We 1 (10-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 17, 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. 42 October 8 - 14, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Mostly dry weather followed a record-setting cold snap in most areas east of the Rockies, allowing for autumn fieldwork, including winter wheat planting and summer crop harvesting, to proceed. Exceptions to the dry pattern included southern Texas, where early-week rainfall slowed fieldwork but aided fall-sown crops, and northern New England, where rain and snow lingered through midweek. Rain returned to the middle Mississippi and lower Missouri Valleys toward week's end, but only light showers dampened the central and southern Plains, where additional rain is needed to ensure proper winter wheat establishment. Meanwhile in the West, cool, wet weather slowed fieldwork but aided winter grains and boosted soil moisture reserves. Weekly precipitation totaled 1 inch or more in much of the interior Northwest, and exceeded 2 inches in southeastern Arizona. Weekly temperatures averaged 2 to 10 degrees F below normal in California and the Southwest, and as much as 18 degrees F below normal in southern Texas. Readings ranged from 7 to 15 degrees F below normal in the Southeast, except Peninsular Florida, while minimum temperatures fell below the freezing mark (32 degrees F) as far south as northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Due to early maturation, summer crops were largely unaffected by the cold outbreak, which resulted in more than 300 daily-record lows from October 4-14 and brought the earliest first autumn freeze on record to several locations from the southern Plains to the interior Southeast. On Sunday in Oklahoma, Tulsa's low of 30 degrees F was their earliest first freeze on record, tying 1952. Tulsa's freeze came 1 day after flurries fell, their earliest first trace of snow on record by more than 2 weeks (previously October 22, 1996). In Texas, Lubbock also experienced their earliest first snowfall (a trace on October 8), breaking their record set on October 12, 1986. Also on Sunday, Wichita, KS (26 degrees F) noted their earliest temperature below 30 degrees F (formerly 27 degrees F on October 12, 1917). Elsewhere in Kansas, Hill City posted an October-record low of 14 degrees F, only 1 week after an October-record high of 98 degrees F. The parade of records continued on Monday, when Bartlesville, OK (17 degrees F) notched an October-record low, and Huntsville, AL (29 degrees F), Charlotte, NC (31 degrees F), and Wichita Falls, TX (31 degrees F) marked their earliest first freezes. In Spencer, IA, a low of 14 degrees F on October 8 represented Iowa's earliest first observance of a temperature below 15 degrees F since Humboldt recorded 12 degrees F on October 6, 1935. Meanwhile in Texas, Monday's highs of 44 degrees F in Del Rio and 50 degrees F in Brownsville were the stations' lowest on record during October. Farther north, Binghamton, NY noted their earliest first inch of snow, measuring 1.0 inch on October 9. Binghamton's record had been established with a 1.7-inch total on October 19, 1972. More significant snow accumulations were observed in northern New England, where as much as 12 inches fell in Maine's Baxter State Park. As cold air settled into the South, records for the earliest first freeze were established in locations such as Longview, TX (32 degrees F on October 10) and Pine Bluff, AR (32 degrees F on October 11). Scattered daily-record lows continued through Friday in the Southeast, where Savannah, GA registered five consecutive records (40, 36, 40, 40, and 43 degrees F) from October 9-13. Elsewhere in Georgia, Augusta set four consecutive daily-record lows from October 9-12, including a minimum of 31 degrees F on Tuesday. Warmer weather returned to much of the Nation by week's end, however, producing a few daily-record highs. In New England, daily records on Saturday included 78 degrees F in Portland, ME and 81 degrees F in Windsor Locks, CT. In the Southwest, a strong early-season storm