We 1 (4-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 9, 2002, 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 89, No. 15 March 31 - April 6, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Warm weather intensified west of the Rockies, spurring some winter grain growth across the interior Northwest and elevating weekly temperatures more than 10 degrees F above normal in many locations. In California and the Southwest, the warmth promoted the development of irrigated crops and spring fieldwork, including cotton planting. Despite some late-week showers in the Southwest, dryness continued to adversely affect rangeland and threaten spring runoff potential. Meanwhile, late-week showers also overspread the central and southern High Plains, providing limited relief to the drought-stressed winter wheat crop. Unfavorably dry conditions persisted on the northern Plains, which also bore the brunt of a strong late-season cold outbreak that held temperatures as much as 14 degrees F below normal. Temperatures dipped to 0 degrees F or below on April 2 and 3 across northern Montana, and fell below 32 degrees F on April 3 and 4 as far south as the northern panhandle of Texas and the northwestern half of Oklahoma. Cool weather (4 to 12 degrees F below normal) also prevailed across the Midwest, slowing winter wheat development from the Ohio Valley to the lower Great Lakes region. Unfavorable dryness persisted in the western Corn Belt, despite light precipitation, but soil moisture remained adequate to locally surplus elsewhere in the Midwest. Heavy showers returned to northeastern Texas and its vicinity at week's end, maintaining very wet conditions. Residual wetness from March downpours continued to hamper fieldwork as far east as the southern Ohio Valley. In contrast, beneficial showers soaked the southern Atlantic region early in the week, boosting topsoil moisture for winter grains and spring-sown crops, despite serious subsoil moisture and groundwater shortages. Record warmth in the West (more than 100 daily-record highs) contrasted sharply with another late-season cold wave (at least 20 daily records) across the Plains and upper Midwest. In California's San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield opened the week with consecutive daily-record highs of 88 degrees F. Cottonwood, AZ, notched four consecutive daily records (87, 87, 87, and 85 degrees F) from March 31 - April 3. Meanwhile in Montana, April 2 lows plunged to -4 degrees F in Great Falls and -2 degrees F in Cut Bank. A day later in Kansas, Russell (12 degrees F) noted their lowest April temperature on record, previously set with a low of 14 degrees F on April 6, 1994, and April 12, 1997. Elsewhere on the Plains, daily-record lows for April 3 included -2 degrees F in Williston, ND, and 7 degrees F in Timber Lake, SD. In contrast, warm weather lingered for much of the week in Florida, where daily-record highs included 82 degrees F in Pensacola on April 3 and 90 degrees F in Ft. Myers on April 4. Early in the week, additional heavy showers lingered in the southern Ohio Valley, including eastern Kentucky, where daily-record rainfall totals were noted on March 31 in Jackson (1.28 inches) and London (1.15 inches). Meanwhile, beneficial rainfall spread into the East, where 24-hour totals on March 31 - April 1 included 2.28 inches in Fayetteville, NC, and 1.43 inches in Albany, GA. At midweek, showers spread across Florida, easing dry conditions across the peninsula. In east-central Florida, April 3 rainfall totals included 2.57 inches in Vero Beach and 1.53 inches in Fort Pierce. Farther west, snow developed across the northern Plains and upper Midwest in advance of a strong cold front. Snowfall reached daily-record levels in locations such as Great Falls, MT (4.3 inches), and Williston, ND (2.8 inches). LaCrosse, WI, received 4.0 inches on April 1-2, their highest 2-day total since 5.4 inches fell on March 1-2. Toward week's end, a developing storm system crossed the Southwest, producing generally light, scattered precipitation. Although Flagstaff, AZ, received a daily-record rainfall (0.41 inch) on April 6, the city's 219-day total (September 1, 2001 - April 7, 2002) stood at 4.64 inches, or 30 percent of normal. Cool, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, where temperatures averaged as much as 4 degrees F below normal across the western islands. April opened with consecutive daily-record lows in Honolulu, Oahu (62 and 63 degrees F), and Lihue, Kauai (59 and 59 degrees F). Locally heavy showers fell early in the week across windward portions of the Big Island, where Mountain View received 3.08 inches in 48 hours from March 31 - April 2. Meanwhile in Alaska, dry weather accompanied a persistent temperature pattern. For the sixth consecutive week, cold weather gripped central and southeastern Alaska (more than 10 degrees F below normal in some locations), while mild weather (up to 14 degrees F above normal) continued across northern and western areas. National Agricultural Summary April 1 - 7, 2002 Highlights: Field tillage and other seedbed preparations gained momentum across the Nation, as dry weather dominated most of the week. Planting also gained momentum, but progress was mostly confined to parts of the Southeast and Southwest, where above-normal temperatures prevailed. Planting continued in the southern Great Plains and began in the lower Mississippi Valley and along the southern edge of the Corn Belt, even though temperatures were much cooler-than-normal and many soils remained unfavorably wet despite recent drying. Cold