We 1 (4-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 11, 2000, 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 87, No. 15 April 2 - 8, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A slow-moving storm system produced torrential rainfall across the South early in the week, halting fieldwork but further easing long-term drought. Significant precipitation also spread into the East, primarily along and west of the Appalachian cordillera. The ensuing storm system primarily affected areas farther to the north, replenishing topsoil moisture in parts of the Corn Belt and Great Lakes States, and maintaining wet conditions in the Northeast. Cold, snowy conditions increased livestock stress from the northern Plains and northern Corn Belt into the Northeast. Meanwhile, strong high-pressure systems moved across the Plains and into the Southeast on April 4-5 and 8-9, bringing short-lived cold episodes. However, the cold outbreaks did not have a major effect on the central and southern Plains' jointing winter wheat or the Southeast's blooming fruit trees. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal in the South-Central States, and were generally within 3 degrees F of normal in the Southeast. Mild weather (temperatures up to 9 degrees F above normal) lingered in the Northeast, while warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in the West. In the Northwest, warmth (3 to 7 degrees F above normal) promoted winter wheat development. Weekly readings ranged from 4 to 14 degrees F above normal in most of California, Arizona, and the Great Basin, spurring fieldwork and crop development. Across the South, weekly rainfall exceeded 4 inches in many areas from central Louisiana to the southern Appalachians. April 1-8 rainfall reached 6.38 inches in Jackson, MS and 4.29 inches in Houston, TX. Jackson recently experienced their lowest December-February rainfall on record (5.93 inches, or 37 percent of normal), followed by a drier-than-normal March (4.41 inches, or 76 percent). Houston completed their driest August-March period on record (10.86 inches, or 42 percent of normal). However, mostly dry weather persisted across central and southern Florida and returned to the remainder of the lower Southeast, including northern Florida and southern Georgia. Through week's end, year-to-date rainfall in Florida stood at 2.04 inches (22 percent of normal) in Orlando, 2.78 inches (33 percent) in Tampa, and 7.39 inches (42 percent) in Tallahassee. In contrast, Birmingham, AL netted 6.18 inches during the first 8 days of April, boosting their year-to-date sum to 24.74 inches (141 percent of normal). Fleeting shots of cold air reached the central and southern Plains on April 4 and 8. In Kansas, where 60 percent of the winter wheat was jointing on April 9, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, temperatures twice fell into the lower to middle 20's across western and northern areas. Lows on the cold mornings dipped to 21 and 22 degrees F in Hill City and 23 degrees F (both days) in Garden City. Farther south, April 4 and 8 lows included 25 and 28 degrees F in Gage, OK and 32 and 27 degrees F in Dalhart, TX. Winter wheat was 89 percent jointing and 10 percent headed in Oklahoma, and 20 percent headed in Texas. Meanwhile in Nebraska, where wheat was mostly tillering, lows in North Platte fell to 14 and 17 degrees F on Tuesday and Saturday, respectively. Between cold snaps, an equally brief hot spell set more than a dozen daily-record highs on April 5. Concordia, KS noted a record high of 92 degrees F on Wednesday, just a day after a low of 27 degrees F. Concordia then reported a low of 25 degrees F on April 8. Farther north, record highs on Wednesday included 86 degrees F in Des Moines, IA, 88 degrees F in Atlantic, IA, and 89 degrees F in Lincoln, NE. Two days later, Del Rio, TX posted a daily-record high of 101 degrees F. In the Southeast, daily-record lows on April 5 included 30 degrees F in Jackson, TN and 32 degrees F in Macon, GA. A day later in Florida, record lows were noted in Melbourne (42 degrees F) and Orlando (41 degrees F). The second surge of cold air arrived at week's end, and by Sunday morning, April 9, lows of 30 degrees F in Meridian, MS and 32 degrees F in Macon were among nearly 20 daily-record lows. In contrast, the first half of the week featured nearly three dozen daily-record highs in the West. On Sunday, Ukiah, CA logged a high of 92 degrees F, their second consecutive daily record. A day later, daily-record highs included 91 degrees F in Fresno, CA and 86 