We 1 (10-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 24, 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. 43 October 15 - 21, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7919. HIGHLIGHTS: Much-needed moderate to heavy rain fell on much of Texas and Oklahoma, and eastern sections of Kansas and New Mexico, promoting winter wheat emergence. However, only light rain was recorded in western portions of Texas and Kansas, while little or no precipitation fell from eastern Colorado northward, depleting topsoil moisture and causing renewed concerns about proper winter wheat establishment. Near-record to record warmth accompanied the central and northern Plains' dry weather, with weekly temperatures averaging 5 to 11 deg F above normal, following the previous week's unusually severe early-season cold outbreak. Farther east, widespread showers fell from the middle Mississippi and lower Missouri Valleys northeastward into New England, causing fieldwork delays. In the majority of the Corn Belt, however, mostly dry weather promoted corn and soybean harvesting. Meanwhile in the Southeast, dry, mild weather aided fieldwork operations, including cotton, soybean, and peanut harvesting. In the West, significant precipitation was confined to the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Rainfall became locally heavy (more than 2 inches in central Arizona) toward week's end across the Southwest, hampering fieldwork but easing long-term moisture deficits. As the week commenced, a slow-moving cold front was draped across the Nation's mid-section, triggering scattered, locally heavy showers and thunderstorms from the southern Great Plains northeastward into the central Corn Belt. Twenty-four-hour rainfall (ending 8 a.m. EDT on Monday) between 1 and 2 inches were common in northern Texas and central Oklahoma. Meanwhile, high pressure over the Great Basin and southern Appalachians kept the West and Southeast dry and mild, with highs in the 80's deg F common in the latter region. As low pressure developed and tracked northeastward along the front, enhanced precipitation (2 to 3 inches) fell on parts of the lower Missouri Valley on Monday, and in Pennsylvania during Tuesday. Maximum temperatures rebounded from the 40's and 50's deg F on Sunday to near 70 deg F by midweek in the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Very cold air was limited to northern New England, with Caribou, ME dropping to a record low of 22 deg F on Tuesday. In the West, wet weather was confined to coastal Washington, while a weak Pacific system trekked northeastward into British Columbia. By midweek, Indian summer conditions enveloped the northern half of the Plains on Wednesday as highs soared to record levels (Rapid City, SD 86 deg F and Pierre, SD 90 deg F after a low of 42 deg F). Farther east, additional relief from dryness occurred in Maine as the slow-moving storm system finally moved off the New England coast, dropping 1 to 2 inches of rain on the State. The unseasonable warmth shifted eastward on Thursday, with over a dozen daily record highs established in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota, including 82 deg F in LaCrosse, WI, 83 deg F at Waterloo, IA, 85 deg F in Redwood Falls, MN, and 87 deg F in Huron, SD. The dry, warm weather in the Midwest and northern Plains aided corn and soybean harvesting (at least 85 percent of the corn was harvested in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska) as the pace was well ahead of the 5-year average. An upper-air disturbance over northwestern Mexico generated unsettled weather in southern Arizona and southwestern Texas that included 24-hour rain totals (ending 8 a.m. EDT on Friday) of 1.89 inches at Marfa, TX, and 0.86 inch at Tucson, AZ. Toward the week's end, the upper-air disturbance moved northeastward and weakened, generating mostly light showers in the southern Plains. Locally heavy thunderstorms, however, dropped over 2 inches of rain