We 1 (9-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 17, 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. 38 September 8 - 14, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay sparked heavy rain across southern Texas early in the week, Gustav brushed eastern North Carolina on Tuesday before becoming the first Atlantic hurricane of the year, and Tropical Storm Hanna made landfall on Saturday near Mobile, AL. Fay provided generally beneficial rainfall to drought-affected Deep South Texas, while significant effects from Gustav remained largely offshore. Hanna eased drought across the Southeast, but threatened the quality of cotton in the open-boll stage of development. Elsewhere in the South, including the Delta, hot, mostly dry weather favored summer crop maturation and harvesting. Favorable conditions for summer crop drydown also prevailed in the Midwest, where weekly temperatures averaged generally 3 to 7 degrees F above normal. Scattered showers overspread the drought-affected Ohio Valley toward week's end, although additional rain will be needed during the upcoming winter wheat establishment period. Meanwhile on the Plains, frequent showers caused some fieldwork delays but provided drought relief and much-needed moisture for recently planted and soon-to-be-planted winter wheat. Farther west, showers gradually ended across the Four Corners States, although drought-stricken rangelands continued to benefit from soil moisture improvements. Elsewhere west of the Rockies, warm, dry weather promoted fieldwork, including Northwestern winter wheat planting. During the first half of the week, late-season heat across the eastern half of the country resulted in more than five dozen daily-record highs. In Maine, Bangor noted three consecutive daily-record highs from September 8-10, including a high of 97 degrees F on Monday. Elsewhere on September 9, record highs for the month were established in locations such as Burlington, VT (98 degrees F), Montpelier, VT (92 degrees F), and Marquette, MI (93 degrees F). By midweek, heat shifted into the Southeast, where Meridian, MS (100 degrees F on September 11 and 98 degrees F the following day), notched consecutive daily records. Toward week's end, heat returned to the Northwest, setting or tying about two dozen daily-record highs. Along the Columbia River at Chief Joseph Dam (near Bridgeport, WA), daily records were tied on Thursday (96 degrees F) and Friday (94 degrees F). Redmond, OR, posted three consecutive daily-record highs from September 11-13, including a high of 96 degrees F on Friday. Significant precipitation was confined to southern Texas, the Southeast, northern New England, and a broad swath from the Four Corners to the Plains. On September 8, daily-record rainfall totals in Texas included 1.94 inches in Beaumont-Port Arthur and 1.70 inches in San Antonio. Much heavier rain fell toward week's end and on September 15 in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, causing the Nueces River at Bluntzer, TX, to rise to a record level on the night of September 15-16. Both Corpus Christi (2.53 inches) and Victoria, TX (2.17 inches), measured daily-record rainfall totals on September 15. Farther east, Tropical Storm Gustav passed within about 30 miles of Cape Hatteras, NC, on September 10, producing a peak wind gust to 78 mph. A day later, Gustav became the latest first Atlantic hurricane since September 18, 1941. Gustav became the 20th consecutive hurricane to fail to make landfall on the U.S. mainland since Irene crossed southern Florida in October 1999. Later in the week, Tropical Storm Hanna formed over the Gulf of Mexico on September 13, making landfall a day later near Mobile, AL. The heaviest rain