We 1 (10-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 13, 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. 41 October 3 - 9, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Significant rain fell from the central Gulf Coast northward to the Ohio Valley, easing long-term drought and improving prospects for pastures and fall-sown crops. However, the rain adversely affected unharvested cotton in the lower Mississippi Valley. Weekly rainfall exceeded 4 inches at a few locations in the lower Ohio Valley, southern Appalachians, and southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Meanwhile, mostly dry weather aided flood-recovery efforts in eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, although wet soils continued to slow fieldwork. From the western Corn Belt and the Plains westward, mild, mostly dry weather favored rapid summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Despite scattered showers in the Northwest, soil moisture remained limited for dryland winter wheat establishment. Sub-freezing temperatures (below 32 degrees F) were reported north and west of a line from the Oklahoma Panhandle to the southern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan, causing additional winter wheat burn back, but having minimal effects on nearly mature or mature summer crops. Hard freezes (at or below 28 degrees F) ended the growing season in New England and the northern Mid-Atlantic region. In contrast, a late-week warming trend pushed temperatures above 80 degrees F as far north as South Dakota and southern Minnesota. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F below normal from Michigan to New England, but up to 3 degrees F above normal in the Southwest. Early in the week, very cool air spread from the Northwest onto the Plains, resulting in more than four dozen daily-record lows. On Sunday, daily records included 25 degrees F in LaGrande, OR, 17 degrees F in Glasgow, MT, and 13 degrees F in Williston, ND. In the Corn Belt, rain accompanied highs that reached only 39 degrees F in Dubuque, IA and 43 degrees F in Rockford, IL. A day later, widespread frost and near- to sub-freezing temperatures were noted as far south as Kansas, where daily records were established in locations such as Russell (28 degrees F), Kinsley (29 degrees F), and Scott City (30 degrees F). Farther north, lows on Monday dipped to daily-record levels in Marquette, MI (21 degrees F) and Green Bay, WI (25 degrees F). On October 5, scattered frosts coated the interior Southeast, where lows included 32 degrees F in Fayetteville, AR and 33 degrees F in Jackson, TN. In contrast, record warmth dotted the Southwest. Highs reached 99 degrees F in Utah's Zion National Park (on Monday) and Safford, AZ (on Tuesday). Warm air spread gradually eastward thereafter, reaching the Rocky Mountain States by week's end. In southern California, Vista (96 and 100 degrees F) and Escondido (97 and 96 degrees F) closed the week with consecutive daily-record highs. Meanwhile in Wyoming, daily-record highs were tied on Saturday in Casper (80 degrees F) and Rock Springs (73 degrees F). Cool air settled into the Northeastern States at midweek, preceded by rain and snow. On Monday, snow depths reached 7 inches at Jay Peak, VT and 2 inches in Lake Placid, NY. On Thursday, daily-record lows were reported at Youngstown, OH (26 degrees F), Binghamton, NY (27 degrees F), and Scranton, PA (28 degrees F). Farther west, locally heavy rain developed on the central High Plains. In Colorado Springs, a daily-record rainfall (0.90 inch) on October 7 boosted their year-to-date total to 26.17 inches, eclipsing their previous annual record of 25.43 inches, set in 1965. On October 8, measurable rain fell in Spokane, WA for the first time since August 31, ending their longest dry spell since 1994 at 37 days. However, Spokane's weekly rainfall totaled only 0.09 inch, while nearby Lewiston, ID received