We 1 (10-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 1, 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. 40 September 22 - 28, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Tropical Storm Isidore soaked areas from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers northeastward to the Appalachians with at least 4 inches or rain, halting fieldwork and threatening the quality of open-boll cotton, but easing long-term drought and replenishing soil moisture reserves for the upcoming winter wheat establishment period. Rainfall topped 10 inches and wind gusts exceeded 50 mph in a small area near and east of the former hurricane's landfall (near Grand Isle, LA, on September 26) from eastern Louisiana to westernmost Florida. In the Ohio Valley, little rain fell north and west of a line from southernmost Illinois to the southeastern corner of Michigan, leaving that portion of the Midwestern winter wheat belt in need of rain for crop emergence and development. Elsewhere in the Corn Belt, summer crop harvest delays were confined to the upper Mississippi Valley, where showery weather accompanied temperatures that averaged 4 to 10 degrees F below normal. Very cool weather (as much as 10 degrees F below normal) also prevailed on the northern Plains, slowing winter wheat emergence and development. The season's first freeze (temperature at or below 32 degrees F) arrived on average a few days ahead of normal across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, affecting areas as far south and east as western Nebraska and northern Iowa. Farther south, mild, dry weather favored fieldwork on the central and southern Plains, where soil moisture was adequate for winter wheat germination but insufficient in many fields to sustain normal growth during the autumn establishment period. Similar conditions existed in the Northwest, where emerging, dryland winter grains were in need of additional moisture. Elsewhere in the West, warm, dry weather promoted fieldwork, although drought-related concerns included the threat of additional wildfire activity, especially in the Far West; limited irrigation reserves; and severely stressed rangelands. Tropical Storm Isidore moved ashore on Thursday morning, preceded and accompanied by heavy rainfall. New Orleans International Airport netted 7.52 inches on September 25 and 2.65 inches the following day, lifting its monthly rainfall (14.23 inches, or 256 percent of normal) to the highest September total since a record-setting 18.98 inches fell in 1998. Elsewhere, consecutive daily-record totals were observed on September 25 and 26 in locations such as Jackson, MS (2.73 and 3.38 inches), and Tupelo, MS (1.95 and 6.83 inches). Tupelo's monthly rainfall, 10.65 inches (318 percent of normal), broke their September 1958 record of 10.03 inches. September rainfall records were also established in locations such as Jackson, TN (13.07 inches, or 348 percent of normal), and Memphis, TN (12.34 inches, or 373 percent). As the tropical storm moved inland, a northerly wind gust to 54 mph was clocked in New Orleans. A buoy site near Grand Isle, LA, measured a peak gust to 71 mph. Farther east, Mobile, AL, recorded a southeasterly wind gust to 58 mph. Among the highest confirmed rainfall amounts from the former hurricane was a 72-hour (ending Friday morning) total of 15.72 inches in Milton, FL. Daily-record totals were set as far north as New York, where September 27 rainfall included 1.87 inches in Rochester and 1.48 inches in Buffalo. In the West, cooler weather replaced a late-September heat wave. Several locations in southern California, including Chatsworth (108 and 110 degrees F) and Simi Valley (103 and 108 degrees F), opened the week with consecutive daily-record highs. Phoenix, AZ (108 degrees F on September 23 and 24), also posted consecutive record highs. Several September heat records were established in downtown Sacramento, CA, including 11 days of triple-digit heat (previously, 8 days in 1888 and 1984) and 7 consecutive days (September 19-25) with highs at or above 100 degrees F (previously, 6 days in 1888, 1923, 1936, and 1994). By September 