associated with Hanna (4 to 10 inches, with locally higher totals), fell from the Florida panhandle to near the triple point of Georgia and the Carolinas. September 12-15 rainfall totaled 6.22 inches in Tallahassee, FL, and month-to-date precipitation included 5.76 inches in Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, and 5.04 inches in Athens, GA. Meanwhile across the Plains and Southwest, the first half of September featured 3.90 inches of rain (345 percent of normal) in Flagstaff, AZ, and 2.35 inches (560 percent) in Vernal, UT. Daily-record totals in South Dakota on September 9 included 1.91 inches in Pierre and 1.90 inches in Kennebec. Three days later in Nebraska, daily-record totals included 1.04 inches in Chadron and 0.80 inch in Valentine. Daily showers fell across windward sections of Hawaii. During a 6-day (144-hour) period from September 9-15, rainfall on the Big Island totaled 3.31 inches in Pahoa and 3.30 inches in Glenwood. During the first half of September, however, no measurable rain fell in Kahului, Maui (0.15 inch below normal), and Honolulu, Oahu (0.23 inch below normal). Meanwhile, cool, showery weather prevailed across much of Alaska. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal across western Alaska, where King Salmon posted a daily-record low of 29 degrees F on September 10. During the first half of September, some of Alaska's highest precipitation totals, relative to normal, included 1.49 inches (382 percent of normal) in Barrow, 1.75 inches (190 percent) in Kotzebue, and 2.09 inches (140 percent) in King Salmon. National Agricultural Summary September 9 - 15, 2002 Highlights: Hot weather promoted rapid maturation of the Nation's major row crops during the week. Rain interrupted harvest progress in parts of the southern and central Great Plains and Southeast, but dry weather supported harvest in the northern Great Plains and Corn Belt. Rain also delayed seeding of winter grains on the Great Plains, but provided much-needed soil moisture reserves. Cool, wet weather slowed crop development and limited fieldwork in the Southwest. Corn: Ninety percent of the crop was at or beyond the dent stage, 45 percent was mature, and 9 percent was harvested. On this date last year, 89 percent was at or beyond the dent stage, 44 percent was mature, and 8 percent was harvested. Normally by this date, 90 percent would be at or beyond the dent stage, 48 percent would be mature, and 8 percent would be harvested. Hot weather promoted ripening across the Corn Belt, and dry conditions aided harvest. Fields matured well ahead of normal in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, but much later than normal in Colorado, Illinois, and Indiana. Harvest was most active along the lower Missouri and Ohio River Valleys, where harvest was nearly one-half complete in Missouri and Kentucky. Harvest gained momentum across the central Corn Belt and was 4 percent complete in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. However, very few fields have been harvested in the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes States. Soybeans: Forty-two percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, exceeding last year's 37 percent and 1 percentage point ahead of the 5-year average. Above-normal temperatures accelerated ripening in the Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and northern Great Plains. Progress remained ahead of normal across most of the western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, and lagged behind normal in the central and eastern Corn Belt. About one-third of the fields began shedding leaves during the week in North Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Progress was only