weather hindered winter wheat development throughout the Great Plains and Corn Belt, while unseasonably warm weather promoted growth in the Pacific Coast States and parts of the Southeast. Along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, rain boosted soil moisture reserves and contributed to rapid winter wheat growth. Small grain planting slowly accelerated in the Pacific Northwest, but remained stalled across most of the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains due to frigid nighttime temperatures. Corn: Two percent of the Nation's corn acreage has been planted, equal to this date last year and the 5-year average. Planting was 56 percent complete in Texas, as dry weather supported progress most of the week. Rain interrupted planting along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, but progress remained slightly ahead of normal in North Carolina. In the Corn Belt, dry weather aided tillage and fertilizer applications, but planting was mainly limited to areas along the Missouri and Ohio River Valleys. Within the Corn Belt, planting was most advanced in Missouri. Muddy conditions limited progress in Tennessee. Winter Wheat: Two percent of the Nation's winter wheat has headed. Progress was equal to this time last year, but slightly behind the 5-year average of 3 percent. Development was most advanced in California, where acreage headed doubled from the previous week due to abnormally warm weather. In the Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Corn Belt, below-normal temperatures slowed development. In Arkansas, none of the acreage was headed, compared with the average of 10 percent. Wheat headed also lagged behind normal on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, although warmer-than-normal daytime temperatures stimulated progress during most of the week. Most fields on the central and northern Plains remained dormant or produced very little new growth due to extremely low nighttime temperatures. Cotton: Planting advanced to 6 percent complete, equal to last year's pace but slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Planting was most advanced in the Southwest, where dry weather and above-normal temperatures aided progress. Abnormally warm weather also motivated planting in parts of the Southeast, mainly in Georgia. In Texas, planting was active in some south-central locations, but some areas will require drying before planting can resume. Field preparations and planting were mostly stalled in the lower Mississippi Valley due to cold weather and wet soils. Small grains: Spring wheat planting progressed to 2 percent, behind last year's 3-percent pace and the 5-percent average for this date. Warm, dry weather spurred planting in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Washington, where progress slightly exceeded the average. Planting gained momentum in Idaho, but remained well behind normal. Cold weather prevented planting on the northern Great Plains. The barley crop was 5 percent seeded, slightly behind last year's 6 percent and the 5-year average of 7 percent. Planting accelerated in the Pacific Northwest, but remained behind normal, despite favorably warm, dry weather. On the northern Great Plains, cold weather limited planting, although a few fields were seeded in Montana. Oat seeding progressed to 9 percent, ahead of last year's slow 3-percent pace but behind the 12-percent average for this date. Planting accelerated in parts of the western Corn Belt, advancing ahead of normal in Iowa and Nebraska, despite cooler-than-normal weather. However, the cold weather prevented planting in the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains. Rice: Thirteen percent of the crop has been planted, slightly less than the 14-percent progress on this date last year but equal to the 5-year average. Dry weather aided planting along the western Gulf Coast, especially in Texas, where progress was about 1 week ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Many fields were too dry to adequately germinate seeds, while a few isolated areas remained too wet to plant. Planting began in the interior Mississippi Delta, but progress lagged behind normal in Arkansas and Mississippi. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 14 percent complete, compared with 12 percent on this date last year and the average of 13 percent. Field preparations and planting continued in Texas, but progress was limited in some areas due to excessive soil moisture. Planting began in Arkansas, but cold weather and muddy fields limited progress. Other crops: Sugarbeet planting was 3 percent complete in the four major sugarbeet-producing States. Planting trailed last year's 6-percent pace and the average for this date of 7 percent. Planting accelerated in Idaho and began in Michigan, but progress was well behind normal in both States. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 0 1 10 CA : 30 15 23 31 CO : 0 0 0 0 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 0 0 0 0 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 8 5 3 10 OH : 0 0 3 3 OK : 0 0 0 4 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 10 7 12 11 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 2 1 2 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 1 2 IN : 0 NA 1 1 IA : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 4 NA 2 2 KY : 3 NA 4 5 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 10 NA 4 9 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 15 NA 9 14 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 1 NA 1 1 PA : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 5 NA 13 16 TX : 56 NA 36 45 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 2 NA 2 2 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 0 0 2 AZ : 19 15 23 18 AR : 0 0 0 0 CA : 15 3 24 18 GA : 3 0 1 2 LA : 0 0 0 0 MS : 0 0 1 0 MO : 0 0 0 0 NC : 0 0 0 0 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 0 0 1 1 TN : 0 0 0 0 TX : 11 8 11 9 VA : 0 0 0 0 : 14 Sts: 6 4 6 5 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 0 11 8 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 3 2 1 3 MO : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 40 35 33 36 : 11 Sts: 14 12 12 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 5 4 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 48 36 47 47 MS : 1 0 12 8 MO : 0 0 0 0 TX : 65 45 45 36 : 6 Sts : 13 9 14 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 17 2 21 30 MI : 1 0 13 8 MN : 0 0 0 0 ND : 0 0 0 0 : 4 Sts : 3 0 6 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 9 2 17 25 MN : 0 0 0 2 MT : 0 0 2 3 ND : 0 0 0 0 SD : 1 1 1 13 WA : 39 25 36 38 : 6 Sts : 2 1 3 5 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 10 1 17 17 MN : 0 0 0 2 MT : 3 1 4 5 ND : 0 0 0 0 WA : 19 11 18 25 : 5 Sts : 5 2 6 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Apr 7, :Mar 31,:Apr 7, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 34 12 1 31 MN : 0 0 0 5 NE : 39 15 9 36 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 11 6 33 30 PA : 17 10 4 16 SD : 1 0 0 10 WI : 1 1 0 8 : 8 Sts : 9 4 3 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 49% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 21 35 34 6 CA : 0 0 5 95 0 CO : 9 25 47 18 1 ID : 0 6 22 67 5 IL : 0 3 27 52 18 IN : 1 8 34 49 8 KS : 15 28 37 19 1 MI : 1 9 40 40 10 MO : 2 7 33 51 7 MT : 31 32 29 7 1 NE : 8 18 42 31 1 NC : 0 3 20 70 7 OH : 3 7 31 50 9 OK : 26 24 31 17 2 OR : 21 10 22 40 7 SD : 3 16 37 42 2 TX : 22 23 33 19 3 WA : 0 2 37 56 5 : 18 Sts : 14 20 35 28 3 : Prev Wk : 15 20 34 28 3 Prev Yr : 6 16 35 38 5 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2001 planted acres. Crop Progress and Condition Survey and Estimating Procedures Survey Procedures: Crop progress and condition estimates are based on survey data that are collected each week from early April to the end of November. The Crop progress and condition surveys are non-probability surveys that include a sample of more than 5,000 reporters whose occupations provide them opportunities to make visual observations and frequently bring them in contact with farmers in their counties. Based on standard definitions, these reporters subjectively estimate progress of farmers' activities and progress of crops through their stages of development. They also provide subjective evaluations of crop conditions. Most reporters complete their questionnaire on Friday or early Monday morning and submit it to the Agricultural Statistics Service's office in their State by mail, telephone, fax, e-mail, or through a secured internet website. A small number of reports are completed on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Regardless of the time that the questionnaire is completed, reporters are asked to report for the week ending on Sunday. For reports submitted prior to the Sunday reference date, a degree of uncertainty is introduced into the projections for weekend progress and crop condition changes. By the end of the 2001 season, nearly two-thirds of the data were being submitted through the internet website. As a result, about one-half of all data are submitted on Monday morning, which has significantly reduced this projection uncertainty. Reporters are sent written reporting instructions at the beginning of each season and are contacted periodically to ensure proper reporting. Terms and definitions of crop stages and condition categories that are used as reporting guidelines are available on the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) website at: www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/cwterms.htm. Estimating Procedures: Reported data are reviewed for reasonableness and consistency by comparing with data reported the previous week and data reported in surrounding counties for the current week. Each State Statistical Office summarizes the reported data to district and State levels, weighting each county's reported data by NASS county acreage estimates. Summarized indications are compared with previous week estimates, and progress items are compared with earlier stages of development and historical averages to ensure reasonableness. Weather events and reporter comments are also taken into consideration. State estimates are submitted to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) along with supporting comments, where they are compared with surrounding States and compiled into a National level summary by weighting each State by its acreage estimates. Revision Policy: Progress and condition estimates in the "Crop Progress" report are released at 4:00 pm ET on the first business day of the week. These estimates are preliminary and subject to corrections or updates in the "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" National Summary that is released at 12:00 pm ET on the second business day of the week. These estimates are then subject to revision the following week. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on April 16, 2002. 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, 1400 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 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (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.