We 1 (8-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 27, 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. Update Notice: Oklahoma progress and condition estimates were updated for cotton, sorghum, peanuts, and pasture and range. National Weather Summary Volume 89, No. 35 August 18 - 24, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain soaked much of the Midwest, boosting soil moisture reserves and aiding immature corn and soybeans, but causing localized, lowland flooding in the central and western Corn Belt. Heavy showers were also scattered across the Plains, although rainfall coverage generally decreased farther west. Nevertheless, pastures and immature summer crops in the High Plains' drought area benefited from local soil moisture improvements, although additional rainfall is needed in preparation for the winter wheat planting season. Meanwhile, record heat (3 to 9 degrees F above normal) and limited rainfall worsened drought conditions across the Middle and Southern Atlantic States, but hot, dry weather hastened summer crop maturation in much of Texas and adjacent areas. In contrast, Florida and the central Gulf Coast region remained wet. Late-week showers disrupted small grain harvesting in the Northwest and beneficial showers briefly returned to the Southwest, but dry weather prevailed elsewhere west of the Rockies. The Western drought continued to strain irrigation reserves, adversely affect dryland agricultural interests, and foster additional wildfire activity. Hot weather in the Southwest and East resulted in more than five dozen daily-record highs during the week. Boston, MA, opened the week with a maximum temperature of 95 degrees F on the 18th, tying their August record with an eighth consecutive day of highs of 90 degrees F or higher. Farther south, Washington, DC, experienced 8 days in a row (August 12-19) with high temperatures at or above 95 degrees F, tying their all-time record set in July 1987 and 1993. Washington also noted highs of 95 degrees F or higher on 13 of the first 24 days of the month, their second-highest August total on record behind 16 days in 1980. Baltimore, MD, registered 47 days of 90-degree heat for the year through August 24, approaching their 1988 record of 54 days. Meanwhile in North Carolina, late-week, daily-record highs included 103 degrees F on Friday in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and 104 degrees F on Saturday in Columbia, SC. Raleigh-Durham recorded 64 days of 90-degree heat from April 1 - August 24, approaching their annual record of 78 days, set in 1941. Farther west, highs continued to peak at or above 80 degrees F throughout the week in Indianapolis, IN, boosting their record-setting streak to 69 consecutive days (June 17 - August 24). In Colorado, Pueblo posted one more maximum of 100 degrees F or higher (102 degrees F on August 18) increasing their record of triple-digit readings in a calendar year to 23 days. About two dozen large wildfires continued to burn across 10 Western States and western South Dakota at week's end, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The national year-to-date wildfire acreage climbed to nearly 6.2 million acres by August 24, more than 210 percent of the 10-year average. Since 1960, U.S. wildfires burned more than 6.2 million acres of vegetation in only 5 other years (8.4 million acres in 2000; 7.4 million in 1988; 7.1 million in 1963; and 6.7 million in 1969 and 1996). In Iowa, Dubuque experienced their wettest 24-hour period on record on August 21-22, netting 8.96 inches of rain. The record was previously established on September 14, 1967, when 8.85 inches fell. Dubuque set daily records on August 21 (5.99 inches) and 22 (2.97 inches), with the higher total breaking their August daily record of 4.26 inches, set on August 16, 1918. Watertown, SD, also broke their August daily record with a 4.32-inch deluge on the 20th, eclipsing