slightly slower in Nebraska and South Dakota. Development remained behind normal in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, despite rapid progress during the week. Development also lagged in Kansas and Louisiana. Cotton: Sixty-four percent of the acreage had open bolls and 9 percent was harvested. Fields with open bolls trailed last year's 66 percent pace but equaled the 5-year average. Harvest progress equaled last year's pace, but trailed the 10-percent average for this date. Above-normal temperatures accelerated ripening across most of the South, but fields with open bolls remained behind normal in the lower Mississippi Valley. On the Atlantic Coastal Plain, fields reached maturity ahead of normal and harvest began early. Rain delayed harvest in parts of the Southeast and southern Great Plains, but progress remained at or ahead of the 5-year average Small grains: The barley harvest advanced to 91 percent complete, compared with 99 percent on this date last year and the 5-year average of 94 percent. Hot, dry weather favored maturation and harvest on the northern Great Plains, but harvest remained far behind normal in Montana. The spring wheat harvest was 90 percent complete, well behind last year's 99-percent progress and 3 percentage points behind the 5-year average. In North Dakota and Montana, hot weather accelerated ripening and dry weather supported harvest. Winter wheat seeding advanced to 17 percent complete, matching last year's pace and exceeding the 15-percent average for this date. Dry weather aided rapid planting in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Washington, where growers seeded one-fourth of their acreage during the week. In the Great Plains, rain interrupted progress in most areas, but the precipitation aided germination of early-planted fields and provided a much-needed boost to depleted soil moisture reserves. In Nebraska, rain delays were brief, allowing growers to sow about one-fifth of their acreage. Planting remained slightly ahead of normal in Kansas, where rain delays were widespread but mostly brief. In the eastern Corn Belt, planting progress was mostly isolated, although Michigan growers seeded 8 percent of their acreage during the week. Rice: Harvest progressed to 45 percent complete, 4 percentage points less than this time last year but equal to the 5-year average. Dry weather aided progress in the interior Mississippi Delta, where harvest advanced 16 percentage points in Arkansas and 15 percentage points in Mississippi and the Missouri Bootheel. Harvest accelerated in California, but progress remained behind normal. Sorghum: Eighty-one percent was turning color or beyond, 52 percent was mature, and 30 percent was harvested. All three stages trailed last year's early pace and the 5-year average. Cool nighttime temperatures slightly limited development on the central and southern High Plains, while above-normal temperatures promoted ripening elsewhere. Development was least advanced in Colorado and New Mexico, where only about one-half of the fields were turning color. In contrast, most fields were mature and more than two-thirds were harvested in the lower Mississippi Valley, as hot, dry weather aided ripening and harvest. In the southern Great Plains, more than one-half of the crop was mature, but rain sharply curtailed harvest progress. Harvest began in the central and southern Corn Belt and gradually gained momentum in the central and northern Great Plains. Peanuts: Seven percent of the crop was harvested, compared with 5 percent on this date last year and the 5-year average of 9 percent. Rain interrupted harvest progress in Florida and Georgia, but also favorably softened soils for lifting. A few fields have been harvested along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and in the southern Great Plains, but progress was isolated. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 63 44 83 77 IL : 92 80 97 93 IN : 83 64 98 91 IA : 97 88 85 91 KS : 95 93 96 97 KY : 99 95 100 97 MI : 75 49 64 68 MN : 94 80 87 91 MO : 97 93 95 98 NE : 94 89 95 95 NC : 99 97 99 97 ND : 83 68 95 90 OH : 74 52 84 84 PA : 79 70 74 65 SD : 93 76 90 86 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 98 97 99 98 WI : 74 56 44 72 : 18 Sts: 90 78 89 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 16 10 31 27 IL : 44 24 68 55 IN : 33 20 54 50 IA : 59 35 37 55 KS : 71 58 73 71 KY : 90 70 90 76 MI : 21 9 16 26 MN : 22 9 11 30 MO : 84 65 73 78 NE : 49 32 41 43 NC : 92 84 94 89 ND : 25 7 41 31 OH : 25 7 24 26 PA : 40 30 28 21 SD : 37 24 33 31 TN : 97 92 91 90 TX : 85 82 89 88 WI : 15 8 9 22 : 18 Sts: 45 29 44 48 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 2 1 IL : 4 NA 8 7 IN : 4 NA 6 6 IA : 4 NA 2 3 KS : 27 NA 30 27 KY : 47 NA 29 33 MI : 2 NA 1 2 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 43 NA 26 30 NE : 7 NA 4 5 NC : 30 NA 47 41 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 1 NA 1 2 PA : 17 NA 7 5 SD : 2 NA 1 1 TN : 68 NA 43 52 TX : 65 NA 65 64 WI : 0 NA 0 1 : 18 Sts: 9 NA 8 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 0 2 0 CA : 1 0 0 0 CO : 21 13 30 32 ID : 16 5 12 12 IL : 0 0 1 0 IN : 2 0 2 2 KS : 9 4 10 8 MI : 9 1 2 6 MO : 0 0 0 0 MT : 17 8 10 12 NE : 30 11 32 36 NC : 1 0 1 2 OH : 1 0 1 0 OK : 23 12 23 12 OR : 3 0 0 2 SD : 24 14 20 30 TX : 20 11 23 21 WA : 65 39 54 46 : 18 Sts: 17 9 17 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 77 64 48 61 AZ : 95 89 92 89 AR : 62 45 82 71 CA : 50 45 67 54 GA : 75 63 64 63 LA : 83 73 89 90 MS : 88 71 92 87 MO : 54 42 69 73 NC : 65 52 42 48 OK : 40 33 41 49 SC : 51 40 48 50 TN : 73 49 74 75 TX : 52 42 59 56 VA : 66 48 29 48 : 14 Sts: 64 52 66 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 NA 1 5 AZ : 10 NA 7 6 AR : 0 NA 2 3 CA : 1 NA 0 0 GA : 7 NA 10 6 LA : 10 NA 8 15 MS : 9 NA 4 11 MO : 4 NA 0 4 NC : 1 NA 1 0 OK : 1 NA 0 1 SC : 4 NA 5 3 TN : 5 NA 5 5 TX : 19 NA 19 19 VA : 3 NA 0 0 : 14 Sts: 9 NA 9 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 25 19 42 24 IL : 28 9 47 39 IN : 39 18 55 58 IA : 50 20 13 35 KS : 42 31 50 55 KY : 37 18 38 33 LA : 43 28 69 62 MI : 31 11 37 34 MN : 54 22 31 44 MS : 64 50 64 63 MO : 27 10 15 29 NE : 44 19 31 36 NC : 12 7 11 14 ND : 62 26 46 49 OH : 46 18 61 53 SD : 70 44 55 57 TN : 31 19 32 27 WI : 31 12 12 29 : 18 Sts: 42 19 37 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 97 100 98 CO : 46 34 57 58 IL : 86 78 90 82 KS : 80 72 94 90 LA : 100 98 100 100 MO : 87 80 92 92 NE : 80 68 89 87 NM : 59 31 63 59 OK : 78 69 75 77 SD : 91 79 93 86 TX : 83 80 93 91 : 11 Sts: 81 74 91 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 98 93 98 93 MN : 95 91 99 96 MT : 78 58 96 92 ND : 90 69 100 91 SD : 100 100 100 100 WA : 100 99 99 99 : 6 Sts : 90 75 99 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 39 23 46 39 CA : 6 2 14 11 LA : 87 80 85 88 MS : 38 23 43 45 MO : 21 6 19 13 TX : 97 95 92 90 : 6 Sts : 45 33 49 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 92 88 91 85 CO : 10 5 13 12 IL : 48 29 61 37 KS : 39 28 46 43 LA : 99 90 100 100 MO : 56 43 63 56 NE : 36 12 26 30 NM : 3 2 8 3 OK : 56 50 43 30 SD : 26 18 35 28 TX : 72 70 82 76 : 11 Sts: 52 44 58 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 98 92 98 92 MN : 99 96 99 97 MT : 73 62 96 94 ND : 94 80 100 94 WA : 100 99 100 99 : 5 Sts : 91 82 99 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 79% of last year's barley acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 15 NA 7 14 FL : 5 NA 13 15 GA : 10 NA 6 10 NC : 3 NA 1 2 OK : 1 NA 1 1 TX : 4 NA 5 8 VA : 0 NA 1 2 : 7 Sts : 7 NA 5 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 15,:Sep 8, :Sep 15,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 67 52 75 66 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 3 0 5 2 KS : 10 5 24 18 LA : 84 69 83 87 MO : 24 0 25 18 NE : 8 2 2 6 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 35 28 28 15 SD : 6 4 4 3 TX : 62 60 68 66 : 11 Sts: 30 25 38 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 25 26 29 16 4 IL : 12 18 31 33 6 IN : 20 25 29 24 2 IA : 3 9 22 45 21 KS : 24 29 33 12 2 KY : 8 22 33 30 7 MI : 9 21 30 33 7 MN : 2 6 21 54 17 MO : 21 28 29 19 3 NE : 24 15 28 27 6 NC : 19 21 38 21 1 ND : 6 8 26 51 9 OH : 28 31 29 11 1 PA : 38 29 25 8 0 SD : 17 18 25 35 5 TN : 8 12 33 41 6 TX : 9 24 26 34 7 WI : 4 11 21 44 20 : 18 Sts : 14 17 27 33 9 : Prev Wk : 14 17 28 32 9 Prev Yr : 4 10 30 44 12 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 8 20 40 29 3 AZ : 0 4 22 49 25 AR : 2 4 19 59 16 CA : 0 0 5 60 35 GA : 8 17 37 32 6 LA : 1 5 29 52 13 MS : 0 2 12 50 36 MO : 8 21 22 47 2 NC : 6 24 43 25 2 OK : 9 12 38 41 0 SC : 14 35 44 7 0 TN : 2 6 27 54 11 TX : 8 17 32 31 12 VA : 6 28 32 32 2 : 14 Sts : 6 13 28 39 14 : Prev Wk : 5 13 29 39 14 Prev Yr : 9 17 29 35 10 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 9 27 43 19 IL : 12 14 31 37 6 IN : 15 23 32 27 3 IA : 3 10 25 46 16 KS : 15 29 38 17 1 KY : 11 25 29 30 5 LA : 4 9 27 50 10 MI : 8 19 33 33 7 MN : 2 6 21 54 17 MS : 1 5 18 42 34 MO : 21 28 30 18 3 NE : 25 27 27 18 3 NC : 4 14 36 43 3 ND : 5 11 24 52 8 OH : 25 33 32 9 1 SD : 8 17 27 44 4 TN : 8 13 28 43 8 WI : 3 7 22 47 21 : 18 Sts : 11 17 28 35 9 : Prev Wk : 10 16 29 36 9 Prev Yr : 4 11 30 44 11 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 27 53 14 CO : 16 36 32 16 0 IL : 24 36 30 9 1 KS : 28 32 29 10 1 LA : 5 13 40 36 6 MO : 11 24 40 22 3 NE : 35 31 27 7 0 NM : 24 19 39 18 0 OK : 6 13 40 37 4 SD : 29 30 34 7 0 TX : 12 18 40 26 4 : 11 Sts : 20 25 34 19 2 : Prev Wk : 20 25 33 20 2 Prev Yr : 13 21 31 30 5 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 26 46 22 CA : 0 0 30 25 45 LA : 0 2 40 53 5 MS : 0 4 12 50 34 MO : 1 2 19 57 21 TX : 0 0 12 54 34 : 6 Sts : 1 3 26 46 24 : Prev Wk : 1 3 28 43 25 Prev Yr : 0 3 22 57 18 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 11 52 27 3 FL : 0 5 55 35 5 GA : 6 17 38 34 5 NC : 1 7 57 34 1 OK : 1 9 36 47 7 TX : 1 4 26 45 24 VA : 5 24 39 28 4 : 8 Sts : 4 11 38 37 10 : Prev Wk : 3 11 37 39 10 Prev Yr : 3 9 26 45 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 : 18 22 38 21 1 :: NJ : 0 56 44 0 0 AZ : 32 51 14 3 0 :: NM : 28 36 27 9 0 AR : 5 19 48 26 2 :: NY : 22 36 32 10 0 CA : 60 30 10 0 0 :: NC : 22 33 33 12 0 CO : 61 25 11 3 0 :: ND : 30 27 27 15 1 CT : 2 30 38 30 0 :: OH : 47 32 18 3 0 DE : 30 30 28 12 0 :: OK : 5 14 32 41 8 FL : 0 5 15 80 0 :: OR : 27 32 30 10 1 GA : 23 31 30 15 1 :: PA : 55 31 12 2 0 ID : 6 31 51 12 0 :: RI : 2 30 68 0 0 IL : 33 18 30 18 1 :: SC : 10 21 44 24 1 IN : 47 31 18 4 0 :: SD : 34 27 23 15 1 IA : 17 27 27 25 4 :: TN : 28 37 26 8 1 KS : 41 30 20 8 1 :: TX : 12 20 34 26 8 KY : 35 36 21 7 1 :: UT : 41 31 25 3 0 LA : 4 17 35 38 6 :: VT : 15 38 32 15 0 ME : 19 51 28 2 0 :: VA : 35 29 24 12 0 MD : 21 38 33 8 0 :: WA : 10 34 45 11 0 MA : 13 29 48 10 0 :: WV : 20 39 31 10 0 MI : 14 31 36 19 0 :: WI : 2 9 25 56 8 MN : 2 10 33 49 6 :: WY : 55 25 16 4 0 MS : 4 17 32 41 6 :: : MO : 33 31 25 10 1 :: 48 Sts : 26 26 26 19 3 MT : 20 34 29 15 2 :: : NE : 58 28 10 4 0 :: Prev Wk: 26 24 27 20 3 NV : 12 32 34 16 6 :: Prev Yr: 11 22 33 30 4 NH : 4 31 50 15 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. 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