 86, No. 20 May 9 - 15, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Very wet weather persisted for a second consecutive week in the Dakotas, halting planting activities. Across the east-central Plains and the western Corn Belt, wet weather perpetuated a 6-week trend, generally benefiting winter wheat and spring-sown crops, but causing additional planting delays and leaving standing water in some low-lying areas. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms provided beneficial moisture to Peninsular Florida, areas along the Gulf Coast, and the southern Mid-Atlantic region. In contrast, mostly dry weather continued in the Northeast, where significant precipitation fell in many areas during late March. Soils remained unfavorably dry in southern Texas, where hot weather offset the benefits of scattered midweek showers. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 6 degrees F above normal in Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley and up to 4 degrees F above normal in the Ohio Valley. Near- to below-normal temperatures prevailed in most other areas. In the Northwest, where frequent freezes burned back winter wheat and spring-sown small grains and required protective measures in fruit orchards, temperatures ranged from 5 to 11 degrees F below normal. Cool conditions also slowed crop development in California, where readings averaged as much as 7 degrees F below normal. More than 50 daily-record lows were set or tied in the Northwest, most of which occurred from May 9-11. Burns, OR (21, 21, and 20 degrees F) and Spokane, WA (27, 26, and 31 degrees F) opened the week with three daily-record lows. Consecutive daily records were established on May 9-10 in locations such as Wenatchee, WA (34 and 33 degrees F), Yakima, WA (27 and 25 degrees F), and Redmond, OR (23 and 24 degrees F). On Monday, lows fell to near or below the freezing mark in a few areas west of the Cascades, including Olympia, WA (31 degrees F) and Bellingham, WA (32 degrees F), and throughout the Snake River Plain. Boise, ID noted 27 degrees F. The average dates of the last spring temperature of 28 degrees F or below include April 18 in Spokane, April 24 in Boise, and April 25 in Yakima. Temperatures remained below 70 degrees F all week from the Northwest to the western Great Lakes region, but east of the High Plains, frost was confined to the Nation's northern tier. On Wednesday, Caribou, ME notched a daily-record low of 29 degrees F. Temperatures remained well above freezing across the northern Corn Belt, however, including LaCrosse, WI (the week's lowest reading was 41 degrees F on May 9). The last freeze in LaCrosse occurred on March 27, which is likely to become their earliest final spring freeze on record (formerly April 1, 1906). Heavy rain and wet snow accompanied the cool weather on the northern Plains. In North Dakota, May 1-16 precipitation totaled 6.26 inches (596 percent of normal) in Bismarck, 5.89 inches (526 percent) in Minot, and 5.87 inches (699 percent) in Jamestown. Bismarck's total approached their May record, 7.04 inches, set in 1927. Early in the week, snow fell as far east as western North Dakota, where Williston reported a 2-day (May 10-11) total of 4.2 inches. During the same period, as much as 12 to 18 inches was reported in eastern Montana's Dawson County. Monthly snowfall reached 6.8 inches in Glasgow, MT and 0.4 inch in Spokane, WA. Glasgow's season-to-date snowfall, 56.7 inches, neared their seasonal record (60.9 inches in 1951-52). In the Washington Cascades at Mt. Baker, the unofficial seasonal snowfall reached 1,124 inches at midweek, eclipsing the North American record of 1,122 inches, set at Mt. Rainier Paradise in 1971-72. Although heavy rain (1 to 3 inches, with locally higher totals) was widespread from the northern Plains southward to the western Gulf Coast, showers provided only scattered relief in Florida. May 1-16 totals reached 5.39 inches (402 percent of normal) in Orlando and 5.13 inches (235 percent) in Tallahassee, but stood at 0.89 inch (32 percent) in Miami. Year-to-date rainfall included 5.28 inches (50 percent of normal) in Tampa and 5.85 inches (48 percent) in Miami. Rain also bypassed the northern Mid-Atlantic