28, however, the high of 64 degrees F in Campo, CA, was the lowest on record for the date, and came just 4 days after a daily-record high of 100 degrees F. Farther east, Alliance, NE, opened the week with a daily-record low of 26 degrees F. Two days later, record lows for September 24 included 26 degrees F in Sisseton, SD, and 32 degrees F in Cedar Rapids, IA. Mild, showery weather prevailed in Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 9 degrees F above normal. In King Salmon, AK, where September 1-29 rainfall totaled 3.85 inches (141 percent of normal), the high of 57 degrees F on September 26 tied their record for the date. Elsewhere in western Alaska, month-to-date rainfall reached 3.85 inches (169 percent of normal) in Bethel and 2.99 inches (135 percent) in McGrath. Meanwhile, cool, dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, where temperatures averaged as much as 2 degrees F below normal and showers were light and scattered. Some of the most significant shower activity developed across Kauai on September 26-27, when 24-hour rainfall reached 0.87 inch in Hanapepe. National Agricultural Summary September 23 - 29, 2002 Highlights: Tropical Storm Isidore delivered large accumulations of precipitation in a band bordered by the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers on the west and north, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the east. The widespread, persistent rain produced flooding along the Gulf Coast and through many areas of the Appalachians, but also eased drought conditions in the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Elsewhere, dry weather favored fieldwork across most of the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and West. Winter wheat seeding rapidly advanced in the Great Plains, and fields quickly emerged where topsoil moisture supplies were adequate. Fall harvest progress remained sluggish in the Corn Belt and Great Plains, as cool weather delayed the final grain-drying phase. Corn: Eighty-three percent was mature, and 20 percent was harvested. Last year, 79 percent was mature and 19 percent was harvested by this date. Normally, 82 percent would be mature and 22 percent would be harvested by this date. Fields quickly ripened in the Corn Belt and Great Plains, despite much cooler-than-normal weather in many areas. Colorado and Minnesota led progress with about one-third of the acreage reaching maturity during the week. In Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, ripening lagged despite rapid progress during the week. Harvest progressed well across the southern Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the central Great Plains. However, progress lagged behind normal across most of the central and northern Corn Belt, as growers waited for grain moisture levels to drop. In Kentucky and Tennessee, late-week rains, the remnants of Isidore, prematurely ended an otherwise active harvest week. Soybeans: Eighty-three percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, 7 percentage points ahead of last year's pace but only 1 percentage point ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest progress reached 17 percent, ahead of last year's 15 percent but behind the 22-percent average for this date. Fields quickly approached maturity in the Corn Belt, especially in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, where more than one-fourth of the acreage began shedding leaves during the week. In Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, nearly all fields were shedding leaves or fully mature by the end of the week. Harvest accelerated across the Corn Belt, as mostly dry conditions prevailed in all areas except the Ohio River Valley. Harvest was most active on the northern Great Plains, advancing 22 percentage points in North Dakota and 17 percentage points in South Dakota. Harvest lagged well behind normal in Illinois and Indiana, and slightly behind normal in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Ohio. Cotton: Eighty-five percent of the acreage had open bolls, and 17 percent was harvested. Fields with open bolls slightly exceeded last