We 1 (5-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 1, 2001, 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 88, No. 18 April 22 - 28, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: The month's third major storm system crossed the Plains and upper Midwest early in the week, resulting in a late-season snowfall from the central High Plains into Minnesota, and aggravating river flooding and wet field conditions in the northwestern Corn Belt. In contrast, only light showers dampened the Ohio Valley, where summer crop planting rapidly progressed. In the South, a mild, dry weather pattern followed early-week showers, favoring summer crop planting, emergence, and establishment. Cool weather lingered, however, in Texas, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F below normal. Only scattered showers fell in southern Florida, maintaining heavy citrus irrigation demands and further reducing freshwater reserves. Temperatures rebounded quickly across the Plains, soaring to record levels across northern areas by week's end. On Saturday, highs rose above 90 degrees F as far north as Montana and western North Dakota, elevating weekly temperatures 5 to 10 degrees F above normal. Warmth also overspread the upper Midwest late in the week, promoting some gradual drying of saturated fields. In the Northwest, scattered showers aided winter wheat and spring-sown small grains, but provided only limited relief from long-term drought. Elsewhere in the West, including California and Arizona, warm, mostly dry weather spurred fieldwork and rapid crop development. Western temperatures ranged from 2 to 8 degrees F above normal in most locations. The early-week storm system dumped record snowfall from the central High Plains into South Dakota. East Rapid City, SD, netted 20.8 inches on April 21-22, including 19.2 inches on the latter date. East Rapid City's greatest April snow storm was a 22-in ch accumulation in April 1970. Nearby Rapid City (Airport) received 18.0 inches on April 22, eclipsing their all-time, single-day record of 16.3 inches, set on January 27, 1944. Elsewhere, month-to-date snowfall climbed to 23.2 inches in Cheyenne, WY, 8.0 inches in Fargo, ND, 7.7 inches in Aberdeen, SD, and 6.3 inches in North Platte, NE. Huron, SD, saw their record-setting seasonal snowfall total climb to 89 .6 inches. Sunday was the wettest April day on record in locations such as Sioux Falls, SD (3.72 inches, eclipsing 2.64 inches on April 24, 1953), and St. Cloud, MN (3.52 inches, surpassing 2.47 inches on April 26, 1984). Meanwhile, April precipitation records were established at several locations in Minnesota, including St. Cloud (8.42 inches), Duluth (8.18 inches), Rochester (7.30 inches), and Minneapolis (7.0 0 inches). Previous records had been 6.31 inches (in 1996) in St. Cloud, 5.85 inches (in 1894) in Duluth, 6.47 inches (in 1990 and 1999) in Rochester, and 5.88 inches (in 1986) in Minneapolis. In contrast, mostly dry weather persisted in the Ohio Valley. Year-to-date rainfall (January-April) totaled 5.17 inches (42 percent of normal) in Indianapolis, IN, threatening their driest January-April period on record (5.32 inches in 1941). Only 2.47 inches of precipitation (33 percent of normal) dampened Indianapolis during March and April, second only to a 2.46-inch total in March-April 1915. In the East, early-week warmth was displaced by a push of cooler air. On Sunday in Connecticut, Windsor Locks' high of 88 degrees F represented their highest reading since a maximum of 89 degrees F on August 9, 2000. A day later in New York, Syracuse's high of 88 degrees F marked their first reading above 80 degrees F since September 20, 2000. Concord, NH, posted a daily-record high of 88 degrees F on Tuesday. By Friday morning, however, daily-record low temperatures were reported as far south as North Myrtle Beach, SC (38 degrees F) and Wilmington, NC (39 degrees F). Farther west, warmth shifted from the West Coast at midweek to the Plains by week's end. On April 25, highs in California soared to 95 degrees F in King City and San Bernardino. Two days later, Havre, MT, posted their first of two consecutive daily-record highs (85 and 91 degrees F). Elsewhere