the 3.37-inch standard set on August 4, 1994. It was also Watertown's second-wettest day on record, behind a 7.14-inch total on May 27, 1931. Selected August 18-24 rainfall totals across the Midwest included 9.29 inches in Dubuque, 6.95 inches in Columbia, MO, 5.93 inches in Rockford, IL, and 5.28 inches in Lincoln, NE. Columbia's month-to-date total through the 24th, 8.49 inches, represented their fifth-highest August rainfall on record, while Dubuque's sum, 9.71 inches, was just shy of their August 1987 record of 9.90 inches. Meanwhile, locally heavy showers also briefly spread across the interior Northwest after midweek. On August 22 in Washington, Spokane's 1.06-inch rainfall was a record for the date and their highest daily total during August since 1.44 inches fell on August 20, 1923. Light to occasionally moderate showers fell across the Hawaiian islands, especially in favored windward locations. The most significant rain fell on August 23-24, when 24-hour totals reached 2.62 inches on the Big Island at Piihonua and 1.42 inches at Oahu's Manoa Lyon Arboretum. Meanwhile in Alaska, cool (as much as 8 degrees F below normal), showery weather aided wildfire containment efforts across the interior. August 1-25 precipitation totaled more than twice the normal in locations such as Valdez (10.27 inches), King Salmon (5.37 inches), and Fairbanks (2.90 inches), but a dry pocket persisted in west-central Alaska, where month-to-date rainfall included 0.27 inch (10 percent of normal) in Nome and 0.28 inch (18 percent) in Kotzebue. National Agricultural Summary August 19 - 25, 2002 Highlights: Widespread, heavy rainfall boosted vegetative growth and aided grain-filling crops across much of the Corn Belt. However, some corn and soybean fields in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains were too mature to benefit from the ground-soaking rains. Also, crop conditions continued to deteriorate in the Ohio River Valley, where unfavorably hot, dry weather remained. The small grain harvest continued with few delays on the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, although cool weather slowed ripening and limited the harvest pace in some areas. Also, harvest of cotton, rice, and other mature crops remained active along the Gulf Coast and adjacent areas of the southern Great Plains and Mississippi Valley. In the Southeast, above-normal temperatures maintained earlier-than-normal crop development in most areas. Corn: Eighty-two percent of the crop was at or beyond the dough stage, 44 percent was at or beyond the dent stage, and 9 percent was mature. All three stages were near last year's pace and were virtually equal to the 5-year average. Fields rapidly entered the dough stage in the central High Plains and eastern Corn Belt, led by Colorado's 26-percentage point increase. Progress was only slightly slower in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Denting progressed most in Kentucky and Iowa, advancing 25 and 21 percentage points, respectively. Rain eased drought stress and aided grain-filling plants through most of the central and western Corn Belt. However, relief was limited as many fields approached maturity along the Missouri River in the southern and western Corn Belt. In South Dakota, 13 percent was mature. Fields also quickly ripened in the lower Ohio River Valley and Southeast. Soybeans: Ninety-three percent of the acreage was setting pods, matching last year's pace and the 5-year average. Rain and cooler weather promoted vegetative growth and aided reproductive development across much of the Corn Belt, especially around the middle and upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, and western Corn Belt. However, most of the Ohio River Valley remained unfavorably hot and dry, limiting vegetative growth while accelerating pod development. In Kentucky, conditions deteriorated while one-fourth of the acreage entered