only a trace. Farther east, much-needed rain soaked the Ohio Valley on October 8-9. On Saturday, Louisville's daily-record rainfall of 2.71 inches exceeded their record-low July-September total of 2.01 inches. Similarly, storm-total (October 9-10) rainfall in Tennessee reached 2.97 inches in Chattanooga and 1.90 inches in Knoxville, surpassing the stations' record-low August-September totals of 1.07 and 1.67 inches, respectively. In Mississippi, Tupelo's month-to-date rainfall reached 1.65 inches, following their record-dry September (0.05 inch). In Little Rock, AR measurable rain (0.55 inch) fell on Thursday for the first time since September 13. A day later, Little Rock's 1.02-inch total represented their first day with more than 1 inch of rain since April 26. Farther west, however, very dry conditions persisted in central and eastern Texas. In Houston, August 1 - October 11 rainfall totaled 1.87 inches (19 percent of normal), leaving their year-to-date total at 23.80 inches (66 percent). National Agricultural Summary October 4 - 10, 1999 Highlights: Winter wheat seeding and row crop harvest rapidly advanced, as dry weather prevailed across the Nation most of the week. Rain halted harvest activity along the Ohio River Valley and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast late in the week. Harvest activity slowly gained momentum in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, where excessive wetness gradually diminished. In parts of the Pacific Northwest, wheat seedings were delayed by severe soil moisture shortages. Warm weather quickly ripened crops and the harvest pace accelerated in California. Corn: Ninety-seven percent of the acreage was mature, slightly behind last year's 98-percent pace. Harvest progress, at 43 percent, was 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Maturation and harvest progress were more than 1 week ahead of normal. Seasonal temperatures aided ripening in Colorado and South Dakota, where 19 and 12 percent, respectively, matured during the week. Most of the crop was mature in the Corn Belt, well ahead of normal in Michigan and Ohio. Acreage mature lagged behind the 5-year average in Pennsylvania due to below-normal temperatures. Growers took advantage of nearly ideal weather in the Corn Belt, harvesting 10 to 20 percent of the corn crop in most areas. Late-week rains halted harvest activity along the Ohio River Valley, limiting progress in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. However, harvest progress remained well ahead of normal in most areas of the Corn Belt east of the Mississippi River. Soybeans: Ninety-four percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, slightly ahead of last year's 93-percent pace and 4 percentage points ahead of the average for this date. Above-normal temperatures aided progress in the Southeast, while warm daytime temperatures promoted development in the middle Atlantic States, as well as Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Fifty-four percent of the acreage was harvested, compared with 51 percent last year, and ahead of the 45-percent average. Dry weather aided progress in most of the Corn Belt, especially in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, where growers harvested more than a third of their acreage. Late-week rains halted combines near the Ohio River Valley in the eastern Corn Belt, but progress remained far ahead of normal in Ohio and Kentucky. Harvest was also active in the Mississippi Delta before rain interrupted progress near the end of the week. Cotton: Bolls opening advanced to 91 percent complete, slightly behind last year's 92-percent progress, but more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Development continued to lag in California, even though above-normal temperatures accelerated ripening. Warm weather also aided development in North and South Carolina, where bolls opening advanced 7 percentage