on Saturday, highs soared to daily-record levels in locations such as Pierre, SD (96 degrees F) and Minot, ND (92 degrees F). Pierre's record warmth followed a 12.5-inch snowfall on April 22-23. Farther south, Phoenix, AZ, notched their first triple-digit reading of the year (100 degrees F on April 25), 18 days earlier than the 105-year average. The primary Mississippi River crest neared Quincy, IL, by month's end, where the river was 6 feet above flood stage on April 30. Farther upstream, the Mississippi River crested at the second-highest level on record, below the April 1965 record, in Iowa locations such as Dubuque (on April 21) and Camanche (on April 24). At Lock and Dam Number 15, near Davenport, IA, the river crested 7.32 feet above flood stage on April 25, the third-highest level on record behind 7.63 feet on July 9, 1993, and 7.48 feet on April 28, 1965. Meanwhile in southern Florida, the average elevation of Lake Okeechobee's surface continued to set low-water records. The lake's level stood at 9.53 feet on April 29, more than 0.2 foot below the previous record set in July 1981. Farther west, locally heavy showers produced early-week flash flooding in south-central Texas, where San Antonio measured a daily-record rainfall (2.24 inches) on April 23. National Agricultural Summary April 23 - 29, 2001 Highlights: Fieldwork and planting accelerated in the Corn Belt, as warm, dry winds quickly removed excess topsoil moisture. Field preparation and planting also accelerated in the lower Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and central and southern Great Plains, although some areas experienced minor rain delays. However, spring tillage and planting were mostly stalled in the upper Mississippi Valley and adjacent parts of the northern Great Plains, where many fields remained saturated due to additional precipitation. Above-normal temperatures aided germination of recently planted crops and stimulated growth of emerged crops across most of the Nation. Below-normal temperatures limited crop development in parts of the southern Great Plains and Gulf Coast. Winter Wheat: Twenty percent of the acreage was at the heading stage, about 1 week later than last year's rapid pace, but just slightly behind the 22-percent average for this date. Above-normal temperatures accelerated development in the central and northern Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, and Corn Belt, while cooler-than-normal temperatures limited progress in the southern Great Plains. Fields at the heading stage more than doubled in Arkansas and North Carolina, to 76 and 65 percent, respectively. Fields in California, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas also rapidly progressed to the heading stage. Hot, dry winds quickly evaporated soil moisture supplies on the High Plains. Damage due to sub-freezing temperatures became apparent on the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Corn: Planting was 28 percent complete, well behind the 45-percent progress at this time last year, but equal to the 5-year average. Planting quickly accelerated in the Corn Belt and central Great Plains, as warm, dry winds rapidly evaporated excess top soil moisture. Planting progressed well ahead of normal in the central and southern Corn Belt, but remained mostly stalled across the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains. Illinois and Missouri growers planted nearly one-third of their acreage during the week, while Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky producers planted more than one-fourth of their acreage. Planting quickly accelerated in Iowa and Nebraska, but remained behind normal in both States. Fieldwork gradually gained momentum in Minnesota and the Dakotas, but few fields were planted. Dry weather aided planting progress on the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Cotton: Twenty-five percent of the crop was planted by the end of the week, compared with 22 percent a year ago and the average of 20 percent. In the Southeast, dry weather aided field preparation, and planting rapidly accelerated, especially in Alabama , where growers planted 35 percent of their crop during the week. Planting