region, where month-to-date rainfall in Baltimore, MD remained at 0.09 inch (5 percent of normal). On Sunday in Arkansas, highs soared to daily-record highs of 91 degrees F in both El Dorado and Hot Springs. Farther north, the warmest air of the season overspread much of the Corn Belt early in the week. On Monday, highs topped 80 degrees F for the first time this year in locations such as Des Moines, IA and Moline, IL. A day later in Indiana, Indianapolis (83 degrees F) also notched their highest temperature of the year-to-date. Heat expanded across the South Central States toward week's end. On Saturday, Dallas-Ft. Worth (91 degrees F) experienced their first 90-degree heat of the year. Farther south, however, McAllen, TX posted highs above 90 degrees F throughout the week, including maxima of 97 degrees F on May 10 and 14. Near- to above-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska. Departures ranged from 0 degrees F (in western areas) to +10 degrees F (across the north). On Saturday, McGrath logged a daily-record high of 70 degrees F. Meanwhile in Hawaii, beneficial rain fell across the western islands, locally exceeding 1 inch. We 1 (5-99) National Agricultural Summary May 10 - 16, 1999 Highlights: Planting was halted in the western Corn Belt when a late-week cold front delivered heavy rains and damaging tornadoes. The line of storms extended southward into western Missouri and eastern parts of Kansas and Oklahoma, keeping soils excessively wet. Planting accelerated in the Atlantic Coastal Plains after soils dried from earlier showers. Parts of the mid-Atlantic region received additional moisture, but soils remained dry in most areas. Dry, sunny weather also aided planting in the Southeast and inland areas of the lower Mississippi Valley. Soaking rains along the western Gulf Coast aided seed germination and provided much-needed moisture for planting. In the Pacific Northwest, dry soils stressed crops and cool weather hindered growth. Below-normal temperatures also hindered crop development in the northern Great Plains. Planting and fieldwork in the northern Great Plains was delayed by rains and poor drying conditions. Seasonally dry weather aided planting in the Southwest. Corn: Acreage planted advanced to 77 percent complete, up 22 percentage points from a week ago. Planting remained well ahead of the 68-percent average and slightly ahead of last year's rapid pace. Drier weather aided progress in the eastern Corn Belt, especially in Indiana, while late-week rains halted planting in the western Corn Belt. Planting was also hampered by rain and muddy fields in adjacent areas of the Great Plains. In the central and southern High Plains, progress was aided by dry weather. Emergence rose to 30 percent, well behind last year's rapid pace. Rain softened crusted soils and aided emergence in the western Corn Belt late in the week. Warmer weather accelerated germination in the eastern Corn Belt. In central Texas, rains aided fields in the reproductive stages. Winter Wheat: The Nation's winter wheat was 59 percent headed, compared with 57 percent last year and 51 percent normally headed by this date. Seasonable temperatures aided development in the eastern Corn Belt and central and southern Great Plains. Nearly 75 percent of the crop was headed in Kansas, and nearly all fields in Oklahoma and Texas had advanced to the heading stage. Harvest began in northern and central Texas, as warm weather quickly ripened fields. In the Coastal Plains, harvest neared completion despite isolated heavy rainfall. Cold weather hampered development in the northern Great Plains, while dry weather stressed fields in the Pacific Northwest. Some fields were damaged by hail in the southern Great Plains. Cotton: Planting advanced to 56 percent complete, up 21 percentage points from last week, 2 percentage points behind last year and the average. Progress rapidly accelerated in the Missouri Bootheel and the Mississippi Delta States due to dry weather. The planting pace also accelerated in the Atlantic Coast Plains after much-needed rains soaked into the dry soils. In parts of the Southeast, soils remained too dry to plant. Planting slowly increased in the southern Great Plains. However, cool