We 1 (9-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 4, 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. 36 August 25 - 31, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain soaked the East Coast drought areas from eastern Georgia to southern New England, easing long-term rainfall deficits but causing local flooding. Farther south, wet weather continued to curb irrigation demands in Florida, while very warm, mostly dry weather promoted summer crop maturation and harvesting elsewhere in the South, including the Delta. Meanwhile in the Midwest, immature corn and soybeans continued to benefit from the previous week's soil moisture improvements, but unfavorably dry conditions further stressed late-planted summer crops in the Ohio Valley. Farther west, scattered showers and thunderstorms provided some drought relief on the High Plains, although additional rainfall will soon be needed during the winter wheat establishment period. In the Southwest, isolated showers provided little relief from historically dry conditions. Elsewhere west of the Rockies, warm, mostly dry weather continued to strain drought-reduced irrigation reserves but favored fieldwork, including Northwestern small grain harvesting. Two rounds of heavy rain spread northward along the East Coast, totaling 4 to 10 inches or more from eastern Georgia to the coastal Mid-Atlantic region. Salisbury, MD, netted 10.52 inches in a 5-day period from August 28 - September 1, including 24-hour totals of 1.64 inches on August 28-29 and 8.84 inches on August 31 - September 1. Similarly, daily totals in Georgetown, DE, reached 1.47 inches on August 29 and 6.22 inches on September 1. Farther south, 10.28 inches soaked Wilmington, NC, during the last 8 days of August. However, the rain did not prevent Mid-Atlantic locations such as Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, from completing their driest September-August period on record. Washington received 22.63 inches (58 percent of normal) during the 12-month period, while Baltimore collected 26.33 inches (63 percent). In addition, Washington tied 1991 for their second-hottest summer (June to August) on record, with an average temperature of 79.4 degrees F (2.4 degrees F above normal). With an average temperature of 80.0 degrees F, the summer of 1980 remains Washington's hottest on record. Farther inland from the Atlantic Coast, several locations from Georgia to Maine registered record or near-record August dryness. In Georgia, August rainfall totaled just 0.14 inch (4 percent of normal) in Athens and 0.77 inch (21 percent) in Atlanta. It was Athens' second-lowest August rainfall behind 0.09 inch in 1951, and Atlanta's lowest August total since 0.50 inch fell in 1976. Atlanta received 137.70 inches of precipitation (74 percent of normal) from January 1, 1999, to August 31, 2002, a deficit of 47.98 inches. Unless Atlanta's precipitation totals 24.94 inches (165 percent of normal) during the next 4 months, 1999-2002 will replace 1924-27 as the city's driest 4 consecutive calendar years on record. Meanwhile in West Virginia, August rainfall totals were the lowest on record in locations such as Beckley (1.05 inches, or 30 percent of normal), Clarksburg (0.66 inch, or 15 percent), and Parkersburg (0.46 inch, or 11 percent). It was also the driest August on record in Blacksburg, VA (0.88 inch, or 24 percent of normal), and Caribou, ME (0.55 inch, or 13 percent), replacing records that had been established in 1957. In Indianapolis, IN, high temperatures reached or exceeded 80 degrees F on every day during August for only the second time on record. In addition, Indianapolis marked their 76th consecutive day with highs at or above 80 degrees F, far ahead of the former record of 61 days, set in 1931. Indianapolis' monthly temperatures averaged 77.4 degrees F (3.9 degrees F above normal), the highest August reading since 79.6 degrees F in 1995. In contrast, Great Falls, MT, completed their second-coolest August on record, behind only 1993, with an average temperature of 60.8 degrees F (4.8 degrees F below normal). In part due to dry soils associated with long-term drought, daily-record low and high temperatures were set or tied on the same date at a few Western