We 1 (4-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 25, 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. 17 April 16 - 22, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: In the Corn Belt, a pair of storms provided much-needed topsoil moisture and eased long-term drought, especially across northern and eastern areas. Heavy rain also soaked areas from the Mid-Atlantic States into New England. Farther west, blizzard conditions engulfed western South Dakota and adjacent areas at midweek. Significant precipitation bypassed several areas, however, including most of western Iowa and central Nebraska. Meanwhile, mostly dry weather returned to California and the Northwest, following widespread rainfall early in the week that slowed fieldwork but benefited small grains. Dry, frequently windy weather dried topsoils and favored fieldwork on the central and southern High Plains, where cold air briefly spread across the region between storm systems. From western Nebraska southward into northernmost Texas, temperatures on the morning of April 16 were similar to those observed during the cold outbreaks of April 4 and 8. Once again, the cold snap--which was followed by a brief hot spell--did not have a major effect on jointing winter wheat. Mostly dry weather prevailed across the South, ending a 6-week period of significant rainfall that benefited pastures and newly planted summer crops, but occasionally slowed or halted fieldwork, particularly in the lower Mississippi Valley. In areas of the Southeast that missed the drought-easing rains, including locations along and near the eastern Gulf Coast, late-week warmth increased stress on pastures and unirrigated summer crops. Although several brief cold and warm episodes affected the Nation during the week, very few daily record lows or highs were set, and temperatures averaged within 5 degree F of normal across the lower 48 States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Early in the week, cold weather briefly returned to the High Plains. On Sunday, Garden City, KS noted a daily-record low of 23 degree F, following lows of 23 degree F on April 4 and 8. Temperatures dipped slightly below freezing as far south as Amarillo, TX (31 degree F), and fell as low as 12 degree F in Scottsbluff, NE. Temperatures quickly rebounded thereafter, soaring above 90 degree F in some High Plains locations on April 25. Daily-record highs included 94 degree F in Midland, TX and 91 degree F in Garden City. A day later in western Texas, Dryden recorded a high of 102 degree F. Meanwhile, a strong Pacific storm system brought locally heavy rain to California and southwestern Oregon. Sacramento, CA netted a daily-record total (1.48 inches on April 17), well above their monthly normal of 1.24 inches. Elsewhere in California, daily-record totals on Monday included 2.33 inches on Mt. Wilson, 1.68 inches in Pasadena, 1.24 inches in downtown Los Angeles, and 0.97 inch in Fresno. In northern California, Redding's month-to-date rainfall reached 3.57 inches, boosting their total since July 1, 1999, to 32.00 inches (103 percent of normal). The storm responsible for the West Coast's precipitation shifted inland at midweek, delivering heavy precipitation to Wyoming and South Dakota, and the week's second round of rainfall to much of the Corn Belt and the mid-Atlantic. Early-week showers had produced locally 1 inch of rain from the middle Missouri Valley southward into eastern Kansas, and in scattered areas from eastern Iowa to the Ohio Valley. By Wednesday, blizzard conditions enveloped the Black Hills, where Rapid City, SD recorded a 2-day (April 18-19) precipitation total of 4.65 inches and 18.5 inches of snow--driven by wind gusts as high as 59 mph--on the latter date. The storm propelled Rapid City to their wettest April (4.96 inches through the 22nd) since 5.16 inches fell in 1967 and snowiest April (23.9 inches through the 22nd) since 30.6 inches fell in 1970. Meanwhile in Wyoming, storm-total snowfall reached 4.5 inches in Casper, while Lander's 2-day rainfall of 1.26 inches accounted for 49 percent of their year-to-date total. The storm also soaked western Nebraska as Scottsbluff netted a total of 2.10 inches. As the system slowly tracked eastward across the Corn Belt on Thursday and Friday, a large swath of showers and thunderstorms developed north and east of the low pressure center, providing badly needed moisture (2 to 5 inches) to an area impacted by long-term drought (eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwestern Ohio). In lower Michigan, daily rainfall records (on April 20) included 2.49 inches at Grand Rapids and 2.10 inches at Lansing, while the storm total of nearly 3.50 inches at Detroit upped its month-to-date total to 4.35 inches, more than half its year-to-date amount (8.03 inches). In contrast, warm, dry weather in the South helped set an April 20 record high of 83oF at Galveston, TX. Similar to the Midwest, much of the mid-Atlantic and New England also experienced a wet week as two separate, slow-moving storm systems, one early and one late in the week, brought ample precipitation to the area. On April 17-18, a storm moved eastward from the lower Ohio Valley to the North Carolina coast, bringing 0.5 to 2 inches of rain from lower New England southward to the Carolinas, with more than 2.30 inches measured at Richmond, VA. As the storm finally moved away from the East Coast on Wednesday, the storm in the Corn Belt began to impact the region by Friday morning. Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the system, dumping copious rains (3 to 6 inches) on portions of Long Island, eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts. Through Saturday morning, cooperative observers totaled 6.64 inches at Baldwin, NY, 3.50 inches at Shirley, MA, 3.30 inches at Bolton, CT, and 3.08 inches at Nashua, NH. A Friday rainfall record of 3.34 inches fell on Bridgeport, CT, and the 1.51 inches on Saturday at Bangor, ME set a new record. Strong winds also accompanied the system, with Milton-Blue Hill, MA and Boston, MA recording gusts near 50 mph Saturday morning as the storm slowly tracked northeastward along the New England coast. Seasonable temperatures enveloped most of Alaska, with temperatures averaging within 1 degree F of normal, except for departures up to +5 degree F in southwestern portions. Stormy weather affected southern and southeastern sections of the State, with weekly totals of 1.70 inches at Juneau, 3.08 inches at Sitka, 5.92 inches at Ketchikan, and 6.52 inches at Yakutat. In Hawaii, mostly dry, cool weather prevailed, with scattered, light showers limited to windward sections. National Agricultural Summary April 17 - 23, 2000 Highlights: Dry weather aided fieldwork across most of the Nation, but heavy rain halted fieldwork in the central Corn Belt and around the Great Lakes near mid-week. Planting accelerated in the southern Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, Great Plains, and Southeast. However, lingering wetness limited progress in parts of the Southeast early in the week. Also, dry soils and strong winds hindered planting in parts of the southern Great Plains, eastern Gulf Coast, and Atlantic Coastal Plains. Planting and general fieldwork remained active in the Southwest, with only modest rain delays in the California valleys. Crop emergence and development remained mostly ahead of normal due to adequate moisture and seasonal temperatures. Heavy rain limited field activities between the Atlantic coast and Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to New England. Winter Wheat: Twenty percent of the winter wheat crop was at the heading stage or beyond, compared with last year's 14-percent progress, and 1 week ahead of the 12-percent normal for this date. Mostly seasonal temperatures aided development in the lower Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and a large portion of the Great Plains. In Arkansas, the acreage at or beyond the heading stage jumped 35 percentage points, to 85 percent. Slightly over half of the acreage was heading in North Carolina and just under half of the crop was heading in Oklahoma and Texas. Two percent of the acreage entered the heading stage in Kansas and 3 percent was heading in Colorado. A few fields advanced to the heading stage near the Ohio River Valley in the Corn Belt and one-fourth of the wheat fields were heading in the Missouri Bootheel. Nearly all winter wheat was heading in California, with some early-planted fields approaching maturity, while a few dryland fields remained at the boot stage. Mostly adequate soil moisture supplies aided crop development in the central Great Plains and Corn Belt. Conditions deteriorated in parts of the northern and southern High Plains due to increasing moisture shortages. Corn: Nineteen percent of the corn acreage was planted, well ahead of last year's 9-percent pace and the 5-year average of 10 percent. Planting accelerated in the Corn Belt, but was halted by heavy rain in eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and parts of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Mostly dry weather aided progress in Missouri, where 77 percent of the corn was planted, far ahead of the 29-percent average. In southern Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, rain delays were brief and planting rapidly progressed, with well over half of the acreage planted in some areas. Mostly dry weather aided rapid progress in Kansas and North Carolina, but progress was slow in Pennsylvania due to heavy rain. Cotton: Planting advanced to 16 percent complete, 4 percentage points ahead of this date last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting remained active in the Southwest, advancing 25 percentage points in California and 16 percentage points in Arizona. In California, planting was 90 percent complete, more than double the normal pace. In the lower Mississippi Valley, planting slowly gained momentum as dry weather permitted excess moisture to drain from wet fields. Wet soils limited progress in parts of the Southeast early in the week, while moisture shortages delayed planting along the eastern Gulf Coast and parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Rice: Forty-three percent of the rice acreage was planted, slightly ahead of the normal progress for this date, and 6-percentage points ahead of a year ago. Progress remained ahead of normal in Texas and Louisiana, but lagged in the interior Mississippi Delta. Planting was well behind normal in Mississippi, although progress accelerated near mid-week, as excess moisture drained from wet soils. Twenty percent of the crop was emerged, well ahead of normal along the western Gulf Coast. Spring Wheat: Planting was 31-percent complete, nearly 1 week ahead of last year's 21-percent pace, and more than 1 week ahead of the 15-percent normal for this date. Planting remained active in Idaho and Washington, where over three-fourths of the acreage was seeded. In North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, planting accelerated as dry weather prevailed. Emergence, at 8 percent, was also 1 week ahead of a year ago and the 4-percent normal for this date. Adequate moisture supplies and above-normal temperatures promoted rapid emergence in Idaho, Washington, and South Dakota. Oats: Seeding advanced to 51 percent of intended acreage, more than 1 week ahead of last year's 35-percent pace, and more than