was active most of the week in the Mississippi Delta, where planting advanced 27 percentage points in Missouri, and between 14 and 19 percentage points in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Planting also rapidly progressed in California and Virginia. Dry weather aided planting in the southern Great Plains during most of the week, but showers hindered progress in parts of Texas early in the week. Small grains: Eighteen percent of the spring wheat acreage was seeded and 5 percent was emerged. Planting and emergence were both about 2 weeks behind last year's pace and 1 week behind the 5-year average. Planting advanced 23 percentage points in South Dakota, even though rain delays limited progress. Planting also advanced more than 20 percentage points in Idaho and Montana, but progress remained behind the 5-year average in both States. The planting season slowly began in Minnesota and North Dakota due to wet soils. Barley seeding progressed to 25 percent, compared with 50 percent on this date last year, and 33 percent normally planted by this date. Emergence, at 9 percent, lagged behind last year's 18 percent and the average of 12 percent. Planting was active from the northern High Plains to the Pacific Northwest, but remained nearly stalled in Minnesota and North Dakota due to excessive soil moisture. Warm weather aided rapid emergence in Idaho and Washington. Oat seeding advanced to 29 percent complete. Progress was far behind last year's 67-percent pace and the average of 49 percent. Seven percent of the acreage was emerged, far less than last year's 36-percent pace and well behind the 19-percent average for this date. Planting rapidly accelerated in the Corn Belt due to warm, dry weather, especially in Iowa, where growers seeded more than one-half of their acreage during the week. Planting progress was slow in Minnesota and North Dakota due to saturated soils. Germination and emergence were aided by above-normal temperatures and adequate soil moisture in Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio. Other crops: Sixty-seven percent of the rice crop was planted, well ahead of last year and the average of 54 and 51 percent, respectively. Forty-two percent was emerged, compared with last year's 28-percent progress and the average of 24 percent. Despite brief rain delays, Arkansas growers planted one-fourth of their acreage during the week. Early-season planting progress was slow in California. Near-normal temperatures aided quick emergence along the lower Mississippi Valley and western Gulf Coast. Sorghum planting progressed to 18 percent complete, 4 percentage points behind last year and 2 percentage points behind the average for this date. Planting was most active in the Mississippi Delta, even though rain temporarily interrupted progress in Arkansas and Louisiana. Rain delays were nearly nonexistent in the Missouri Bootheel. Dry weather aided progress in the southern Great Plains, especially in Oklahoma, where planting was ahead of normal. A few fields were planted in the central Great Plains, but wet weather prevented planting in the northern Great Plains. Twenty-seven percent of the sugarbeet acreage was planted in the major sugarbeet-producing States, far behind last year's 74-percent progress, and well behind the 52-percent average for this date. Progress was ahead of normal in Michigan and near normal in Idaho, but lagged far behind normal in the two largest sugarbeet-producing States, Minnesota and North Dakota, due to saturated soils. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 14 3 18 25 IL : 51 19 54 32 IN : 40 11 32 18 IA : 16 1 57 26 KS : 54 24 68 49 KY : 75 49 55 42 MI : 8 0 5 6 MN : 0 0 63 33 MO : 56 24 89 50 NE : 22 2 36 23 NC : 85 60 71 73 ND : 1 0 17 12 OH : 13 3 7 17 PA : 8 0 7 9 SD : 3 0 21 9 TN : 86 67 68 69 TX : 69 49 78 73 WI : 11 0 16 10 : 18 Sts: 28 10 45 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 76 33 94 75 CA : 98 79 97 94 CO : 0 0 3 1 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 1 0 12 4 IN : 4 0 11 4 KS : 3 0 12 5 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 21 1 31 13 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 65 30 76 57 