locations, including Safford, AZ (52 degrees F and 105 degrees F on August 25). Alamosa, CO, notched daily-record lows and highs on August 25 (30 and 87 degrees F) and 26 (31 and 88 degrees F). Farther south, some of the hottest weather of the year overspread the south-central United States. On August 25, El Paso, TX, posted their highest reading of the year (104 degrees F, also achieved on June 13, June 18, and August 15). With five consecutive days of triple-digit heat from August 24-28, El Paso reached a total 32 such days for the year (normal is 14 days, but the record remains 62 days in 1994). Meanwhile, San Antonio, TX, noted a high of 100 degrees F on August 26, their first triple-digit reading since August 18, 2001. Meanwhile, Tulsa, OK, closed the June-August period with only 2 days of triple-digit heat (101 degrees F on July 26 and 100 degrees F on August 23), compared with 23 such days during the summer of 2001. Although severe thunderstorms were fairly widespread in late August across the Plains, South, and upper Midwest, there was one especially severe, long-lived outbreak. On the evening of August 26, a cluster of strong thunderstorms developed on the central High Plains. Several tornadoes were reported in Cheyenne County, KS, and wind gusts to 91 mph were clocked at the Bird City Airport. The thunderstorm complex then raced southeastward, leaving a swath of damaging winds in its path before reaching the Gulf Coast the following afternoon near the Texas-Louisiana border. Peak wind gusts in Oklahoma included 80 mph in Custer County near Weatherford, and 72 mph in Ellis County at Gage. A wind gust to 67 mph was recorded as far south as Harris County, TX, near Houston. Wildfire activity remained a serious concern across much of the West. In early September, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, 18 large wildfires across eight States in various stages of containment were responsible for more than 675,000 acres of charred vegetation. The largest of the fires, the 500,000-acre Biscuit complex in southwestern Oregon, was more than 90 percent contained by early September. By September 3, the national, year-to-date wildfire acreage climbed to more than 6.3 million acres, nearly twice the 10-year average. Since 1960, U.S. wildfires burned more 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). Weekly temperatures averaged within 4 degrees F of normal across Alaska, capping an August that featured near- to below-normal readings during the mid- to late-month period. Widespread showers eased dryness across portions of west-central and southwestern Alaska, and maintained wet conditions across southeastern parts of the State. Nearly a foot (11.50 inches) of rain inundated Port Alexander during the week, propelling the southeastern Alaska location to its wettest August (29.80 inches, or 268 percent of normal) on record. Port Alexander's previous August record of 25.71 inches had been established in 1956. Elsewhere in southeastern Alaska, Juneau received a monthly total of 10.51 inches (their wettest August since 12.31 inches fell in 1961), aided by a weekly (August 25-31) sum of 3.67 inches. In contrast, monthly rainfall totaled only 1.03 inches (34 percent of normal) in Bethel, AK, their lowest August total since 0.99 inch fell in 1976. Meanwhile, generally light to moderate showers fell across Hawaii, closing a fairly uneventful month. August rainfall included 13.65 inches (140 percent of normal) in Hilo, on the Big Island; 2.52 inches (132 percent) in Lihue, Kauai; and 0.27 inch (59 percent) in Honolulu, Oahu. On August 26-27, however, locally heavy rainfall soaked west-central parts of the Big Island, where 24-hour totals reached 3.22 inches in Waiaha and 1.82 inches in Kealakekau. National Agricultural Summary August 26 - September 1, 2002 Highlights: Widespread, heavy rain boosted soil moisture supplies along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, but the precipitation was too late for many maturing crops and was unfavorable for cotton fields with open bolls. Rain also boosted soil moisture supplies in parts of the Great Plains, but beneficial soaking precipitation was widely scattered. In the upper Mississippi Valley and adjacent areas