double the 25-percent average for this date. Planting was nearly complete in Iowa and Nebraska. However, rain limited progress in most areas of the Corn Belt. In the northern Great Plains, planting accelerated due to dry weather and above-normal temperatures. Twenty percent of the crop was emerged. Rain provided moisture for germination in the central Corn Belt and Great Lakes region. Oat fields rapidly emerged in Nebraska, despite diminishing soil moisture reserves. Barley: The crop was 35-percent seeded, 8 percentage points ahead of last year's pace, and more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average of 20 percent. Dry weather aided rapid progress in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. Ten percent of the crop was emerged, compared with 8 percent last year and 6 percent normally emerged by this date. Warm weather and mostly adequate moisture supplies promoted emergence in Idaho and Washington. Sorghum: Seventeen percent of the sorghum acreage was planted, slightly ahead of a year ago, but behind the 18-percent average for this date. Planting accelerated in the Mississippi Delta, especially in Arkansas, where planting advanced 22 percentage points, and in the Missouri Bootheel. Other crops: Twenty-nine percent of the sugar beets and 3 percent of the peanuts were planted. Sugar beet planting was nearly complete in Idaho, but rain slowed progress in Michigan. Beet planting gained momentum in Minnesota and North Dakota. Peanut planting lagged behind normal in Alabama and Georgia due to excessive dryness. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 85 50 64 55 CA : 95 85 74 85 CO : 3 0 1 0 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 1 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 1 1 KS : 2 0 1 1 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 12 1 2 3 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 52 40 42 31 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 46 27 30 24 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 46 37 33 32 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 20 13 14 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 15 5 22 25 AZ : 56 40 34 59 AR : 2 0 3 3 CA : 90 65 37 43 GA : 10 4 11 12 LA : 14 1 14 10 MS : 5 0 7 8 MO : 7 *0 2 2 NC : 6 2 9 9 OK : 0 0 3 2 SC : 10 7 13 10 TN : 1 0 5 4 TX : 14 13 12 15 VA : 5 0 4 7 : 14 Sts: 16 11 12 14 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 14 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 9 1 7 10 IL : 31 13 7 11 IN : 11 5 5 6 IA : 10 2 2 3 KS : 40 20 16 22 KY : 45 28 37 33 MI : 4 0 0 1 MN : 7 2 4 5 MO : 77 53 25 29 NE : 12 4 6 6 NC : 65 40 64 63 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 4 2 8 7 PA : 3 2 2 3 SD : 3 0 1 1 TN : 57 35 56 59 TX : 68 61 60 62 WI : 0 0 1 1 : 18 Sts: 19 9 9 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 38 16 23 32 CO : 1 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 20 12 36 32 MO : 9 0 0 3 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 5 3 1 3 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 43 42 40 48 : 11 Sts: 17 15 15 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 77 57 55 59 MN : 22 12 10 7 MT : 25 12 23 16 ND : 16 4 5 4 SD : 72 63 50 25 WA : 84 67 72 63 : 6 Sts : 31 19 21 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 96 89 90 61 MN : 49 36 19 15 NE : 98 91 83 65 ND : 12 3 2 3 OH : 64 53 75 59 PA : 48 28 46 47 SD : 63 51 35 21 WI : 62 48 36 20 : 8 Sts : 51 40 35 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 52% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 69 47 37 40 MN : 19 13 3 5 MT : 30 15 34 18 ND : 9 2 2 2 WA : 76 51 68 53 : 5 Sts : 35 21 27 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 34 16 23 25 MN : 3 1 1 0 MT : 3 0 1 1 ND : 0 0 0 0 SD : 25 13 9 5 WA : 48 31 49 39 : 6 Sts : 8 4 4 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 57 29 NA NA MN : 12 4 4 1 NE : 70 39 51 23 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 39 26 52 28 PA : 26 11 22 NA SD : 19 8 6 4 WI : 13 1 NA NA : 8 Sts: 20 9 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 52% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 31 10 16 15 MN : 4 1 1 0 MT : 3 1 4 2 ND : 0 0 0 0 WA : 28 15 34 26 : 5 Sts : 10 4 8 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 36 10 26 38 CA : 8 5 1 2 LA : 86 82 77 71 MS : 20 3 52 58 TX : 80 68 70 60 : 5 Sts : 43 26 37 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 95% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 NA 9 8 FL : 15 NA 12 NA GA : 2 NA 6 11 NC : 0 NA 0 1 OK : 0 NA 1 1 TX : 3 NA 3 2 VA : 0 NA 1 2 : 7 Sts : 3 NA 5 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 91 83 60 75 MI : 48 45 NA NA MN : 8 2 13 10 ND : 4 0 6 8 : 4 Sts : 29 24 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 73% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 0 NA NA CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 71 63 61 54 MS : 0 0 12 21 TX : 65 53 49 40 : 5 Sts : 20 16 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 95% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 23 51 20 CA : 0 0 15 60 25 CO : 1 3 20 59 17 ID : 0 2 14 70 14 IL : 0 4 17 63 16 IN : 1 4 20 54 21 KS : 2 8 33 46 11 MI : 1 4 8 59 28 MO : 1 3 31 52 13 MT : 1 7 41 46 5 NE : 6 12 30 49 3 NC : 0 1 12 75 12 OH : 0 1 11 52 36 OK : 1 3 17 64 15 OR : 0 1 30 55 14 SD : 0 3 27 56 14 TX : 31 25 30 13 1 WA : 0 0 10 70 20 : 18 Sts : 6 8 25 49 12 : Prev Wk : 6 8 24 50 12 Prev Yr : 2 5 24 55 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 May 2, 2000. 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!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. 2) If you do NOT have Internet access, send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.