degrees F in Medford, OR. Rain and snow spread across the Corn Belt on April 7, providing much-needed topsoil moisture but having little effect on long-term precipitation deficits. April 1-8 precipitation totaled 0.29 inch in Moline, IL, leaving their July 1, 1999 - April 8, 2000, total at 18.85 inches (68 percent of normal). Similarly, Cedar Rapids, IA received 0.28 during the first 8 days of April, leaving their total since July 1 at 13.92 inches (60 percent of normal). Farther north, significant snow blanketed a few areas from the Dakotas to Lower Michigan. Storm-total snowfall reached11.0 inches in Huron, SD, 6.6 inches in Milwaukee, WI, and 4.9 inches in Houghton Lake, MI. At week's end, rain changed to snow across much of the Northeast. Near- to slightly below-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, following the previous week's cold snap. Weekly readings were as much as 5 degrees F below normal across interior sections. Significant precipitation was confined to southeastern Alaska. Meanwhile, most of Hawaii experienced a second consecutive week of drought-easing showers. National Agricultural Summary April 3 - 9, 2000 Highlights: Fieldwork continued with few delays in the Great Plains and the western Corn Belt. However, precipitation occurred from eastern Texas northeastward into New England, halting fieldwork in the eastern Corn Belt, parts of the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, and Atlantic Coast States. Warm, dry weather aided planting progress and stimulated crop development in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Winter wheat growth slowed after a cold front passed through the Great Plains and Corn Belt. Soil moisture shortages stressed dryland wheat fields in the southern High Plains, but moisture supplies remained mostly adequate to support wheat development in the central Great Plains and eastern Corn Belt. Soil moisture shortages increased along the eastern Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coastal Plains, as mostly dry weather continued. Winter Wheat: Six percent of the Nation's winter wheat was at the heading stage or beyond, compared with 4 percent last year and the average of 3 percent. Above-normal temperatures promoted development in California and the Pacific Northwest. Forty-five percent of the acreage was headed in California, ahead of last year and the average. A cold front slowed growth in the Great Plains and Corn Belt, but development remained ahead of normal in most areas. In Texas, winter wheat headed advanced 9 percentage points to 20 percent headed, double the normal pace of 10 percent. Winter wheat rapidly progressed to the heading stage in Arkansas, advancing to 23 percent headed, compared with 12 percent normally headed by this date. Development also remained well ahead of normal in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado even though temperatures averaged slightly below normal. In Oklahoma, 89 percent was at the jointing stage or beyond and 10 percent was headed, compared with the normal progress of 78 percent jointed and 3 percent headed by this date. Wheat acreage in Kansas and Colorado was 60 and 23 percent jointed respectively, well ahead of the average in both States. Corn: Four percent of the corn acreage was planted, slightly ahead last year and the 5-year average. Planting rapidly progressed in the southern Corn Belt and Tennessee River Valley. Dry weather aided progress in Missouri, where progress advanced 21 percentage points, to 26 percent planted statewide. More than half of the acreage was planted in the Bootheel. Planting advanced more than 10 percentage points in Kentucky and Tennessee before mid-week rains halted progress. Planting accelerated in North Carolina, but was slightly behind the 5-year average. Growers began planting in the central and eastern Corn Belt, progressing slightly ahead of normal before rain halted progress. Soil moisture was adequate to germinate seeds along the Ohio River Valley, but a few emerged fields were damaged by freezing temperatures after mid-week. Cotton: Planting advanced 4 percentage points, to 8 percent complete, ahead of last year's 5-percent pace and the 6-percent average for this date. Dry weather and above-normal temperatures aided rapid progress in the Southwest. Planting advanced 25 percentage points in California and 27 percentage points in Arizona. Planting began in the Southeast and progressed slightly ahead of normal in South Carolina due to warm, dry weather. Cool, wet weather limited planting in Alabama, where