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 40 14 73 48 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 49 33 61 50 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 20 10 31 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 49 14 30 30 AZ : 63 53 64 69 AR : 20 2 6 6 CA : 80 45 93 69 GA : 16 5 16 17 LA : 42 28 42 21 MS : 28 9 17 12 MO : 32 5 33 10 NC : 7 2 7 12 OK : 9 1 3 3 SC : 9 3 13 18 TN : 16 1 5 6 TX : 17 13 17 17 VA : 28 7 6 15 : 14 Sts: 25 13 22 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 79 62 59 49 CO : 2 0 1 0 IL : 7 0 7 2 KS : 0 0 8 3 LA : 43 30 40 43 MO : 17 3 22 7 NE : 1 0 1 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 14 8 6 4 SD : 0 0 0 1 TX : 42 38 46 49 : 11 Sts: 18 15 22 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 82 57 53 50 CA : 5 0 18 11 LA : 89 76 94 82 MS : 61 43 34 63 TX : 89 76 89 74 : 5 Sts : 67 50 54 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 94% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 42 14 17 14 CA : 0 0 4 1 LA : 78 56 75 67 MS : 38 26 8 23 TX : 76 59 80 57 : 5 Sts : 42 23 28 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 94% of last year's rice acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 84 65 94 89 MI : 64 55 51 54 MN : 1 0 76 42 ND : 1 0 70 37 : 4 Sts : 27 21 74 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 73% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 64 42 86 73 MN : 1 0 55 28 MT : 30 8 50 36 ND : 4 0 40 19 SD : 28 5 81 54 WA : 80 66 90 78 : 6 Sts : 18 7 53 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 56 36 82 58 MN : 1 0 52 24 MT : 29 14 51 37 ND : 3 0 27 13 WA : 68 51 85 69 : 5 Sts : 25 15 50 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 80% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 81 30 99 86 MN : 4 0 70 46 NE : 70 54 99 90 ND : 7 0 33 14 OH : 71 59 77 73 PA : 40 14 59 60 SD : 22 1 73 47 WI : 29 8 77 54 : 8 Sts : 29 11 67 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 37% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 33 17 57 42 MN : 0 0 15 6 MT : 6 1 6 6 ND : 0 0 9 4 SD : 5 0 44 20 WA : 51 25 61 55 : 6 Sts : 5 2 17 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 27 15 56 31 MN : 0 0 14 5 MT : 5 1 7 7 ND : 0 0 3 2 WA : 29 19 47 41 : 5 Sts : 9 5 18 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 80% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 29,:Apr 22,:Apr 29,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 13 1 79 43 MN : 0 0 34 13 NE : 34 13 79 53 ND : 0 0 8 2 OH : 55 40 51 44 PA : 10 5 35 32 SD : 1 0 40 18 WI : 5 0 30 13 : 8 Sts: 7 3 36 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 37% of last year's oat acreage. Nitrogen Fertilizer Available: Percent of Normal Supply --------------------------------------------------------------------- : % of Normal :: : % of Normal :-----------------------:: :----------------------- State : April 29, : April 1, :: State : April 29, : April 1, : 2001 : 2001 :: : 2001 : 2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 96 93 :: NV : 100 100 AZ : 99 95 :: NH : 100 100 AR : 98 97 :: NJ : 100 70 CA : 100 100 :: NM : 100 95 CO : 95 89 :: NY : 99 100 CT : 100 100 :: NC : 100 95 DE : 98 100 :: ND : 91 86 FL : 99 94 :: OH : 94 88 GA : 96 93 :: OK : 98 93 ID : 100 95 :: OR : 95 98 IL : 99 94 :: PA : 95 75 IN : 94 91 :: RI : 100 100 IA : 93 81 :: SC : 100 100 KS : 97 96 :: SD : 94 85 KY : 99 97 :: TN : 98 96 LA : 100 95 :: TX : 94 91 ME : 100 100 :: UT : 96 95 MD : 93 92 :: VT : 100 100 MA : 100 100 :: VA : 98 100 MI : 98 95 :: WA : 100 100 MN : 94 95 :: WV : 97 100 MS : 99 95 :: WI : 95 85 MO : 96 81 :: WY : 99 85 MT : 98 85 :: : NE : 92 87 :: US : 96 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 7 39 47 6 CA : 0 0 10 50 40 CO : 2 10 31 48 9 ID : 0 0 9 78 13 IL : 0 5 21 59 15 IN : 0 5 20 61 14 KS : 13 25 34 25 3 MI : 0 1 13 60 26 MO : 1 7 30 52 10 MT : 5 14 51 26 4 NE : 2 11 34 45 8 NC : 1 11 33 46 9 OH : 1 3 18 56 22 OK : 12 25 38 23 2 OR : 0 6 50 40 4 SD : 33 21 24 20 2 TX : 6 17 51 23 3 WA : 0 5 26 63 6 : 18 Sts : 8 16 35 35 6 : Prev Wk : 7 15 34 38 6 Prev Yr : 5 10 24 47 14 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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