overnight weather discouraged some planting and delayed emergence. Progress was steady in the Southwest and neared completion in California. Soybeans: Planting was 28 percent complete, behind last year's 34 percent pace, but slightly ahead of the 25 percent average. Dry weather aided rapid progress in the eastern Corn Belt, where many growers finished planting corn and immediately turned to planting soybeans. Planting accelerated in the western Corn Belt, but progress was limited by late-week thunderstorms. Planting in the lower Mississippi Valley rapidly advanced, as dry conditions prevailed in most inland areas of the Mississippi Delta. Rain delayed progress along the western Gulf Coast but provided much-needed moisture for dry soils. Six percent of the crop has emerged, compared with 12 percent a year ago. Adequate moisture promoted germination in the eastern Corn Belt and lower Mississippi Valley. Small grains: Oat planting advanced 5 percentage points, to 74 percent complete, while both spring wheat and barley planting rose 4 percentage points, to 60 and 56 percent, respectively. Oat planting was equal to the average for this date, but well behind the 92-percent pace of a year ago. Spring wheat and barley planting fell behind the normal pace of 61 and 65 percent, respectively. Rain and poor drying weather hampered small grain seeding progress in the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains. Spring wheat emergence advanced to 39 percent, and barley emergence rose to 36 percent. Cool weather in the northern Great Plains hampered emergence of both crops, but spring wheat emergence remained ahead of normal, while barley emergence fell behind the 5-year average. Oat emergence, at 61 percent, was aided by milder temperatures in the Corn Belt, but trailed last year's 72-percent pace due to soil crusting and cool weather in the northern Great Plains. Other crops: The rice crop was 88 percent planted and 63 percent emerged. Planting was ahead of last year and the average, but emergence lagged behind 1998. Sorghum planting was 25 percent complete, behind the 34 percent pace last year and the 5-year average of 35 percent. The peanut crop was 50 percent planted, behind last year's 56 percent and well behind the 5-year average in the major peanut-producing States. In the Southeast, planting accelerated as soils quickly dried, following earlier rains. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 53 26 90 76 GA : 100 100 97 98 IL : 77 58 60 63 IN : 90 57 46 50 IA : 83 66 89 80 KS : 74 47 95 82 KY : 89 78 55 62 MI : 72 41 77 49 MN : 87 79 97 76 MO : 51 39 72 68 NE : 71 27 93 77 NC : 90 85 84 94 OH : 93 71 35 53 PA : 65 42 33 42 SD : 31 20 76 45 TX : 92 81 94 94 WI : 73 53 80 59 : 17 Sts: 77 55 76 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 24 10 24 24 AR : 21 10 32 21 GA : 16 8 11 17 IL : 27 6 11 20 IN : 55 21 18 23 IA : 21 5 55 36 KS : 13 4 36 19 KY : 19 10 6 7 LA : 44 30 74 44 MI : 34 8 36 15 MN : 26 17 75 38 MS : 62 43 64 54 MO : 12 3 19 14 NE : 12 1 46 25 NC : 15 7 15 18 OH : 74 41 13 26 SC : 22 13 24 16 SD : 6 2 30 14 TN : 11 6 5 7 : 19 Sts: 28 12 34 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 3 41 29 GA : 99 97 95 NA IL : 36 9 26 NA IN : 37 9 13 NA IA : 18 2 56 28 KS : 29 16 60 NA KY : 71 54 43 55 MI : 20 3 34 11 MN : 31 8 72 23 MO : 36 27 48 NA NE : 18 2 43 28 NC : 75 72 77 NA OH : 45 16 11 16 PA : 18 3 14 NA SD : 7 0 30 6 TX : 76 67 84 NA WI : 21 1 37 NA : 17 Sts: 30 11 43 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 NA 12 2 AR : 7 NA 18 11 GA : 8 NA 3 NA IL : 3 NA 1 NA IN : 13 NA 6 NA IA : 0 NA 22 8 KS : 3 NA 9 NA KY : 3 NA 0 NA LA : 29 NA 58 30 MI : 3 NA 4 1 MN : 2 NA 24 6 MS : 43 NA 45 40 MO : 4 NA 0 NA NE : 1 NA 6 3 NC : 10 NA 9 NA OH : 22 NA 3 4 SC : 9 NA 7 7 SD : 0 NA 7 1 TN : 3 NA 2 NA : 19 Sts: 6 NA 12 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 86 70 86 86 CA : 80 50 18 42 LA : 94 89 98 92 MS : 92 85 94 96 TX : 97 93 98 90 : 5 Sts : 88 74 80 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 99 98 CA : 99 98 99 99 CO : 11 3 18 8 GA : 98 96 100 100 ID : 1 0 2 1 IL : 69 29 73 40 IN : 52 23 63 33 KS : 74 38 66 55 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 61 35 69 47 