of the Great Plains, the heavy rain delayed small grain harvest progress. Elsewhere, the precipitation on the central and southern High Plains provided much-needed moisture reserves for germinating the soon-to-be planted winter wheat crop. Warm, dry weather supported crop development and aided fieldwork in the Pacific Northwest, adjacent areas of the northern High Plains, and interior parts of the Southwest. Corn: Ninety-three percent of the crop was at or beyond the dough stage, 63 percent was at or beyond the dent stage, and 16 percent was mature. Acreage at or beyond the dough stage slightly exceeded last year's pace and the 5-year average, while dented and mature acreage slightly trailed last year and the average. In parts of the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Plains, scattered showers and thunderstorms boosted moisture supplies and aided development of late-planted fields in the reproductive and early grain-filling stages. However, many fields were too mature to significantly respond to the precipitation. In the eastern Corn Belt, fields entered the dent stage much later than normal, despite above normal temperatures. Progress was particularly slow in Indiana. Elsewhere, more than one-fourth of the Iowa and Minnesota fields progressed to the dent stage during the week and about one-fourth of the Kentucky and Missouri acreage reached maturity. Soybeans: Ninety-seven percent of the acreage was setting pods, and 7 percent was dropping leaves. Acreage setting pods matched last year's pace and the 5-year average, but acreage dropping leaves slightly trailed last year and the average of 10 and 9 percent, respectively. Most of the remaining late-planted fields in the Corn Belt were setting pods by the end of the week. However, many double-cropped fields, mostly along the Missouri and Ohio River Valleys, were still in the bloom stage. In Indiana and Ohio, 10 and 7 percent, respectively, entered the podding stage during the week, but progress neared completion later than normal in both States. Fields rapidly approached maturity in the lower Mississippi Valley and Great Plains, especially in Mississippi and South Dakota, where 37 and 26 percent, respectively, was dropping leaves or beyond by the end of the week. Along the Gulf Coast, many fields were ripe and some were harvested. Cotton: Forty percent of the acreage had open bolls, matching last year's pace. Normally, 39 percent would have open bolls by this date. Widespread, heavy rain soaked dry soils along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, but with bolls opening much earlier than normal, many cotton fields in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia were too mature to benefit from the much-needed moisture. In the lower Mississippi Valley, development remained well behind normal, especially in Arkansas and Louisiana. Defoliation and harvest remained active along the Gulf Coast and central Texas. Bolls were opening slightly earlier than normal in the Southwest. Small grains: The barley harvest advanced to 71 percent complete, well behind last year's 86-percent pace and the 5-year average of 81 percent. Harvest exceeded the 5-year average in the Pacific Northwest, where Washington and Idaho growers reaped 26 and 20 percent, respectively, during the week. Rain limited progress in Minnesota and North Dakota, while slow ripening limited progress in Montana. The spring wheat harvest, at 66 percent complete, was far behind last year's progress of 87 percent and well behind the average of 80 percent. Harvest was most active in the Pacific Northwest, where about one-fifth of the Idaho and Washington acreage was reaped during the week. In Montana, dry weather supported harvest but progress remained far behind normal at the end of the week. Harvest also lagged in Minnesota and North Dakota, as widespread showers and isolated heavy precipitation limited progress. The oat harvest was 92 percent complete, compared with 97 percent a year ago and the average of 95 percent. Harvest continued in the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains when conditions permitted, but rain limited progress in Minnesota and North Dakota. At the end of the week, harvest was nearly complete in