points. Thirty-six percent of the acreage was harvested, behind last year's 42 percent, but 4 percentage points ahead of the average for this date. Harvest rapidly advanced in the lower Mississippi Valley before late-week rains halted progress. Winter Wheat: Winter wheat seeding advanced to 68 percent, nearly 1 week ahead of last year when 56 percent was seeded, and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Seeding of soft red winter wheat progressed between 20 and 30 percentage points in the eastern Corn Belt before late-week rains halted progress. Dry weather also aided progress in the Great Plains and northern Rocky Mountains, but planting fell farther behind normal in Oregon due to excessively dry soils. Only 5 percent of the Oregon crop was planted, compared with the normal pace of 50 percent. Thirty-nine percent of the acreage was emerged, ahead of last year's 34 percent and slightly ahead of the 38-percent average for this date. Seasonal temperatures and adequate soil moisture aided emergence and growth in most areas of the Great Plains. Late-week rains provided much-needed moisture for germinating recently planted wheat in the eastern Corn Belt. Rice: Ninety percent of the crop was harvested, compared with 88 percent last year and the 87-percent average. Dry weather aided harvest efforts in California, where progress advanced 30 percentage points. In the Mississippi Delta, the harvest season neared completion, as rain delays were minimal. Sorghum: Eighty-five percent of the crop was mature, equal to the 5-year average but behind last year's rapid progress. Warm daytime temperatures quickly ripened fields in the Great Plains, but development lagged behind normal in Nebraska and South Dakota due to cold nighttime temperatures. Forty-seven percent of the acreage was harvested, the same as a year ago and slightly ahead of the average. Harvest advanced 30 percentage points in Illinois before late-week rains temporarily interrupted progress. In the Great Plains, harvest gained momentum as mostly dry weather prevailed. Peanuts: Harvest progressed to 50 percent, slightly ahead of the 47-percent average for this date, and well ahead of last year when just 37 percent was harvested by this date. Digging rapidly advanced in Florida and Georgia, but rain interfered with progress in parts of Alabama. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, soils slowly dried and digging gained momentum, but progress lagged well behind normal in the Carolinas and Virginia. Dry weather aided digging in Oklahoma. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 71 61 78 70 AR : 61 47 68 54 GA : 66 58 68 71 IL : 98 90 94 93 IN : 100 100 98 97 IA : 100 96 100 97 KS : 91 77 98 94 KY : 89 82 83 75 LA : 93 91 95 85 MI : 100 100 99 93 MN : 99 98 99 99 MS : 98 93 96 84 MO : 89 79 89 82 NE : 99 96 100 99 NC : 48 38 48 45 OH : 100 100 100 96 SC : 24 19 17 20 SD : 99 93 100 99 TN : 86 74 88 76 : 19 Sts: 94 88 93 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 2 5 12 CA : 2 1 0 1 CO : 96 87 94 91 GA : 2 1 4 3 ID : 66 40 71 65 IL : 36 7 16 30 IN : 42 20 41 39 KS : 79 60 51 70 MI : 61 36 57 56 MO : 26 13 16 28 MT : 81 72 76 75 NE : 97 92 94 95 NC : 15 10 19 19 OH : 62 34 60 47 OK : 74 55 42 61 OR : 5 1 51 50 SD : 92 80 92 93 TX : 59 50 60 64 WA : 84 79 88 85 : 19 Sts: 68 53 56 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 30 20 26 15 AR : 31 20 29 21 GA : 12 9 7 7 IL : 51 34 47 55 IN : 70 52 54 52 IA : 67 32 62 58 KS : 28 11 30 33 KY : 52 44 30 17 LA : 75 61 72 56 MI : 46 29 42 28 MN : 67 32 79 56 MS : 68 62 71 52 MO : 36 19 28 26 NE : 64 27 50 49 NC : 10 8 5 5 OH : 74 51 68 47 SC : 5 5 3 2 SD : 36 16 53 42 TN : 38 26 24 12 : 19 Sts: 54 32 51 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 2 4 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 75 55 77 73 GA : 0 0 1 1 ID : 21 13 31 30 IL : 3 0 5 6 IN : 7 2 16 11 KS : 45 25 30 39 MI : 26 5 30 30 MO : 7 0 5 10 MT : 43 