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 2 1 1 2 NC : 98 97 95 96 OH : 21 1 20 6 OK : 97 86 96 95 OR : 0 0 4 12 SD : 0 0 3 1 TX : 90 80 82 81 WA : 1 0 16 9 : 19 Sts: 59 43 57 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 67 32 75 72 FL : 49 33 60 NA GA : 54 22 65 77 NC : 45 38 44 46 OK : 37 10 44 24 SC : 65 46 61 74 TX : 32 16 38 21 VA : 80 52 51 67 : 8 Sts : 50 25 56 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 59 35 68 64 CA : 20 10 0 15 LA : 89 82 93 83 MS : 74 47 80 82 TX : 86 82 90 74 : 5 Sts : 63 46 66 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 72 53 78 78 AZ : 87 77 94 96 AR : 74 37 72 67 CA : 95 90 81 93 GA : 53 28 65 73 LA : 88 71 91 90 MS : 78 46 68 81 MO : 88 40 52 55 NM : 78 64 79 77 NC : 70 40 61 69 OK : 16 9 18 17 SC : 56 33 63 77 TN : 65 32 40 63 TX : 34 20 45 37 : 14 Sts: 56 35 58 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 79 60 82 79 CO : 6 2 8 12 IL : 4 0 2 4 KS : 7 2 11 11 LA : 80 66 91 76 MS : 89 83 67 78 MO : 14 6 14 22 NE : 5 0 26 14 NM : 2 0 7 7 OK : 5 3 10 16 SD : 1 0 26 8 TX : 50 47 62 67 : 12 Sts: 25 21 34 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 89 84 93 91 MN : 69 64 97 56 MT : 80 74 93 79 ND : 35 33 81 47 SD : 91 82 99 74 : 5 Sts : 60 56 89 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 76 70 88 85 MN : 48 42 95 51 MT : 80 75 95 78 ND : 21 20 78 44 SD : 81 69 98 66 WA : 99 94 99 94 : 6 Sts : 56 52 88 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 99 95 96 MI : 97 90 97 83 MN : 79 76 98 85 NE : 99 98 100 99 ND : 25 20 80 44 OH : 100 97 93 89 PA : 96 86 88 85 SD : 83 71 98 71 WI : 97 93 99 84 : 9 Sts : 74 69 92 74 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 66 58 72 74 MN : 52 30 77 30 MT : 32 28 70 42 ND : 27 16 55 20 SD : 77 56 86 49 : 5 Sts : 39 28 66 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 51 43 63 61 MN : 33 19 73 26 MT : 37 30 73 40 ND : 15 6 48 18 SD : 62 36 78 41 WA : 89 76 94 79 : 6 Sts : 36 27 64 38 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 16,:May 9, :May 16,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 95 88 83 85 MI : 85 64 85 47 MN : 60 49 83 55 NE : 95 90 93 NA ND : 17 8 43 16 OH : 92 89 81 75 PA : 72 53 66 NA SD : 60 38 78 47 WI : 83 59 90 NA : 9 Sts: 61 47 72 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 2 16 54 27 CA : 0 0 10 75 15 CO : 1 4 13 55 27 GA : 8 19 39 31 3 ID : 0 1 15 70 14 IL : 1 2 17 66 14 IN : 0 2 13 56 29 KS : 1 3 16 62 18 MI : 0 2 14 61 23 MO : 1 6 29 52 12 MT : 2 7 39 41 11 NE : 1 1 14 74 10 NC : 0 1 18 74 7 OH : 0 1 10 58 31 OK : 0 3 16 73 8 OR : 4 10 39 41 6 SD : 0 1 13 60 26 TX : 4 10 28 47 11 WA : 9 14 32 41 4 : 19 Sts : 2 5 20 58 15 : Prev Wk : 1 5 21 57 16 Prev Yr : 2 7 23 55 13 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 3 25 53 19 CA : 0 0 50 30 20 LA : 0 1 20 70 9 MS : 2 4 27 62 5 TX : 0 1 8 71 20 : 5 Sts : 0 2 26 56 16 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 3 31 50 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 : 5 7 26 53 9 :: NJ : 0 50 50 0 0 AZ : 20 23 31 25 1 :: NM : 12 35 34 17 2 AR : 0 3 28 61 8 :: NY : 0 13 60 27 0 CA : 0 0 20 60 20 :: NC : 0 3 25 68 4 CO : 2 5 21 59 13 :: ND : 0 3 22 61 14 CT : 0 0 7 93 0 :: OH : 1 5 24 52 18 DE : 0 3 25 72 0 :: OK : 1 6 21 58 14 FL : 10 20 65 5 0 :: OR : 0 11 14 74 1 GA : 2 11 37 47 3 :: PA : 2 9 32 50 7 ID : 0 2 13 63 22 :: RI : 0 0 2 96 2 IL : 0 2 14 59 25 :: SC : 0 3 26 63 8 IN : 0 2 17 62 19 :: SD : 1 1 8 62 28 IA : 0 2 18 54 26 :: TN : 0 3 24 60 13 KS : 1 2 16 67 14 :: TX : 5 10 35 39 11 KY : 1 8 29 50 12 :: UT : 0 1 20 68 11 LA : 2 11 39 44 4 :: VT : 0 17 43 37 3 ME : 2 16 68 14 0 :: VA : 5 13 48 31 3 MD : 1 5 26 64 4 :: WA : 5 16 39 33 7 MA : 0 0 34 66 0 :: WV : 3 16 32 46 3 MI : 3 7 35 45 10 :: WI : 1 3 8 44 44 MN : 1 5 18 57 19 :: WY : 0 1 18 53 28 MS : 1 13 36 40 10 :: : MO : 0 2 21 58 19 :: 48 Sts : 2 6 26 51 15 MT : 2 3 30 45 20 :: : NE : 0 1 14 68 17 :: Prev Wk: 2 8 28 51 11 NV : 0 1 18 75 6 :: Prev Yr: 2 8 24 50 16 NH : 0 7 47 45 1 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1998 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" will be released at 4 p.m. ET on May 25, 1999. 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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