We 1 (10-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 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. 41 October 1 - 7, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Rain preceded the arrival of much cooler air across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, slowing or halting summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Farther south, widespread rain developed from southern Texas to Alabama, slowing harvesting operations but aiding fall-sown grains and easing long-term drought. Torrential rainfall, locally in excess of 10 inches, struck southeastern Florida, as a low-pressure system--later Tropical Storm Leslie--crossed the peninsula. Meanwhile, only light showers dampened the central and southern High Plains, where extreme dryness continued to hamper winter wheat planting and emergence. More significant rain fell in eastern portions of Kansas and Oklahoma. Light rain and snow boosted topsoil moisture on the northern Plains, although unusually cool weather slowed winter wheat development. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 16 degrees F below normal in northern Montana, but ranged from 4 to 9 degrees F above normal in the Southwest. Until late in the week, very warm weather also prevailed in the South and East. In fact, October-record heat preceded the arrival of sharply colder air on the southern Plains, where early-week high temperatures ranged from 95 to 105 degrees F. After midweek, however, temperatures fell below 20 degrees F as far south as Nebraska and below 10 degrees F in parts of northern Montana. Although freezes ended the growing season as much as 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal in the Corn Belt, nearly all of the region's summer crops were mature and not susceptible to cold weather. Early in the week, record warmth caused further drought intensification across the southern half of the Plains. On October 1, monthly record highs were established as far north as Kansas, where Hill City noted 98 degrees F. In Texas, Lubbock registered three consecutive monthly record highs (98, 99, and 100 degrees F) from October 1-3. Elsewhere in Texas, October-record highs on Monday included 101 degrees F in Midland and 102 degrees F in Wichita Falls. A day later in Oklahoma, Hollis' high of 106 degrees F was a State record for October. Meanwhile, flooding rains struck southeastern Florida. On Tuesday, 24-hour rainfall records for October were established in Miami (12.56 inches) and Key West (3.52 inches). Through week's end, month-to-date rainfall reached 17.42 inches in Miami, 11.89 inches in Fort Lauderdale, and 6.04 inches in Key West. The storm responsible for the region's heavy rain moved northeastward across Florida's peninsula, then was named Tropical Storm Leslie on October 5 after acquiring tropical characteristics. Farther north, widespread rain developed from the southeastern Corn Belt to the northern Mid-Atlantic region, totaling 2 inches or more in many areas from northeastern Missouri to northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. Showers developed across the South toward week's end, becoming heaviest in the lower Mississippi Valley and across southern Texas. Very cold air spread into the Northwest and swept across areas east of the Rockies late in the week. In northern Montana, Cut Bank posted three consecutive daily-record lows (17, 10, and 9 degrees F) from October 4-6. Cold air reached the interior Northwest by Friday, producing daily-record lows in locations such as Pocatello, ID (21 degrees F) and Wenatchee, WA (33 degrees F). In northern Texas, Amarillo's high temperature of 46 degrees F on October 6 came just 3 days after an October-record high of 99 degrees F. A day later, lows of 18 degrees F in Hill City, KS (a drop of 80 degrees F in 6 days), 19 degrees F in Mobridge, SD, and 20 degrees F in Lincoln, NE were among more than three dozen daily-record lows. In addition, October record-high barometric pressure readings were established in Wichita, KS (30.69 inches on October 7) and Sioux City, IA (30.74 inches on October 8). In Ohio, Cincinnati's first freeze (31 degrees F on October 7) came 20 days earlier than normal. Light precipitation trailed the cold front on the southern High Plains, while more significant snow fell in the Great Lakes region. In western Texas, a brief period of light snow on Sunday morning, October 8, represented Lubbock's earliest trace of snow on record (previously October 12, 1986). Farther north, Grand Rapids, MI noted 0.1 inch on October 7, marking their earliest measurable snowfall (previously 0.2 inch on October 12, 1909). On Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Marquette received their second-highest single-day October snowfall (9.8 inches on Saturday), en route to a storm-total amount of 12.1 inches. In Hawaii, locally heavy rainfall soaked the western islands, bringing additional drought relief. On Kauai, Lihue netted more than 3 inches during the first week of October. Meanwhile in Alaska, cold weather (as much as 5 degrees F below normal) persisted, accompanied by heavy precipitation in southern parts of the State. Juneau opened the month with consecutive daily-record lows (25 and 24 degrees F). On the latter date, October 2, Juneau's 2-inch snowfall represented their earliest observance of 1 inch or more (previously 1.9 inches on October 13, 1997) and 2 inches or more (previously 2.1 inches on October 18, 1949). On Wednesday, Kodiak received 2.83 inches of rain, a daily-record total. National Agricultural Summary October 2 - 8, 2000 Highlights: A large cold front brought freezing temperatures to the northern Great Plains and parts of the Pacific Northwest and upper Mississippi Valley, but crop damage was limited to a few late-maturing fields. Early-week warmth aided ripening in the Great Lakes region before the cold weather arrived. Above-normal temperatures accelerated crop development along the Atlantic Coastal Plains and Southwest. Fall harvest rapidly progressed across much of the Nation, with significant rain delays limited to parts of the eastern Corn Belt and lower Mississippi Valley. Corn: Ninety-six percent of the crop was mature, compared with 97 percent last year and the 92-percent average for this date. The harvest advanced to 50 percent complete, well ahead of last year's rapid pace and more than 1 week ahead of the 28-percent average for this date. Near-normal temperatures ripened fields in the eastern Corn Belt and Pennsylvania most of the week, but late-week frost damaged some late-maturing fields in Michigan. Twenty-five percent of the acreage reached maturity in Michigan, and 19 percent ripened in Ohio. Fields quickly ripened in North Dakota and Wisconsin, despite cooler-than-normal weather. Above-normal temperatures aided ripening in Pennsylvania, but progress remained well behind normal. Dry weather aided harvest progress in the Great Plains, western Corn Belt, and along the Ohio River Valley. Minnesota and Kentucky growers harvested 20 and 18 percent of their acreage, respectively. Rain delayed harvest in parts of the central and eastern Corn Belt, especially in Indiana, where only 11 percent of the crop was harvested during the week. Soybeans: Ninety-five percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, slightly ahead of last year and about 1 week ahead of normal. Harvest progressed to 58 percent complete, ahead of last year's 48 percent pace and nearly 1 week ahead of the 41-percent average for this date. Above normal temperatures aided ripening in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, where more than 10 percent of the acreage started dropping leaves. Warm weather also accelerated development in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and near the lower Great Lakes region, although cold air slowed development in Michigan at the end of the week. The soybean harvest rapidly advanced in the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, with more than one-fourth of the crop harvested in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin during the week. Growers in Illinois and Indiana harvested 23 percent of their soybeans during the week, despite rain delays. Harvest also advanced 20 or more percentage points in