the pod-setting stage. In the western Corn Belt, fields rapidly approached maturity, despite cool nighttime weather. In South Dakota, 18 percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, nearly double the normal 10-percent pace. Many fields also neared maturity in the lower Mississippi Valley, but progress was near or behind normal in most areas. Harvest was active along the Gulf Coast, although some areas experienced brief rain delays. Cotton: Twenty-nine percent of the acreage had open bolls, compared with 28 percent at this time last year and the 5-year average of 27 percent. Despite favorably warm weather, bolls were opening much later than normal in the lower Mississippi Valley, especially in Arkansas and Louisiana. In contrast, development continued well ahead of normal in the Southeast, where abnormally hot weather spurred rapid progress. In Alabama, bolls began opening in nearly one-fourth of the fields, more than doubling the previous week's accumulated progress of 15 percent. In the southern Great Plains, bolls were opening slightly earlier than normal and harvest remained active in central and southern Texas. Cool nighttime weather limited development in the Southwest, but fields ripened earlier than normal in Arizona and California. Small grains: The barley harvest progressed to 56 percent complete, well behind last year's 68-percent pace and the 5-year average of 65 percent. Harvest rapidly progressed across most of the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, advancing 25 percentage points or more in Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington. However, the harvest pace was slower in Montana, and progress lagged well behind normal due to slow ripening. The spring wheat harvest, at 54 percent complete, was well behind last year's progress and the average of 70 and 65 percent, respectively. Harvest rapidly accelerated across the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, especially in Idaho, where producers reaped one-third of their crop during the week. Harvest was also active in Minnesota and Washington, where producers harvested 20 percent of their acreage. In Montana and North Dakota, fields slowly ripened and harvest lagged far behind normal. The oat harvest advanced to 88 percent complete, 3 percentage points less than progress on this date last year but equal to the 5-year average. Cool weather delayed maturation and limited harvest across the northern Great Plains. In North Dakota, producers reaped one-fifth of their crop during the week, but progress remained 3 to 4 days behind normal. Harvest was also active in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, where 11 and 16 percent, respectively, was threshed during the week. Elsewhere, the harvest season ended in South Dakota, and neared completion in Ohio and Wisconsin. Rice: Ninety-six percent of the crop was heading, slightly behind last year's 97-percent progress but ahead of the 92-percent average for this date. Harvest progressed to 18 percent complete, slightly less than last year's 19- percent pace but 1 percentage point ahead of the 5-year average. One-fifth of the acreage entered the heading stage in California, despite unfavorably cool weather. In the interior Mississippi Delta, heading was nearly complete, but progress was slightly behind normal in Missouri. Harvest continued along the Gulf Coast, although progress was interrupted by brief thunderstorms, especially in Louisiana. Harvest began in the interior Mississippi Delta, but progress was isolated. Sorghum: Eighty-seven percent was at or beyond the heading stage, 52 percent was turning color or beyond, and 25 percent was mature. Development trailed last year and the 5-year average for all three stages. More than one-fifth of the acreage entered the heading stage in South Dakota, despite cooler-than-normal weather. In Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, almost one-fifth of the acreage began turning color during the week. Above-normal temperatures quickly ripened fields along the Gulf Coast and adjacent areas of the interior Great Plains and Mississippi Valley. In Arkansas and Louisiana, 52 and 70 percent, respectively, was mature, but progress was far ahead of normal in Arkansas, while progress lagged well behind normal in Louisiana. Harvest progressed with few delays in Texas, and was 49 percent complete at the end of the week. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 68 42 58 59 IL : 90 78 95 89 IN : 75 56 96 92 IA : 83 66 71 76 KS : 93 79 96 94 KY : 99 83 94 92 MI : 32 11 48 50 MN : 72 56 62 72 MO : 94 88 91 94 NE : 91 82 93 89 NC : 97 95 98 94 ND : 95 87 96 97 OH : 73 49 80 81 PA : 72 56 66 66 SD : 82 63 83 78 TN : 100 98 100 97 TX : 98 97 98 98 WI : 68 45 34 58 : 18 Sts: 82 67 81 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 17 3 19 19 IL : 47 30 70 55 IN : 27 16 68 51 IA : 46 25 37 39 KS : 67 49 78 65 KY : 85 60 86 73 MI : 7 0 12 17 MN : 27 10 16 30 MO : 73 60 72 75 NE : 59 41 56 45 NC : 91 80 89 79 ND : 22 8 40 42 OH : 19 8 34 32 PA : 35 22 33 26 SD : 39 22 39 33 TN : 96 89 96 84 TX : 92 85 92 85 WI : 22 7 0 15 : 18 Sts: 44 28 48 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 7 NA 17 9 IN : 1 NA 11 6 IA : 3 NA 3 3 KS : 23 NA 33 20 KY : 35 NA 41 24 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 25 NA 30 30 NE : 8 NA 6 4 NC : 60 NA 53 49 ND : 1 NA 4 2 OH : 0 NA 2 2 PA : 9 NA 4 3 SD : 13 NA 1 5 TN : 52 NA 46 40 TX : 68 NA 63 62 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 9 NA 11 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 39 15 19 22 AZ : 60 45 55 46 AR : 6 5 34 22 CA : 30 20 24 16 GA : 37 27 17 22 LA : 38 20 56 53 MS : 40 27 39 49 MO : 20 2 26 23 NC : 25 15 14 14 OK : 8 3 9 7 SC : 23 15 13 14 TN : 16 4 24 18 TX : 28 24 28 25 VA : 27 23 14 13 : 14 Sts: 29 20 28 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 80 92 79 IL : 93 82 96 94 IN : 85 69 99 95 IA : 99 97 95 99 KS : 90 78 91 91 KY : 83 58 89 73 LA : 97 94 100 97 MI : 97 94 87 93 MN : 99 96 97 98 MS : 99 97 100 96 MO : 84 67 77 83 NE : 99 93 97 97 NC : 60 48 63 58 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 89 75 97 97 SD : 99 91 95 94 TN : 93 84 91 76 WI : 93 86 71 86 : 18 Sts: 93 85 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 NA 8 4 IL : 1 NA 1 1 IN : 4 NA 7 6 IA : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 8 NA 11 12 KY : 1 NA 5 3 LA : 16 NA 30 22 MI : 0 NA 0 1 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MS : 28 NA 33 28 MO : 2 NA 3 0 NE : 3 NA 1 3 NC : 0 NA 0 1 ND : 1 NA 4 3 OH : 0 NA 8 5 SD : 18 NA 19 10 TN : 6 NA 7 4 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 3 NA 5 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 94 99 94 CA : 90 70 88 81 LA : 100 99 99 98 MS : 100 99 97 91 MO : 82 78 97 84 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 6 Sts : 96 91 97 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 4 2 CA : 0 0 0 1 LA : 75 67 69 68 MS : 2 0 9 6 MO : 0 0 1 0 TX : 84 79 77 61 : 6 Sts : 18 16 19 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 99 CO : 60 45 80 84 IL : 98 88 98 93 KS : 85 72 94 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 93 87 96 96 NE : 89 81 96 95 NM : 69 55 77 64 OK : 80 63 81 82 SD : 93 72 98 88 TX : 90 81 93 93 : 11 Sts: 87 76 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 62 29 59 55 MN : 69 49 76 70 MT : 28 17 58 57 ND : 47 35 68 60 SD : 100 99 98 94 WA : 75 55 68 71 : 6 Sts : 54 41 70 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 60 34 60 56 MN : 76 48 86 77 MT : 40 25 56 58 ND : 57 32 78 70 WA : 64 39 62 69 : 5 Sts : 56 32 68 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MN : 88 77 94 88 NE : 100 100 100 100 ND : 62 42 81 71 OH : 99 94 100 99 PA : 92 76 87 87 SD : 100 99 99 97 WI : 94 87 85 90 : 8 Sts : 88 79 91 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 