Minnesota, but lagged well behind normal in North Dakota. Harvest also neared completion in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Rice: Harvest progressed to 24 percent complete, 2 percentage points behind last year's pace but 1 percentage point ahead of the 5-year average. Mostly dry weather aided progress along the Gulf Coast, especially in Texas, where progress remained well ahead of normal. Harvest accelerated in the interior Mississippi Delta, advancing 8 percentage points in Arkansas and Mississippi, as dry weather prevailed. Harvest began in California, but early progress was slower than normal. Sorghum: Ninety-three percent was at or beyond the heading stage, 66 percent was turning color or beyond, and 33 percent was mature. All three stages remained behind last year's pace and the 5-year average, even though hot weather promoted rapid development in the Great Plains and Corn Belt. In Kansas, development remained behind last year and the 5-year average, even though nearly one-fourth of the crop began turning color and 6 percent reached maturity during the week. Fields turned color ahead of normal in Oklahoma and South Dakota and reached maturity earlier than normal in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Harvest continued with few delays along the Gulf Coast and interior Mississippi Delta. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms briefly interrupted progress in interior areas of the southern Great Plains. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 87 68 79 80 IL : 95 90 99 94 IN : 86 75 100 97 IA : 96 83 84 90 KS : 100 93 98 99 KY : 100 99 98 98 MI : 60 32 65 67 MN : 96 72 86 92 MO : 100 94 95 98 NE : 97 91 97 95 NC : 99 97 99 98 ND : 100 95 100 99 OH : 84 73 90 91 PA : 80 72 75 74 SD : 93 82 92 88 TN : 100 100 100 99 TX : 100 98 100 100 WI : 80 68 58 74 : 18 Sts: 93 82 90 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 34 17 37 38 IL : 66 47 84 73 IN : 43 27 90 71 IA : 74 46 58 67 KS : 78 67 88 83 KY : 91 85 94 89 MI : 19 7 31 35 MN : 57 27 42 56 MO : 87 73 80 87 NE : 77 59 74 67 NC : 93 91 94 87 ND : 42 22 64 61 OH : 34 19 50 48 PA : 55 35 44 38 SD : 57 39 60 52 TN : 98 96 100 94 TX : 94 92 95 92 WI : 39 22 9 32 : 18 Sts: 63 44 65 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 0 4 5 IL : 14 7 26 18 IN : 6 1 22 16 IA : 14 3 11 15 KS : 41 23 45 37 KY : 61 35 71 49 MI : 3 0 3 4 MN : 1 0 3 4 MO : 49 25 45 45 NE : 13 8 12 8 NC : 74 60 72 67 ND : 2 1 11 8 OH : 2 0 5 6 PA : 18 9 12 7 SD : 17 13 6 8 TN : 73 52 64 62 TX : 73 68 73 72 WI : 0 0 0 3 : 18 Sts: 16 9 19 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 50 39 27 36 AZ : 68 60 72 62 AR : 23 6 57 41 CA : 36 30 38 28 GA : 48 37 32 34 LA : 60 38 71 72 MS : 62 40 51 62 MO : 35 20 50 40 NC : 40 25 19 22 OK : 25 8 18 17 SC : 30 23 23 24 TN : 32 16 46 39 TX : 33 28 35 34 VA : 34 27 19 20 : 14 Sts: 40 29 40 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 88 96 89 IL : 98 93 99 97 IN : 95 85 100 99 IA : 100 99 98 100 KS : 94 90 95 95 KY : 86 83 94 86 LA : 100 97 100 100 MI : 100 97 97 97 MN : 99 99 99 99 MS : 100 99 100 98 MO : 92 84 90 92 NE : 100 99 100 99 NC : 71 60 75 73 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 96 89 100 100 SD : 100 99 99 98 TN : 97 93 96 87 WI : 98 93 89 96 : 18 Sts: 97 93 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 1 15 9 CA : 1 0 1 3 LA : 77 75 73 76 MS : 10 2 13 13 MO : 2 0 4 1 TX : 90 84 83 74 : 6 Sts : 24 18 26 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 13 5 22 9 IL : 3 1 7 5 IN : 11 4 18 16 IA : 3 0 1 3 KS : 13 8 18 22 KY : 4 1 9 8 LA : 20 16 39 33 MI : 1 0 8 6 MN : 4 0 2 4 MS : 37 28 44 39 MO : 5 2 4 4 NE : 7 3 5 6 NC : 5 0 4 3 ND : 4 1 9 10 OH : 6 0 12 12 SD : 26 18 28 19 TN : 11 6 13 9 WI : 0 0 0 1 : 18 Sts: 7 3 10 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 72 60 95 91 IL : 98 98 99 96 KS : 95 85 98 98 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 93 100 99 NE : 94 89 99 98 NM : 77 69 88 76 OK : 85 80 85 87 SD : 96 93 99 96 TX : 92 90 97 96 : 11 Sts: 93 87 97 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 82 62 78 73 MN : 78 69 93 86 MT : 43 28 75 74 ND : 60 47 88 77 SD : 100 100 100 98 WA : 94 75 90 88 : 6 Sts : 66 54 87 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 