Minnesota, Missouri, and South Dakota. Cotton: Bolls were opening on 93 percent of the acreage, with 42 percent of the crop picked. Crop development and harvest progress were nearly 1 week ahead of last year and more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Above-normal temperatures quickly ripened late-maturing fields in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and California. In Virginia, bolls began opening on more than one-fourth of the acreage during the week. Rain limited harvest progress in parts of the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and adjacent areas of the Southeast. In Louisiana and Mississippi, where rains were heavier and more widespread, growers picked 17 and 13 percent of the crop, respectively. In Alabama and Tennessee, rain delays were short and isolated, and growers picked one-fifth of the acreage. Picking rapidly advanced in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, but lagged along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Winter wheat: Fifty percent of the crop was planted, and 20 percent was emerged. Planting progress and crop emergence were well behind last year's fast pace and about 1 week behind the 5-year average. Planting accelerated in the Great Plains after light rains increased topsoil moisture supplies, especially in Kansas and Montana, where producers planted about one-fourth of their wheat acreage during the week. In the eastern Corn Belt, soft red winter wheat seeding rapidly accelerated in Michigan and Ohio, advancing 35 and 37 percentage points, respectively. In the central Corn Belt, progress was slower due to heavy rain. Planting progressed slightly ahead of normal in California and the Pacific Northwest. Emergence lagged in the Great Plains due to the slow planting pace and topsoil moisture shortages that delayed germination. Emergence was far behind normal in South Dakota and Texas and well behind normal in Kansas, Michigan, Montana, and Oklahoma. Adequate moisture supplies aided germination in Colorado and along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Rice: Eighty-seven percent of the crop was harvested, equal to last year's pace and ahead of the 84-percent average for this date. Harvest accelerated in California and remained active in the interior Mississippi Delta. Other Crops: Ninety-six percent of the sorghum acreage was mature and 80 percent was harvested. Normally, 82 percent of the acreage would be mature and 43 percent would be harvested by this date. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 39 percent complete in the largest beet-producing States. Digging accelerated in Minnesota and North Dakota and moved ahead of the 5-year average in both States. Peanuts and sunflowers were 42 percent harvested. The peanut harvest lagged in the Southeast. The sunflower harvest was nearly complete in South Dakota. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 93 85 86 81 IL : 100 99 99 93 IN : 98 94 100 92 IA : 100 100 100 96 KS : 100 100 97 97 KY : 98 97 100 95 MI : 66 41 95 78 MN : 99 98 97 96 MO : 100 100 99 95 NE : 100 99 97 95 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 98 87 94 96 OH : 86 67 97 75 PA : 50 41 62 67 SD : 98 91 87 89 TN : 100 100 100 99 TX : 100 100 100 99 WI : 84 69 96 82 : 18 Sts: 96 92 97 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 75 63 57 51 IL : 97 92 96 90 IN : 100 95 100 96 IA : 100 99 99 96 KS : 100 100 87 90 KY : 81 68 87 74 LA : 94 91 92 86 MI : 74 60 100 91 MN : 100 99 99 99 MS : 94 92 97 85 MO : 96 82 86 79 NE : 100 99 98 98 NC : 42 30 45 41 ND : 100 99 98 99 OH : 94 87 100 94 SD : 100 98 97 99 TN : 72 60 83 76 WI : 93 87 95 93 : 18 Sts: 95 90 93 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 27 18 14 14 IL : 58 44 54 33 IN : 33 22 51 26 IA : 53 38 29 18 KS : 96 88 49 47 KY : 82 64 91 67 MI : 7 4 25 16 MN : 32 12 23 20 MO : 86 78 65 52 NE : 66 52 28 20 NC : 75 70 72 80 ND : 18 4 8 18 OH : 14 6 37 16 PA : 12 9 19 19 SD : 31 17 17 14 TN : 95 88 99 88 TX : 91 88 89 88 WI : 15 7 25 16 : 18 Sts: 50 37 39 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 30 19 28 20 IL : 53 30 46 46 IN : 44 21 65 