on extreme southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. A weak cold front advanced across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, lowering temperatures to more seasonable readings. In the West, a new Pacific storm system brought light to moderate precipitation from northern California to Washington, and a second upper-air disturbance dropped southward into the Southwest, generating widespread, unsettled weather from Arizona eastward into the south-central Plains. Daily rainfall (ending 8 a.m. EDT October 22) included Prescott (1.75 inches), Page (1.21 inches), and Flagstaff (0.93 inch) in Arizona, and Dallas/Ft. Worth (1.52 inches), Borger (1.22 inches), and Wichita Falls (1.21 inches) in Texas. In sharp contrast, Saturday marked the 26th consecutive day without measurable precipitation in Greensboro, NC, breaking the old record of 25 days set during August 28 - September 21, 1985. Across the remainder of the Southeast and Delta, the second straight week with little or no rainfall aided harvesting activities, but intensified the long-term drought. The 2000 Atlantic and Caribbean hurricane season remained very active as the 13th and 14th named storms (Hurricane Michael and Tropical Storm Nadine) formed on October 17 and 20, respectively. However, they did not directly impact the Nation as they both formed and remained over the open waters of the central Atlantic Ocean, only generating large swells along the East Coast. Meanwhile, heavy windward showers continued on the Big Island, but decreased across the remainder of Hawaii as drier, warm weather covered Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Farther north in Alaska, rainfall slackened across southeastern sections compared to last week, but amounts still totaled between 2 and 4 inches. Little or no precipitation and near to above-normal temperatures were reported across western and central portions of the State. National Agricultural Summary October 16 - 22, 2000 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures ripened late-maturing crops, and dry weather aided harvest across most of the Nation. Rain halted harvest activities near midweek in the southern Great Plains. However, the precipitation provided much-needed moisture supplies for winter grains. Rain also limited harvest progress in the interior Southwest and parts of the Northeast. Seeding of winter grains continued in the Great Plains, even though many areas did not have topsoil moisture available to germinate seeds. In the Corn Belt, winter wheat seeding accelerated as growers finished fall harvest chores. Warm weather stimulated growth of winter crops where soil moisture was available. Corn: Harvest advanced to 78 percent complete, ahead of last year's 72-percent pace and more than 2 weeks ahead of the 58-percent average for this date. Dry weather aided progress across most of the Corn Belt, with brief rain delays limited to the Ohio and mid-Mississippi River Valleys. Harvest neared completion far ahead of normal in the western Corn Belt. The harvest pace accelerated in the eastern Corn Belt, but progress remained behind normal in Ohio and Michigan. The harvest rapidly progressed in the Great Plains, advancing 24 and 23 percentage points in Colorado and North Dakota, respectively. Wet weather interfered with harvest progress in Pennsylvania. By the end of the week, the harvest was virtually complete in Tennessee and Kansas. Soybeans: Harvest was 84 percent complete, equal to last year's pace, but ahead of the 78-percent average for this date. Harvest remained active across the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, although very little acreage remained unharvested in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The harvest pace was most active in the Great Lakes region, advancing 22 and 18 percentage points in Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively. Despite the rapid progress, harvest lagged well behind the 5-year