80 60 79 73 MN : 88 76 96 89 MT : 49 40 76 76 ND : 70 57 93 84 WA : 90 64 88 87 : 5 Sts : 71 56 86 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MN : 95 88 98 95 NE : 100 100 100 100 ND : 73 62 93 85 OH : 100 99 100 100 PA : 96 92 97 94 SD : 100 100 100 99 WI : 96 94 93 96 : 8 Sts : 92 88 97 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 61% of last year's oat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 91 99 91 CO : 25 9 27 24 IL : 65 54 81 63 KS : 61 37 71 63 LA : 95 92 100 99 MO : 70 52 81 75 NE : 58 43 61 53 NM : 23 15 28 22 OK : 60 50 53 51 SD : 64 45 69 52 TX : 76 71 87 82 : 11 Sts: 66 52 74 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 1, :Aug 25,:Sep 1, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 75 52 80 60 CO : 0 0 2 1 IL : 5 1 17 7 KS : 11 5 23 17 LA : 86 70 97 95 MO : 24 13 37 29 NE : 3 2 2 5 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 35 16 31 15 SD : 6 3 4 6 TX : 65 55 70 64 : 11 Sts: 33 25 40 34 -------------------------------------- 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 : 23 28 35 12 2 IL : 11 16 34 34 5 IN : 19 22 29 28 2 IA : 3 8 24 45 20 KS : 23 31 35 10 1 KY : 7 16 35 34 8 MI : 7 17 34 36 6 MN : 2 6 23 55 14 MO : 25 27 27 18 3 NE : 25 16 29 25 5 NC : 20 23 37 19 1 ND : 6 9 25 52 8 OH : 24 30 32 13 1 PA : 30 35 23 12 0 SD : 19 19 24 32 6 TN : 8 12 33 41 6 TX : 9 24 26 34 7 WI : 5 10 25 43 17 : 18 Sts : 13 17 29 33 8 : Prev Wk : 13 16 29 33 9 Prev Yr : 5 11 31 42 11 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 11 45 32 5 AZ : 0 1 21 54 24 AR : 2 4 21 58 15 CA : 0 0 5 60 35 GA : 7 18 37 30 8 LA : 0 5 37 48 10 MS : 0 2 12 57 29 MO : 5 19 24 50 2 NC : 6 24 44 25 1 OK : 1 4 46 49 0 SC : 10 36 45 9 0 TN : 3 8 27 51 11 TX : 8 16 30 33 13 VA : 6 31 30 30 3 : 14 Sts : 5 12 29 40 14 : Prev Wk : 4 12 30 41 13 Prev Yr : 11 15 26 38 10 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 8 27 45 18 IL : 9 12 33 39 7 IN : 11 19 32 34 4 IA : 3 7 25 47 18 KS : 11 28 33 24 4 KY : 4 15 34 36 11 LA : 4 11 30 43 12 MI : 2 14 35 41 8 MN : 2 6 23 54 15 MS : 0 4 16 52 28 MO : 19 24 33 21 3 NE : 20 24 31 21 4 NC : 5 16 40 37 2 ND : 5 13 26 50 6 OH : 19 29 35 16 1 SD : 9 17 31 38 5 TN : 7 12 27 48 6 WI : 3 8 24 46 19 : 18 Sts : 9 15 30 37 9 : Prev Wk : 9 15 30 37 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 : 22 31 34 12 1 IL : 21 27 35 17 0 KS : 28 34 26 11 1 LA : 5 13 40 36 6 MO : 7 18 41 31 3 NE : 43 27 24 6 0 NM : 33 17 31 19 0 OK : 11 14 37 35 3 SD : 33 37 21 9 0 TX : 12 18 40 26 4 : 11 Sts : 21 25 33 19 2 : Prev Wk : 20 25 33 20 2 Prev Yr : 12 21 31 32 4 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 4 27 46 22 CA : 0 0 45 20 35 LA : 0 2 40 53 5 MS : 0 2 10 56 32 MO : 1 3 16 58 22 TX : 0 0 12 54 34 : 6 Sts : 1 3 29 44 23 : Prev Wk : 1 3 32 46 18 Prev Yr : 0 2 19 59 20 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 7 50 33 5 FL : 0 0 34 66 0 GA : 4 17 38 33 8 NC : 3 16 50 30 1 OK : 1 7 32 49 11 TX : 1 6 23 43 27 VA : 10 24 35 27 4 : 8 Sts : 3 11 36 38 12 : Prev Wk : 3 10 34 38 15 Prev Yr : 2 11 27 47 13 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 5 19 37 36 3 :: NJ : 0 79 21 0 0 AZ : 43 40 14 3 0 :: NM : 35 35 21 7 2 AR : 2 8 31 55 4 :: NY : 15 33 37 15 0 CA : 50 40 10 0 0 :: NC : 26 36 28 10 0 CO : 70 23 6 1 0 :: ND : 29 27 29 14 1 CT : 18 22 37 23 0 :: OH : 34 34 26 6 0 DE : 44 19 27 10 0 :: OK : 5 11 33 40 11 FL : 0 0 15 70 15 :: OR : 29 34 30 7 0 GA : 17 32 34 15 2 :: PA : 55 29 11 5 0 ID : 4 29 48 19 0 :: RI : 2 48 50 0 0 IL : 22 18 33 24 3 :: SC : 16 33 38 12 1 IN : 33 34 23 10 0 :: SD : 31 29 25 13 2 IA : 9 20 31 33 7 :: TN : 19 29 32 19 1 KS : 45 28 17 8 2 :: TX : 13 20 35 26 6 KY : 19 28 26 25 2 :: UT : 42 31 24 3 0 LA : 3 11 46 35 5 :: VT : 10 36 34 20 0 ME : 23 58 14 5 0 :: VA : 40 29 21 10 0 MD : 32 33 28 7 0 :: WA : 4 47 30 19 0 MA : 18 33 45 4 0 :: WV : 7 26 38 28 1 MI : 4 20 36 36 4 :: WI : 4 14 28 49 5 MN : 1 8 35 51 5 :: WY : 56 24 16 4 0 MS : 2 7 25 52 14 :: : MO : 24 27 33 15 1 :: 48 Sts : 24 25 27 21 3 MT : 21 33 30 14 2 :: : NE : 60 26 11 3 0 :: Prev Wk: 25 23 28 21 3 NV : 15 35 36 13 1 :: Prev Yr: 14 23 33 26 4 NH : 3 27 57 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 10, 2002. 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