progress fell slightly behind the 5-year average. Rain also prevented planting in the lower Mississippi Valley. Small grains: Oat seeding advanced to 29 percent, well ahead of last year's rapid progress, and 20 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Dry weather aided progress across the northern Corn Belt, especially in Iowa, where growers seeded nearly two-thirds of their intended oat acreage. Planting was active in the eastern Corn Belt and upper Ohio River Valley before rain and snow halted progress near mid-week. The barley acreage was 12 percent seeded, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's pace, and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Dry weather aided progress in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Planting accelerated in Minnesota and began in North Dakota. Spring wheat planting was 13 percent complete, ahead of last year's 8 percent pace, and the 4-percent average for this date. Progress was aided by dry weather in Idaho, South Dakota, and Washington. Other crops: Seventeen percent of the rice crop was planted, slightly ahead of normal due to rapid progress along the western Gulf Coast. Planting was more than 50 percent complete in Texas and Louisiana, where progress advanced 13 and 14 percentage points respectively. Rain delayed planting in inland areas of the Mississippi Delta. Progress was slightly behind average in Arkansas, and well behind normal in Mississippi. Planting began in California, as warm weather raised soil temperatures. Fourteen percent of the sorghum acreage was planted, equal to the 5-year average, and slightly ahead of this date last year. Planting progressed ahead of normal in Arkansas, but was delayed by rain in other areas of the Mississippi Delta. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 23 6 7 12 CA : 45 35 37 40 CO : 0 0 0 0 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 0 0 0 0 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 20 15 17 8 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 10 8 5 3 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 20 11 13 10 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 6 4 4 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 39 20 27 28 MN : 10 4 2 0 MT : 7 3 8 3 ND : 2 1 1 0 SD : 45 19 21 7 WA : 47 25 47 39 : 6 Sts : 13 6 8 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 0 1 1 IL : 4 0 2 1 IN : 1 0 1 0 IA : 0 0 0 0 KS : 3 0 2 2 KY : 13 1 6 7 MI : 0 0 0 0 MN : 0 0 0 0 MO : 26 5 10 10 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 15 5 21 19 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 1 0 3 1 PA : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TN : 25 14 10 21 TX : 55 53 52 48 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 4 2 3 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 0 5 4 AZ : 28 1 14 26 AR : 0 0 0 0 CA : 35 10 2 13 GA : 2 0 2 2 LA : 0 0 0 0 MS : 0 0 1 1 MO : 0 0 0 0 NC : 0 0 0 1 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 5 0 2 1 TN : 0 0 1 0 TX : 11 9 9 10 VA : 0 0 0 0 : 14 Sts: 8 4 5 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 4 4 9 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 4 0 4 6 MO : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 1 0 0 2 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 40 38 37 40 : 11 Sts: 14 13 13 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 1 1 7 CA : 1 0 0 0 LA : 54 40 54 46 MS : 2 1 4 15 TX : 59 46 41 37 : 5 Sts : 17 11 14 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 95% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 79 15 69 28 MN : 26 7 4 1 NE : 83 66 48 31 ND : 1 0 1 0 OH : 38 23 42 29 PA : 21 8 23 22 SD : 32 14 21 6 WI : 24 7 17 4 : 8 Sts : 29 11 20 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 24% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 22 13 19 19 MN : 10 4 0 0 MT : 11 2 9 4 ND : 1 1 0 0 WA : 31 16 34 29 : 5 Sts : 12 5 10 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 2 17 52 29 CA : 0 0 20 65 15 CO : 1 2 14 62 21 ID : 0 3 19 64 14 IL : 0 4 20 58 18 IN : 1 4 22 54 19 KS : 2 8 31 47 12 MI : 0 2 15 50 33 MO : 0 3 33 52 12 MT : 2 7 35 50 6 NE : 5 13 34 42 6 NC : 0 1 11 76 12 OH : 0 1 12 53 34 OK : 1 4 20 60 15 OR : 0 0 36 62 2 SD : 0 4 25 61 10 TX : 27 29 29 14 1 WA : 0 0 11 74 15 : 18 Sts : 5 9 25 49 12 : Prev Wk : 5 9 26 48 12 Prev Yr : 1 4 22 59 14 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1999 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12:00 p.m. ET on April 18, 2000. 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