average in Michigan. Progress also lagged slightly behind normal in Indiana and Ohio, where growers harvested 17 and 15 percent, respectively, during the week. Dry weather aided steady progress in the lower Mississippi Valley. The harvest gained momentum on the Atlantic Coastal Plains, where warm weather quickly ripened fields. Cotton: Sixty percent of the crop was picked, about 1 week ahead of this time last year and the 5-year average. The harvest continued without rain delays in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Georgia and Arkansas growers picked 13 and 12 percent of the acreage, respectively. The harvest advanced 10 percentage points in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Widespread heavy rains shortened the harvest week in the southern Great Plains. Texas and Oklahoma growers only harvested about 5 percent of the crop during the week. In the Southwest, rain limited harvest progress in Arizona, while dry weather aided rapid progress in California. Winter wheat: Seventy-five percent of the crop was planted and 41 percent was emerged, well behind the averages of 85 percent planted and 64 percent emerged. Planting and emergence were well behind normal in the southern Great Plains due to severe moisture shortages. However, late-week rains boosted topsoil moisture supplies in Oklahoma and Texas. In Kansas, seeding steadily advanced with brief rain delays that provided much-needed topsoil moisture. Despite the precipitation, moisture shortages remained across most of the State. Moisture shortages increased in the northern Great Plains and on the High Plains, but seeding steadily advanced where growers could prepare seedbeds. Planting accelerated in the eastern Corn Belt, as growers finished harvesting row crops and focused on seeding the winter wheat crop. Seeding progressed ahead of normal in California and the Pacific Northwest. Warm weather aided emergence and growth where moisture supplies were adequate, but emergence was less than half the normal rate in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Emergence was also far behind normal in Montana and South Dakota. Fields rapidly emerged in the eastern Corn Belt, although progress remained behind normal in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Other Crops: Ninety-six percent of the rice crop was harvested, equal to the average for this date, but slightly behind last year's pace. Harvest was very active in California. The harvest was nearly complete in Arkansas and Mississippi. Ninety percent of the sorghum crop was harvested. Progress was about 2 weeks ahead of last year and more than 3 weeks ahead of the average for this date. Harvest was most active on the central and southern High Plains, where Colorado and New Mexico growers harvested 20 and 23 percent of the acreage during the week, respectively. Progress was also active in Illinois and South Dakota, as dry weather provided ideal harvest conditions. The harvest was nearly complete in Arkansas. The sugar beet crop was 79 percent harvested in the major sugar beet-producing States. Harvest neared completion ahead of normal in Minnesota and North Dakota. Harvest accelerated in Michigan, where growers lifted more than one-fourth of their crop during the week. Harvest was active in Idaho, but progress was slightly behind normal. The peanut crop was 71 percent dug, slightly ahead of last year's pace. Progress remained far ahead of normal in Oklahoma and slightly ahead of normal in Texas, despite late-week rain delays. Dry weather aided harvest in the Southeast, but progress remained behind the 5-year average in Alabama and Georgia. North Carolina growers dug one-fourth of their crop during the week. Sunflowers were 72 percent harvested. South Dakota growers harvested the remainder of their crop, while North Dakota growers harvested more than one-fourth of their acreage. Harvest was active in Colorado and Kansas. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 65 41 31 42 IL : 86 74 81 67 IN : 65 50 80 55 IA : 91 76 78 55 KS : 99 97 78 77 KY : 90 87 97 86 MI : 27 10 56 36 MN : 85 68 69 60 MO : 94 91 82 71 NE : 88 81 68 51 NC : 92 85 84 91 ND : 51 28 41 51 OH : 37 24 64 38 PA : 27 22 36 41 SD : 65 46 39 39 TN : 100 98 100 97 TX : 98 94 96 95 WI : 46 29 57 39 : 18 Sts: 78 66 72 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 38 21 35 34 CA : 25 20 5 5 CO : 98 96 100 98 ID : 94 83 88 87 IL : 68 45 82 78 IN : 74 46 79 78 KS : 84 69 96 94 MI : 90 66 89 89 MO : 64 50 61 58 MT : 86 69 96 96 NE : 99 97 99 99 NC : 25 20 24 26 OH : 82 61 88 87 OK : 60 45 90 85 OR : 81 69 51 74 SD : 90 79 97 99 TX : 61 54 70 77 WA : 100 97 93 96 : 18 Sts: 75 64 85 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 58 44 54 48 IL : 87 75 87 83 IN : 82 65 89 83 IA : 98 91 96 92 KS : 91 89 74 69 KY : 55 42 72 52 LA : 94 88 94 86 MI : 52 30 81 70 MN : 99 98 95 93 MS : 89 81 88 78 MO : 80 68 69 61 NE : 93 83 94 88 NC : 12 8 14 12 ND : 97 90 85 87 OH : 73 58 85 79 SD : 94 85 80 81 TN : 54 39 59 38 WI : 88 70 86 77 : 18 Sts: 84 74 84 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 14 3 13 13 CA : 15 10 1 1 CO : 83 72 91 89 ID : 63 40 40 53 IL : 28 6 42 40 IN : 35 10 46 43 KS : 36 24 77 75 MI : 47 25 61 64 MO : 33 14 28 30 MT : 51 31 74 72 NE : 89 82 94 95 NC : 12 9 14 8 OH : 44 17 67 53 OK : 26 9 63 54 OR : 48 36 14 44 SD : 58 46 87 89 TX : 22 13 49 58 WA : 93 81 82 87 : 18 Sts: 41 28 64 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 76 67 60 58 AZ : 48 33 28 36 AR : 84 72 84 70 CA : 40 20 31 29 GA : 46 33 39 43 LA : 97 96 96 91 MS : 94 87 91 84 MO : 89 79 93 65 NC : 27 17 14 35 OK : 59 53 55 28 SC : 41 31 38 44 TN : 89 79 85 68 TX : 51 46 39 39 VA : 24 14 18 34 : 14 Sts: 60 52 52 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 95 97 97 CA : 85 70 92 84 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 97 91 96 98 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 5 Sts : 96 92 97 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 95% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 97 100 98 CO : 55 35 33 33 IL : 77 63 70 50 KS : 95 93 67 63 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 91 84 77 67 NE : 91 86 58 57 NM : 43 20 21 13 OK : 73 68 52 35 SD : 79 68 43 57 TX : 90 88 89 80 : 11 Sts: 90 86 74 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 72 65 83 80 FL : 90 78 93 NA GA : 77 61 81 81 NC : 70 45 44 56 OK : 76 67 54 53 TX : 45 41 35 40 VA : 96 88 83 88 : 7 Sts : 71 59 68 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 46 29 58 47 MI : 38 10 NA NA MN : 99 86 99 90 ND : 99 96 100 88 : 4 Sts : 79 65 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 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 45 35 NA NA KS : 88 76 61 NA ND : 59 31 32 57 SD : 100 98 91 98 : 4 Sts : 72 55 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 : 41 27 28 4 0 :: NJ : 0 0 12 88 0 AZ : 17 28 32 20 3 :: NM : 35 43 20 2 0 AR : 27 43 24 6 0 :: NY : 0 0 20 60 20 CA : 30 20 50 0 0 :: NC : 4 20 39 34 3 CO : 30 28 32 9 1 :: ND : 11 17 40 28 4 CT : 0 0 21 54 25 :: OH : 2 4 23 55 16 DE : 0 8 10 80 2 :: OK : 25 37 32 6 0 FL : 0 5 45 50 0 :: OR : 3 27 30 38 2 GA : 7 20 45 27 1 :: PA : 4 17 35 41 3 ID : 22 33 32 13 0 :: RI : 0 2 4 5 89 IL : 3 10 27 50 10 :: SC : 1 11 49 37 2 IN : 1 5 26 56 12 :: SD : 19 27 32 19 3 IA : 17 26 35 18 4 :: TN : 25 28 32 14 1 KS : 30 36 28 6 0 :: TX : 34 33 27 6 0 KY : 3 12 29 46 10 :: UT : 11 41 34 12 2 LA : 24 32 30 13 1 :: VT : 5 22 54 11 8 ME : 5 9 31 45 10 :: VA : 3 10 35 48 4 MD : 0 2 20 64 14 :: WA : 2 38 39 21 0 MA : 0 0 24 73 3 :: WV : 0 0 18 68 14 MI : 1 11 30 51 7 :: WI : 6 20 37 33 4 MN : 18 28 31 22 1 :: WY : 26 41 27 6 0 MS : 39 25 25 11 0 :: : MO : 27 30 26 16 1 :: 48 Sts : 22 26 31 19 2 MT : 35 38 22 5 0 :: : NE : 55 31 12 2 0 :: Prev Wk: 21 27 29 20 3 NV : 7 17 31 43 2 :: Prev Yr: 11 23 33 29 4 NH : 0 2 45 53 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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