system and remnant moisture from former eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Olivia contributed to heavy rainfall totals, especially on Wednesday. In Arizona, October 11 totals reached 1.31 inches in Douglas (their sixth wettest October day) and 1.53 inches in Tucson (seventh wettest October day). In California's Sierra Nevada foothills, storm-total (October 9-11) rainfall topped 3 inches in locations such as Strawberry Valley and Shingletown. In California's Sacramento Valley, Fresno (0.76 inches on October 10) collected a daily-record total. Heavy rain also soaked the interior Northwest, where weekly totals reached 1.59 inches in Boise, ID and 1.15 inches in Burns, OR. In Montana, Helena's month-to-date precipitation of 1.87 inches accounted for 24 percent of their year-to-date total of 7.90 inches (77 percent of normal). Elsewhere in Montana, precipitation for the first half of October totaled 1.78 inches in Missoula and 1.06 inches in Great Falls. Meanwhile in southern Texas, October 7-9 rainfall totaled 2.99 inches in Del Rio and 2.45 inches in San Antonio. In Hawaii, seasonal rains continued to increase, bringing additional drought relief to leeward areas. Meanwhile, cool weather (as much as 5 degrees F below normal) again prevailed in most of Alaska, although drier conditions returned to the mainland. On October 9, Bettles tallied a daily-record low of -3 degrees F. In contrast, extremely wet weather affected southeastern Alaska, where October 1-14 precipitation reached 7.71 inches in Juneau and 4.44 inches in Valdez. Just south of Valdez, radar estimates indicated that as much as 40 inches of rain fell on parts of Hinchinbrook and Montague Islands from October 9-15. National Agricultural Summary October 9 - 15, 2000 Highlights: The fall harvest continued across most of the Nation, with very few rain delays. However, cool weather delayed ripening of late-maturing crops and limited harvest progress in the eastern Corn Belt and Atlantic Coastal Plains. The western Corn Belt and most of the Great Plains experienced sub-freezing temperatures, but most remaining fall crops were no longer susceptible to frost damage. A pocket of heavy rain temporarily halted harvest in the lower Missouri River Valley and another area of precipitation hindered harvest activities in northern California. Seeding of winter grains steadily advanced, even though topsoil moisture supplies were inadequate to germinate seeds in many areas of the Great Plains. Corn: Harvest advanced to 66 percent complete, well ahead of last year's 54-percent pace and nearly 2 weeks ahead of the 41-percent average for this date. Progress continued without rain delays across most of the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and Atlantic Coastal Plains. In Minnesota, growers harvested more than one-third of the acreage, while Iowa growers harvested nearly one-fourth of their crop. Progress was far ahead of normal in both States. The harvest pace was slightly slower in Illinois and Indiana, but progress remained well ahead of normal in both States. In Ohio, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania, harvest activity accelerated, but progress remained slightly behind normal. In Colorado and Nebraska, harvest advanced 14 and 15 percentage points, respectively, well ahead of normal in Colorado and 48 percentage points ahead of normal in Nebraska. In Michigan, harvest progress was slow and lagged well behind normal. The harvest was nearly complete in Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas. The harvest progressed to more than 90 percent complete in Missouri, even though heavy rain limited progress along parts of the Missouri River Valley. Soybeans: Harvest progressed to 74 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year's pace and nearly 1 week ahead of the 62-percent average for this date. Harvest was very active across the Corn Belt, especially east of the Mississippi River. In Wisconsin, growers harvested one-fourth of the acreage during the week. In Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, harvest