61% of last year's oat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 84 94 81 CO : 9 6 9 8 IL : 54 42 77 44 KS : 37 19 59 45 LA : 92 90 100 97 MO : 52 33 69 60 NE : 43 24 27 28 NM : 15 6 15 12 OK : 50 40 43 34 SD : 45 31 46 35 TX : 71 62 78 74 : 11 Sts: 52 38 62 54 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Aug 25,:Aug 18,:Aug 25,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 52 NA 49 32 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 1 NA 2 1 KS : 5 NA 18 9 LA : 70 NA 93 86 MO : 13 NA 18 14 NE : 2 NA 0 1 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 16 NA 21 9 SD : 3 NA 1 2 TX : 55 NA 61 58 : 11 Sts: 25 NA 33 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 25 25 28 19 3 IL : 11 14 35 35 5 IN : 16 22 33 27 2 IA : 3 8 25 44 20 KS : 24 29 32 14 1 KY : 9 22 32 30 7 MI : 5 13 33 42 7 MN : 2 6 25 47 20 MO : 25 27 28 18 2 NE : 25 15 29 25 6 NC : 19 23 34 22 2 ND : 4 11 28 50 7 OH : 26 32 29 12 1 PA : 33 35 20 12 0 SD : 21 17 24 32 6 TN : 9 13 33 39 6 TX : 9 24 26 34 7 WI : 5 9 25 43 18 : 18 Sts : 13 16 29 33 9 : Prev Wk : 13 17 30 32 8 Prev Yr : 4 11 30 43 12 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 10 47 30 6 AZ : 0 1 23 53 23 AR : 2 4 21 58 15 CA : 0 0 5 55 40 GA : 7 18 36 32 7 LA : 0 4 36 46 14 MS : 0 2 12 57 29 MO : 7 19 27 44 3 NC : 8 25 40 26 1 OK : 0 5 35 59 1 SC : 12 36 44 8 0 TN : 3 9 22 52 14 TX : 6 15 35 33 11 VA : 6 31 29 32 2 : 14 Sts : 4 12 30 41 13 : Prev Wk : 6 12 29 39 14 Prev Yr : 12 14 25 38 11 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 9 27 47 15 IL : 7 12 32 41 8 IN : 11 18 33 35 3 IA : 3 7 26 46 18 KS : 10 26 35 25 4 KY : 6 15 35 35 9 LA : 3 9 30 47 11 MI : 2 11 34 43 10 MN : 2 5 26 49 18 MS : 0 3 17 52 28 MO : 18 25 34 20 3 NE : 23 28 29 17 3 NC : 9 20 38 32 1 ND : 5 14 29 47 5 OH : 20 30 34 15 1 SD : 10 17 25 44 4 TN : 8 13 29 44 6 WI : 2 6 24 51 17 : 18 Sts : 9 15 30 37 9 : Prev Wk : 9 16 31 35 9 Prev Yr : 4 12 32 42 10 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 4 27 54 14 CO : 17 36 31 15 1 IL : 22 27 38 12 1 KS : 27 33 27 12 1 LA : 0 16 34 43 7 MO : 8 22 38 29 3 NE : 43 32 21 4 0 NM : 41 21 29 9 0 OK : 12 13 34 39 2 SD : 35 29 27 9 0 TX : 12 18 40 26 4 : 11 Sts : 20 25 33 20 2 : Prev Wk : 20 23 32 22 3 Prev Yr : 12 22 32 30 4 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 4 30 45 20 CA : 0 0 55 30 15 LA : 0 2 40 53 5 MS : 0 2 11 59 28 MO : 1 2 18 57 22 TX : 0 0 12 54 34 : 6 Sts : 1 3 32 46 18 : Prev Wk : 1 3 31 47 18 Prev Yr : 0 3 21 58 18 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 5 47 35 8 FL : 0 0 26 56 18 GA : 4 16 36 33 11 NC : 5 15 49 31 0 OK : 1 7 32 49 11 TX : 1 4 22 42 31 VA : 10 24 37 25 4 : 8 Sts : 3 10 34 38 15 : Prev Wk : 3 8 34 42 13 Prev Yr : 4 9 22 48 17 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 9 13 38 35 5 :: NJ : 30 58 12 0 0 AZ : 43 40 14 3 0 :: NM : 49 31 17 3 0 AR : 2 8 32 53 5 :: NY : 21 37 27 11 4 CA : 50 40 10 0 0 :: NC : 30 42 20 8 0 CO : 68 24 7 1 0 :: ND : 29 30 28 12 1 CT : 26 30 36 8 0 :: OH : 37 33 24 6 0 DE : 67 19 10 4 0 :: OK : 4 11 30 49 6 FL : 0 5 15 65 15 :: OR : 25 34 30 10 1 GA : 21 32 31 15 1 :: PA : 62 22 11 5 0 ID : 4 24 46 26 0 :: RI : 2 50 48 0 0 IL : 15 20 34 26 5 :: SC : 27 39 28 6 0 IN : 28 33 29 10 0 :: SD : 40 25 23 11 1 IA : 9 19 32 34 6 :: TN : 19 30 33 17 1 KS : 43 26 20 9 2 :: TX : 13 18 37 26 6 KY : 22 31 27 18 2 :: UT : 39 31 25 5 0 LA : 2 7 36 46 9 :: VT : 9 43 29 15 4 ME : 9 58 29 4 0 :: VA : 50 33 14 3 0 MD : 47 35 16 2 0 :: WA : 4 36 47 13 0 MA : 9 15 58 18 0 :: WV : 7 21 38 33 1 MI : 7 16 32 42 3 :: WI : 2 7 28 54 9 MN : 2 8 34 47 9 :: WY : 59 22 15 4 0 MS : 3 7 25 55 10 :: : MO : 19 26 35 19 1 :: 48 Sts : 25 23 28 21 3 MT : 27 28 29 13 3 :: : NE : 62 25 11 2 0 :: Prev Wk: 25 24 28 20 3 NV : 15 33 38 12 2 :: Prev Yr: 15 24 32 26 3 NH : 8 23 56 13 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 September 4, 2002. 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