48 IA : 76 49 57 50 KS : 76 65 23 24 KY : 22 15 50 22 LA : 83 66 71 59 MI : 11 4 41 29 MN : 95 72 57 53 MS : 70 62 66 54 MO : 50 30 31 23 NE : 66 40 53 40 NC : 4 0 9 6 ND : 75 49 39 61 OH : 38 11 67 44 SD : 66 44 30 33 TN : 27 17 35 15 WI : 45 16 35 30 : 18 Sts: 58 37 48 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 6 2 7 8 CA : 15 10 2 1 CO : 87 77 93 89 ID : 68 48 59 61 IL : 12 4 28 20 IN : 28 8 36 31 KS : 49 25 74 64 MI : 56 21 54 51 MO : 25 9 22 22 MT : 51 25 78 76 NE : 94 81 96 93 NC : 12 10 14 14 OH : 43 6 54 41 OK : 31 23 69 54 OR : 47 29 4 40 SD : 78 61 89 90 TX : 46 38 56 61 WA : 88 71 83 85 : 18 Sts: 50 34 65 60 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 96 94 92 87 AZ : 100 100 100 99 AR : 98 96 97 95 CA : 95 87 87 94 GA : 88 85 88 86 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 98 MO : 100 100 100 96 NC : 82 75 93 93 OK : 96 93 97 69 SC : 82 77 85 86 TN : 100 100 100 98 TX : 92 89 86 77 VA : 73 47 84 85 : 14 Sts: 93 90 91 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 1 2 CA : 1 0 0 0 CO : 69 52 69 66 ID : 23 11 19 25 IL : 1 0 2 3 IN : 4 0 6 7 KS : 18 7 39 32 MI : 6 2 20 21 MO : 5 1 5 6 MT : 17 2 39 37 NE : 67 42 74 71 NC : 5 2 3 1 OH : 3 0 8 7 OK : 3 0 30 22 OR : 17 3 1 17 SD : 36 20 64 68 TX : 9 7 33 38 WA : 63 48 62 66 : 18 Sts: 20 12 36 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 47 27 39 33 AZ : 27 21 12 19 AR : 53 34 57 36 CA : 15 3 2 9 GA : 19 10 22 22 LA : 91 74 78 63 MS : 76 63 63 56 MO : 60 44 75 40 NC : 9 3 4 15 OK : 32 18 17 12 SC : 17 11 20 24 TN : 62 42 56 38 TX : 42 35 27 29 VA : 5 2 5 18 : 14 Sts: 42 32 34 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 99 CO : 65 40 58 48 IL : 92 85 90 74 KS : 99 97 83 80 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 95 88 83 NE : 100 95 83 87 NM : 55 36 29 27 OK : 83 67 75 56 SD : 95 75 80 88 TX : 96 95 86 89 : 11 Sts: 96 92 83 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 89 77 91 87 CA : 60 32 51 50 LA : 100 100 100 98 MS : 84 72 91 92 TX : 100 100 100 98 : 5 Sts : 87 75 87 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 95% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 93 98 92 CO : 23 20 14 6 IL : 32 13 42 18 KS : 85 75 25 24 LA : 100 99 100 99 MO : 74 62 56 46 NE : 73 64 17 14 NM : 10 2 7 2 OK : 52 48 22 16 SD : 43 26 18 17 TX : 86 84 82 71 : 11 Sts: 80 73 48 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 46 34 65 58 FL : 60 40 82 NA GA : 43 25 63 58 NC : 25 9 14 23 OK : 38 17 24 19 TX : 34 29 20 22 VA : 68 42 45 54 : 7 Sts : 42 27 49 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 23 15 18 18 MI : 7 2 100 NA MN : 49 16 66 42 ND : 59 16 72 44 : 4 Sts : 39 13 64 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 73% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 8, :Oct 1, :Oct 8, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 25 NA NA NA KS : 64 NA 19 NA ND : 13 NA 5 17 SD : 93 NA 68 84 : 4 Sts : 42 NA NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 90% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 22 28 39 11 0 :: NJ : 0 0 0 69 31 AZ : 11 26 40 23 0 :: NM : 40 30 25 4 1 AR : 26 48 22 4 0 :: NY : 0 0 0 85 15 CA : 30 20 50 0 0 :: NC : 1 7 28 55 9 CO : 26 24 40 9 1 :: ND : 12 17 39 30 2 CT : 0 0 36 64 0 :: OH : 1 5 23 54 17 DE : 0 5 12 73 10 :: OK : 32 37 27 4 0 FL : 0 5 30 65 0 :: OR : 2 25 32 40 1 GA : 4 11 40 42 3 :: PA : 7 26 24 37 6 ID : 28 41 26 5 0 :: RI : 0 0 3 5 92 IL : 2 7 25 53 13 :: SC : 0 6 40 51 3 IN : 1 3 22 61 13 :: SD : 11 23 36 24 6 IA : 20 21 33 22 4 :: TN : 12 23 40 23 2 KS : 28 39 28 5 0 :: TX : 43 34 20 3 0 KY : 2 7 27 52 12 :: UT : 16 43 33 8 0 LA : 23 31 32 13 1 :: VT : 0 10 57 25 8 ME : 0 9 22 40 29 :: VA : 1 3 15 65 16 MD : 1 2 14 53 30 :: WA : 0 42 32 26 0 MA : 0 24 0 42 34 :: WV : 0 0 13 64 23 MI : 1 9 37 48 5 :: WI : 6 7 35 48 4 MN : 10 21 26 38 5 :: WY : 33 41 22 4 0 MS : 41 26 21 12 0 :: : MO : 29 31 25 14 1 :: 48 Sts : 23 25 27 22 3 MT : 31 39 25 5 0 :: : NE : 59 25 13 3 0 :: Prev Wk: 20 25 30 22 3 NV : 8 12 42 37 1 :: Prev Yr: 14 21 32 29 4 NH : 0 1 39 50 10 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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