30 46 39 NE : 79 62 77 77 NC : 4 2 0 0 OH : 10 2 17 12 OK : 33 22 15 23 OR : 1 0 31 22 SD : 71 47 76 76 TX : 35 29 35 42 WA : 63 58 74 67 : 19 Sts: 39 26 34 38 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 91 72 95 87 GA : 100 100 100 100 IL : 99 98 98 94 IN : 100 99 98 92 IA : 100 100 100 97 KS : 99 91 100 98 KY : 100 100 100 95 MI : 96 94 99 75 MN : 98 95 99 97 MO : 100 97 99 97 NE : 96 91 100 96 NC : 100 100 100 100 OH : 99 93 97 76 PA : 64 58 69 69 SD : 90 78 98 94 TX : 100 99 100 99 WI : 98 91 97 83 : 17 Sts: 97 94 98 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 99 CO : 64 43 72 55 IL : 91 89 83 78 KS : 86 74 97 86 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 91 80 94 87 NE : 87 74 97 92 NM : 32 20 45 37 OK : 77 69 70 51 SD : 84 70 94 93 TX : 87 84 91 90 : 12 Sts: 85 77 92 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 15 10 32 23 GA : 99 97 97 95 IL : 59 43 44 31 IN : 55 40 28 22 IA : 33 18 29 20 KS : 52 40 70 56 KY : 92 88 83 64 MI : 28 16 31 16 MN : 28 9 44 21 MO : 69 56 61 51 NE : 32 17 42 23 NC : 75 65 94 82 OH : 42 26 21 13 PA : 20 18 22 19 SD : 19 12 30 16 TX : 91 84 92 89 WI : 28 16 26 15 : 17 Sts: 43 29 41 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 96 97 92 CO : 15 10 6 10 IL : 51 21 28 19 KS : 28 18 41 33 LA : 100 99 100 97 MS : 100 99 100 97 MO : 58 50 54 47 NE : 21 7 20 22 NM : 9 2 1 3 OK : 24 16 23 17 SD : 19 14 34 22 TX : 83 80 66 71 : 12 Sts: 47 40 47 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 93 88 92 86 AZ : 100 100 97 99 AR : 98 96 96 94 CA : 90 80 88 97 GA : 89 85 85 85 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 98 MO : 100 100 100 95 NM : 85 80 88 91 NC : 95 88 98 95 OK : 97 96 98 70 SC : 87 80 93 88 TN : 100 100 100 99 TX : 87 82 89 76 : 14 Sts: 91 87 92 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 87 92 89 CA : 60 30 51 57 LA : 100 99 99 98 MS : 94 84 96 94 TX : 100 100 98 98 : 5 Sts : 90 82 88 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 42 32 47 32 AZ : 13 9 16 25 AR : 62 43 43 36 CA : 3 1 1 12 GA : 24 18 22 22 LA : 83 66 73 63 MS : 68 52 76 56 MO : 82 59 29 37 NM : 2 0 5 6 NC : 5 1 29 20 OK : 21 6 49 18 SC : 23 12 40 25 TN : 59 47 55 38 TX : 28 24 48 31 : 14 Sts: 36 28 42 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 10,:Oct 3, :Oct 10,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 68 59 33 61 FL : 86 71 37 38 GA : 67 52 41 63 NC : 15 10 37 31 OK : 30 8 17 25 SC : 28 19 38 48 TX : 21 18 32 24 VA : 49 34 55 65 : 8 Sts : 50 39 37 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 18 45 25 7 FL : 4 8 60 27 1 GA : 11 17 41 27 4 NC : 14 17 35 30 4 OK : 1 10 21 44 24 SC : 1 12 46 29 12 TX : 3 7 19 48 23 VA : 2 4 34 53 7 : 8 Sts : 7 13 36 34 10 : Prev Wk : 7 14 34 36 9 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 18 33 29 19 1 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 0 1 9 42 48 :: NM : 1 5 30 54 10 AR : 30 37 24 8 1 :: NY : 0 0 45 50 5 CA : 15 30 45 10 0 :: NC : 8 16 39 35 2 CO : 1 5 24 58 12 :: ND : 1 4 23 63 9 CT : 0 0 14 86 0 :: OH : 22 33 32 12 1 DE : 3 12 38 47 0 :: OK : 4 12 46 37 1 FL : 0 5 35 50 10 :: OR : 11 40 21 28 0 GA : 10 25 39 25 1 :: PA : 23 13 32 27 5 ID : 2 25 32 40 1 :: RI : 2 38 38 20 2 IL : 22 21 35 21 1 :: SC : 5 18 45 31 1 IN : 49 31 17 3 0 :: SD : 1 4 18 58 19 IA : 9 24 39 24 4 :: TN : 55 29 14 2 0 KS : 0 11 35 51 3 :: TX : 25 36 30 8 1 KY : 51 29 15 4 1 :: UT : 2 11 33 48 6 LA : 11 32 38 16 3 :: VT : 0 0 29 71 0 ME : 3 8 21 65 3 :: VA : 6 17 27 38 12 MD : 1 12 21 58 8 :: WA : 16 35 33 14 2 MA : 7 10 18 65 0 :: WV : 13 39 33 12 3 MI : 11 15 34 37 3 :: WI : 1 12 54 31 2 MN : 3 11 27 49 10 :: WY : 0 2 17 71 10 MS : 21 24 34 19 2 :: : MO : 35 33 25 6 1 :: 48 Sts : 14 21 32 29 4 MT : 5 22 36 34 3 :: : NE : 4 16 34 38 8 :: Prev Wk: 14 21 31 30 4 NV : 5 5 15 68 7 :: Prev Yr: 7 18 33 37 5 NH : 0 2 41 46 11 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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