We 1 (11-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 2, 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. 44 October 24 - 30, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Widespread precipitation fell across the southeastern Plains and the Northwest, boosting soil moisture for winter wheat emergence. Weekly rainfall exceeded 2 inches in central Oklahoma and along the West Coast from Washington to northern California. Elsewhere on the Plains, however, a lack of rainfall during October reduced topsoil moisture for winter wheat development. In the Ohio Valley, where moisture reserves have been depleted by a 15-month drought, additional moisture is also needed for proper soft red winter wheat establishment. In the Plains (except southeastern areas) and the Corn Belt, warm, dry weather aided final summer crop harvesting. Weekly temperatures ranged from 3 to 7 degrees F above normal throughout the Plains and Midwest. In contrast, weekly readings averaged as much as 6 degrees F below normal in the Southeast. Dry weather along the East Coast favored a gradual return to fieldwork, although soils remained wet in parts of southeastern Florida and the eastern Mid-Atlantic region. In southern California and the Southwest, a continuation of warm, dry conditions promoted fieldwork, including cotton harvesting and small grain planting. Early in the week, cool weather blanketed much of the Nation east of the Rockies, resulting in more than 30 daily-record lows. On Sunday, lows included 15 degrees F in Atlantic, IA, 23 degrees F in Fayetteville, AR, and 31 degrees F in Meridian, MS. A day later, as the cold air spread eastward, lows dipped to 26 degrees F in Evansville, IN and 32 degrees F in Tallahassee, FL. Across the interior Southeast, frosts and freezes burned back emerging winter grains and ended the growing season a few days earlier than normal in most areas. Warmth quickly returned to the Plains and the Midwest by midweek. On October 26, Yuma, CO (82 degrees F) posted a daily-record high. A day later, Sioux City, IA collected a daily-record high of 86 degrees F (their latest occurrence of a maximum temperature above 85 degrees F), just 3 days after a daily-record low of 18 degrees F. Elsewhere on Wednesday, highs soared to 87 degrees F in Yankton, SD and 90 degrees F in Gilbert, AR. On October 28-29, South Bend, IN (79 and 79 degrees F) and Chicago, IL (80 and 78 degrees F) tallied consecutive daily-record highs. Record warmth developed in southern California at week's end, contributing to the total of at least four dozen daily-record highs set nationally. On October 30, records were reported in locations such as Vista (94 degrees F) and Santa Barbara (91 degrees F). Farther north, a major storm system delivered much-needed precipitation to the Northwest. In Idaho, Pocatello's 53-day spell without measurable precipitation (September 5 - October 27)--their fourth-longest such streak on record--ended on Thursday with a 0.39-inch rainfall. The storm helped to boost October rainfall above normal in locations such as Pendleton, OR (1.51 inches, or 166 percent of normal) and Lewiston, ID (1.23 inches, or 137 percent). Storm-total rainfall exceeded 3 inches as far south as Blue Canyon, CA, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In California's Sacramento Valley, the storm ended a 144-day (June 5 - October 26) dry spell in Sacramento. As some of the storm's energy progressed into the Nation's mid-section, rain developed across the southeastern Plains. No rain fell, however, in some of the driest portions of the Plains and western Corn Belt, including Omaha, NE (0.04, or 2 percent of normal, during the month), ensuring their driest October since 1975. October rainfall totaled only 0.02 inch in Concordia, KS and Kearney, NE. On October 29-30, the storm produced the only measurable rainfall (0.16 inch) of the month in Wichita, KS, ending their longest dry spell since September-October 1991 at 30 days. Very cold weather (as much as 13 degrees F below normal) persisted for a second consecutive week in most of Alaska. Daily-record lows were noted in locations such as Kodiak (14 degrees F on October 27) and Cold Bay (13 degrees F on October 30). National Agricultural Summary October 25 - 31, 1999 Highlights: Harvest activities, fall tillage, and winter wheat seeding continued across most of the Nation, with few rain delays. A late-week storm halted drills and combines in parts of the southern Great Plains. Muddy fields delayed harvest progress in parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plains until late week. Rain also delayed fieldwork along the northern Pacific Coast. A few inland areas of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies received much-needed rainfall, but many wheat fields were too dry to germinate seeds. Warm weather aided winter wheat germination and growth where soil moisture levels were adequate, but increasing moisture shortages hindered development in many areas of the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Warm, dry weather aided fieldwork in the Southwest. Winter Wheat: Planting advanced to 89 percent complete, equal to last year's pace, but slightly behind the 5-year average. Arkansas farmers drilled one-fifth of their wheat acreage. In the Corn Belt, planting was nearly complete, but remained active in Indiana and Missouri. Muddy fields and the slow row crop harvest pace delayed planting in North Carolina. Farmers sowed 10 percent of their acreage in Oregon, but progress was still well behind normal. Seventy-three percent of the acreage was emerged, compared with 74 percent last year and 76 percent normally emerged by this date. Dry soils hindered crop emergence in the central and southern Great Plains, but late-week rains provided much-needed moisture to most of Oklahoma and parts of eastern Kansas and northeastern Texas. In the Corn Belt, warm weather promoted emergence and growth where moisture supplies were adequate. In many areas of the Great Plains and parts of the Corn Belt, stands were spotty and growth was uneven due to dry soils. In Oregon, emergence and development was aided by irrigation and isolated rains, but most dryland fields needed moisture to germinate seeds and promote growth. Corn: The Nation's corn acreage was 89 percent harvested, 8 percentage points ahead of a year ago, and more than 1 week ahead of the 72-percent average for this date. Above-normal temperatures quickly dried stalks and reduced grain moisture levels, aiding harvest progress in the northern Corn Belt and Great Plains. Colorado farmers harvested 30 percent of their corn acreage, and South Dakota and Wisconsin producers combined more than 20 percent of their crop. Harvest activity remained brisk in other Corn Belt States, but the pace slowed as the end of the harvest season approached, far ahead of normal in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Soybeans: Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop was harvested, 5 percentage points ahead of last year and 7 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Progress was aided by dry weather in the southern Corn Belt, Mississippi Delta, and Southeast, as hot weather quickly ripened double-cropped and late-planted soybeans. Harvest progressed 17 percentage points in Arkansas and between 10 and 15 percentage points in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Progress was far ahead of normal in Kentucky and Tennessee, and well ahead of normal in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri. Cotton: The cotton harvest was 64 percent complete, behind last year's 69-percent pace, but 4 percentage points ahead of the average for this date. Dry weather aided picking in most cotton-producing States, although muddy fields delayed progress in parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plains early in the week. Picking accelerated in the Southeast, advancing between 10 and 15 percentage points in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In North Carolina, harvest activity accelerated late in the week, but remained far behind normal. The harvest also rapidly advanced in the Southwest, especially in California, where growers picked one-fifth of their cotton. Other Crops: The sorghum crop was 88 percent harvested, ahead of last year's 83-percent pace and the normal progress of 80 percent. Dry weather aided the rapid harvest pace in the Great Plains and Corn Belt. In Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota, the harvest advanced more than 20 percentage points. The pace was only slightly slower in Kansas and Oklahoma. The peanut harvest advanced to 79 percent complete, slightly behind last year and the average for this date. Harvest activity gained momentum in South Carolina but remained slow in North Carolina due to excessive soil moisture. Digging rapidly advanced in Oklahoma before late-week rains halted progress. The end of the harvest season approached along the eastern Gulf Coast. VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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