advanced 20 or more percentage points. However, progress remained slightly behind normal in Indiana and Ohio. Michigan growers harvested 19 percent of their crop, but progress remained well behind normal. Harvest was nearly complete in Minnesota and rapidly approached completion in Iowa and North Dakota. Harvest progressed well ahead of normal in the lower Mississippi Valley, advancing 14 percentage points in Arkansas, 11 percentage points in Mississippi, and 12 percentage points in Tennessee. In North Carolina, the harvest pace gradually gained momentum. Cotton: Fifty-two percent of the crop was picked, almost 1 week ahead last year and more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Picking was most active in the lower Mississippi Valley and adjacent parts of the southern Great Plains and Southeast. Alabama and Oklahoma growers picked 20 and 21 percent of the crop, respectively, during the week. In Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, growers picked nearly one-fifth of the acreage. Harvest progress equaled the 5-year average in Georgia, but lagged behind normal along the rest of the Atlantic Coastal Plains, despite ideal harvest weather. In Virginia, harvest progress lagged well behind normal due to slow ripening fields. The harvest neared completion well ahead of normal in Louisiana. Rain limited picking in California, but progress remained slightly ahead of normal. Winter wheat: Sixty-four percent of the crop was planted and 28 percent was emerged, compared with the average of 75 percent planted and 49 percent emerged. Planting progress was 1 week behind last year and the 5-year average, while emergence lagged more than 1 week behind last year and the average. Planting rapidly accelerated in the Corn Belt, especially in Illinois and Missouri, where growers seeded 33 and 25 percent of the acreage, respectively. Progress remained slightly behind normal in Illinois, but advanced ahead of normal in Missouri. Harvest accelerated in Kansas and Oklahoma after light showers provided much-needed topsoil moisture in some areas. In South Dakota, hard, dry soils and fall harvest activities prevented planting progress. Planting neared completion ahead of normal in Colorado and Washington. Moisture shortages hindered germination across most of the Great Plains. Emergence was 36 and 35 percentage points behind normal in South Dakota and Texas, respectively. In Kansas, Montana, and Oklahoma, emergence was nearly 30 percentage points behind normal. Moisture supplies were adequate to germinate seeds in Colorado and Nebraska, but emergence was slightly behind normal in both States. Growth was slow in emerged fields due to cold weather. Fields emerged ahead of normal in California, the Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Rice: Ninety-two percent of the crop was harvested, behind last year's 94-percent pace, but slightly ahead of the average for this date. Harvest was nearly complete in the lower Mississippi Valley, although progress lagged behind normal in Mississippi. Harvest advanced at a normal pace in California. Other Crops: Eighty-six percent of the sorghum acreage was harvested. Progress was about 2 weeks ahead of last year and almost 3 weeks ahead of the normal for this date. The harvest pace rapidly accelerated in the Corn Belt, especially in Illinois, where progress advanced 31 percentage points to 63 percent complete. The harvest pace remained active on the Great Plains, advancing more than 10 percentage points in most areas. South Dakota growers harvested one-fourth of their acreage. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 65 percent complete in the major beet-producing States. Digging remained active in Minnesota and North Dakota and was well ahead of normal in both States. Progress was slow in Michigan and Idaho. Peanuts were 59 percent dug, equal to last year's pace. Progress was ahead of normal in the southern Great Plains, but behind normal in the Southeast. Sunflowers were 55 percent harvested. Harvest neared completion ahead of normal in South Dakota, while progress lagged slightly behind normal in North Dakota. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 41 27 18 25 IL : 74 58 68 49 IN : 50 33 66 39 IA : 76 53 51 34 KS : 97 96 63 63 KY : 87 82 95 80 MI : 10 7 40 26 MN : 68 32 42 38 MO : 91 86 74 61 NE : 81 66 47 33 NC : 85 75 79 86 ND : 28 18 19 32 OH : 24 14 52 26 PA : 22 12 29 30 SD : 46 31 23 23 TN : 98 95 100 94 TX : 94 91 93 92 WI : 29 15 39 25 : 18 Sts: 66 50 54 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 21 6 19 18 CA : 20 15 3 3 CO : 96 87 98 94 ID : 83 68 77 77 IL : 45 12 57 52 IN : 46 28 60 56 KS : 69 49 89 85 MI : 66 56 77 72 MO : 50 25 40 40 MT : 69 51 91 90 NE : 97 94 98 98 NC : 20 12 19 20 OH : 61 43 76 69 OK : 45 31 81 73 OR : 69 47 21 60 SD : 79 78 95 97 TX : 54 46 65 70 WA : 97 88 90 92 : 18 Sts: 64 50 77 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 44 30 40 32 IL : 75 53 68 67 IN : 65 44 79 69 IA : 91 76 83 77 KS : 89 76 49 45 KY : 42 22 66 36 LA : 88 83 86 75 MI : 30 11 60 47 MN : 98 95 84 79 MS : 81 70 78 67 MO : 68 50 52 40 NE : 83 66 81 68 NC : 8 4 12 9 ND : 90 75 67 77 OH : 58 38 79 63 SD : 85 66 52 56 TN : 39 27 46 26 WI : 70 45 65 53 : 18 Sts: 74 58 69 62 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 1 5 6 CA : 10 1 0 0 CO : 72 69 82 80 ID : 40 23 30 40 IL : 6 1 15 15 IN : 10 4 24 22 KS : 24 18 60 53 MI : 25 6 43 44 MO : 14 5 15 16 MT : 31 17 58 57 NE : 82 67 86 86 NC : 9 5 10 3 OH : 17 3 39 30 OK : 9 3 48 36 OR : 36 17 2 30 SD : 46 36 78 82 TX : 13 9 42 48 WA : 81 63 76 77 : 18 Sts: 28 20 51 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 67 47 49 45 AZ : 33 27 19 27 AR : 72 53 73 53 CA : 20 15 8 16 GA : 33 19 28 33 LA : 96 91 89 79 MS : 87 76 81 72 MO : 79 60 88 53 NC : 17 9 9 23 OK : 53 32 35 21 SC : 31 17 29 33 TN : 79 62 70 54 TX : 46 42 33 33 VA : 14 5 13 26 : 14 Sts: 52 42 43 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 89 95 93 CA : 70 60 78 70 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 91 84 95 97 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 5 Sts : 92 87 94 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 95% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 95 100 96 CO : 35 23 17 13 IL : 63 32 64 33 KS : 93 85 43 40 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 84 74 66 57 NE : 86 73 32 33 NM : 20 10 13 6 OK : 68 52 35 24 SD : 68 43 26 34 TX : 88 86 86 75 : 11 Sts: 86 80 59 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 65 46 77 67 FL : 78 60 87 NA GA : 61 43 72 71 NC : 45 25 34 39 OK : 67 38 36 36 TX : 41 34 25 30 VA : 88 68 68 77 : 7 Sts : 59 42 59 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 29 23 38 29 MI : 10 7 NA NA MN : 86 49 94 70 ND : 96 59 96 69 : 4 Sts : 65 39 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 73% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 35 25 NA NA KS : 76 64 36 NA ND : 31 13 13 33 SD : 98 93 76 93 : 4 Sts : 55 42 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 : 31 30 34 5 0 :: NJ : 0 0 4 81 15 AZ : 23 37 29 9 2 :: NM : 40 39 20 1 0 AR : 31 45 21 3 0 :: NY : 0 0 0 90 10 CA : 30 20 50 0 0 :: NC : 2 15 24 51 8 CO : 26 32 32 10 0 :: ND : 10 18 38 32 2 CT : 0 0 56 44 0 :: OH : 1 5 23 56 15 DE : 0 7 10 80 3 :: OK : 27 42 28 3 0 FL : 0 5 35 60 0 :: OR : 3 24 42 29 2 GA : 5 14 45 34 2 :: PA : 3 25 27 36 9 ID : 22 42 28 8 0 :: RI : 0 0 0 5 95 IL : 3 8 30 48 11 :: SC : 0 8 45 44 3 IN : 1 4 23 56 16 :: SD : 14 23 34 23 6 IA : 17 24 34 20 5 :: TN : 17 26 35 19 3 KS : 30 38 26 6 0 :: TX : 33 37 26 4 0 KY : 5 11 27 46 11 :: UT : 14 39 34 11 2 LA : 29 34 26 11 0 :: VT : 13 18 49 12 8 ME : 0 6 10 84 0 :: VA : 1 4 27 59 9 MD : 1 3 14 55 27 :: WA : 2 37 39 22 0 MA : 0 0 13 73 14 :: WV : 0 0 15 70 15 MI : 5 9 37 41 8 :: WI : 7 15 41 34 3 MN : 16 32 28 22 2 :: WY : 29 38 28 5 0 MS : 35 26 28 11 0 :: : MO : 29 30 25 15 1 :: 48 Sts : 21 27 29 20 3 MT : 29 37 28 6 0 :: : NE : 52 31 15 2 0 :: Prev Wk: 23 25 27 22 3 NV : 4 20 36 37 3 :: Prev Yr: 12 22 32 30 4 NH : 0 5 22 73 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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