year and the 5-year average of 84 and 83 percent, respectively. Harvest progress fell 3 percentage points behind last year's pace and 5 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Near-normal temperatures aided ripening in the southern Great Plains, as bolls began opening in many Texas and Oklahoma fields during the week. Fields matured ahead of normal along most of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, but progress lagged through much of the Mississippi Delta. Persistent rain halted harvest in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, while scattered storms interrupted progress along parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. In western areas of the Mississippi Delta, mostly dry weather supported picking, especially in Louisiana and Missouri. However, harvest progress remained well behind normal throughout the lower Mississippi Valley. Winter wheat: Seeding advanced to 50 percent complete, equaling last year's pace and exceeding the 41-percent average for this date. Twenty-three percent was emerged, slightly less than last year's 24 percent but ahead of the 19-percent average for this date. Dry weather supported planting throughout the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. Sowing was particularly active in Kansas and South Dakota, where more than one-fourth of the acreage was seeded during the week. In Montana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, progress was only slightly slower, as growers seeded more than one-fifth of the acreage. Planting was also active in Colorado, Idaho, Texas, and Washington. Seeding gained momentum in the southern and eastern Corn Belt, but progress remained widely scattered. Fields emerged well ahead of normal in Montana and Oklahoma, even though topsoil moisture supplies were less than ideal for germinating seeds in many areas. Meanwhile, moisture shortages held germination and emergence behind normal in Colorado and South Dakota. Rice: Harvest progressed to 71 percent complete, slightly less than last year and the 5-year average of 75 and 72 percent, respectively. Persistent rains from Tropical Storm Isidore caused lengthy harvest delays in Mississippi, while harvest continued with almost no interruptions in Arkansas and Missouri. Harvest neared completion in Louisiana and Texas, while progress quickly accelerated in California. Sorghum: Ninety-one percent was turning color or beyond, 71 percent was mature, and 43 percent was harvested. All three stages were 7 percentage points behind last year's early pace. Normally by this date, 97 percent would be turning color or beyond, 75 percent would be mature, and 45 percent would be harvested. Cold nighttime temperatures delayed ripening in the Great Plains and Corn Belt, but dry weather supported harvest of mature fields. In Kansas and South Dakota, fields matured several days later than normal, but harvest was only slightly behind the 5-year average. In Illinois and Oklahoma, fields ripened well ahead of normal and harvest progressed without delay. Harvest also advanced quickly in Missouri and Nebraska. Peanuts: Harvest advanced to 20 percent complete, but progress lagged behind last year and the 5-year average of 28 and 29 percent, respectively. Heavy rain halted digging along the eastern Gulf Coast near midweek, pushing harvest progress well behind normal in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Elsewhere, harvest progressed with few delays along the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain and southern Great Plains. Harvest rapidly accelerated in Oklahoma and Virginia. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 71 37 75 71 IL : 86 66 93 87 IN : 74 53 89 84 IA : 95 80 78 91 KS : 94 88 91 91 KY : 96 94 98 91 MI : 70 48 54 57 MN : 86 53 63 79 MO : 96 92 94 94 NE : 84 70 83 86 NC : 99 97 99 98 ND : 70 45 88 80 OH : 51 35 55 59 PA : 70 50 55 44 SD : 78 57 80 77 TN : 100 100 99 98 TX : 97 90 99 97 WI : 51 29 35 61 : 18 Sts: 83 65 79 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 47 34 70 48 IL : 80 51 85 83 IN : 82 63 89 92 IA : 93 77 55 83 KS : 79 58 89 86 KY : 75 56 72 63 LA : 59 50 85 84 MI : 87 61 62 70 MN : 98 82 89 95 MS : 84 78 85 83 MO : 66 43 53 65 NE : 86 68 84 90 NC : 24 18 29 28 ND : 99 92 94 92 OH : 89 72 89 88 SD : 96 88 92 93 TN : 60 45 57 56 WI : 81 54 52 77 : 18 Sts: 83 65 76 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 1 7 8 IL : 20 9 29 27 IN : 14 8 20 18 IA : 10 6 5 14 KS : 63 44 55 52 KY : 63 56 65 60 MI : 7 4 7 7 MN : 4 1 2 8 MO : 68 52 47 50 NE : 17 10 11 20 NC : 43 36 81 71 ND : 4 0 3 7 OH : 7 4 5 8 PA : 38 22 15 11 SD : 9 5 10 10 TN : 89 78 77 80 TX : 75 70 83 82 WI : 2 0 2 6 : 18 Sts: 20 13 19 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 17 12 23 16 IL : 13 2 26 23 IN : 10 3 16 22 IA : 16 4 5 22 KS : 19 6 21 23 KY : 9 5 15 16 LA : 30 23 55 54 MI : 18 5 5 10 MN : 25 9 10 31 MS : 50 45 52 51 MO : 14 4 7 13 NE : 16 6 13 18 NC : 0 0 2 1 ND : 33 11 32 40 OH : 14 8 11 19 SD : 23 6 13 20 TN : 10 5 8 10 WI : 8 0 3 11 : 18 Sts: 17 6 15 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 2 5 2 CA : 4 3 4 3 CO : 71 52 78 79 ID : 45 30 31 36 IL : 5 1 9 5 IN : 8 3 9 10 KS : 50 22 50 36 MI : 26 18 18 23 MO : 8 3 11 8 MT : 74 51 67 52 NE : 82 61 76 79 NC : 4 2 10 10 OH : 9 2 5 9 OK : 56 33 57 35 OR : 13 5 19 18 SD : 70 44 67 72 TX : 52 36 57 46 WA : 80 67 68 71 : 18 Sts: 50 31 50 41 -------------------------------------- 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 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 91 81 80 81 AZ : 100 99 99 98 AR : 94 88 96 90 CA : 87 75 84 82 GA : 87 82 79 79 LA : 96 91 97 97 MS : 95 92 100 97 MO : 76 67 89 95 NC : 92 80 78 77 OK : 65 48 67 78 SC : 69 59 76 76 TN : 94 86 90 95 TX : 78 64 77 77 VA : 81 76 58 63 : 14 Sts: 85 75 84 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 0 1 0 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 27 8 40 47 ID : 13 7 11 11 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 1 0 1 1 KS : 18 8 20 14 MI : 6 0 8 5 MO : 0 0 0 0 MT : 31 10 20 17 NE : 53 31 42 46 NC : 1 0 1 1 OH : 1 0 1 0 OK : 28 16 31 12 OR : 2 0 4 4 SD : 29 14 30 37 TX : 27 15 30 21 WA : 54 43 51 51 : 18 Sts: 23 12 24 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 14 8 5 18 AZ : 17 13 15 15 AR : 6 3 25 22 CA : 3 2 3 3 GA : 13 11 12 12 LA : 28 15 38 45 MS : 20 17 24 35 MO : 16 4 33 29 NC : 9 3 5 5 OK : 8 3 4 6 SC : 13 7 14 13 TN : 13 9 23 25 TX : 24 21 26 27 VA : 17 8 1 4 : 14 Sts: 17 13 20 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 71 64 84 80 IL : 98 94 94 95 KS : 93 87 100 99 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 93 98 99 NE : 96 90 98 99 NM : 81 72 84 80 OK : 85 82 87 92 SD : 97 95 100 98 TX : 90 88 98 97 : 11 Sts: 91 87 98 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 97 100 97 CO : 37 23 38 29 IL : 82 71 82 67 KS : 65 49 74 73 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 80 67 83 82 NE : 75 63 76 79 NM : 18 8 25 18 OK : 76 63 60 56 SD : 54 41 73 69 TX : 79 75 89 85 : 11 Sts: 71 60 78 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 89 82 92 87 CO : 7 1 9 7 IL : 18 10 35 14 KS : 27 16 39 32 LA : 91 88 98 98 MO : 48 31 49 43 NE : 25 10 9 17 NM : 0 0 0 1 OK : 53 43 39 25 SD : 14 12 19 15 TX : 68 65 76 72 : 11 Sts: 43 35 50 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 70 54 79 74 CA : 45 18 38 34 LA : 95 90 94 97 MS : 73 67 74 75 MO : 51 26 57 48 TX : 99 98 99 96 : 6 Sts : 71 57 75 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Sep 29,:Sep 22,:Sep 29,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 28 19 40 43 FL : 35 20 47 46 GA : 24 18 34 36 NC : 13 7 8 8 OK : 19 4 11 8 TX : 7 5 15 20 VA : 23 6 27 22 : 7 Sts : 20 13 28 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 22 25 30 19 4 IL : 11 19 34 31 5 IN : 19 23 31 24 3 IA : 2 9 20 47 22 KS : 25 29 33 12 1 KY : 8 22 33 30 7 MI : 7 19 35 33 6 MN : 1 6 24 52 17 MO : 21 28 29 19 3 NE : 25 16 25 27 7 NC : 20 25 35 18 2 ND : 4 8 25 52 11 OH : 28 32 29 10 1 PA : 32 33 23 11 1 SD : 18 16 27 33 6 TN : 8 12 33 41 6 TX : 9 24 26 34 7 WI : 2 12 22 47 17 : 18 Sts : 13 17 27 34 9 : Prev Wk : 13 17 28 33 9 Prev Yr : 4 9 30 44 13 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 9 27 43 19 IL : 10 16 34 35 5 IN : 14 20 35 28 3 IA : 2 9 25 47 17 KS : 18 31 35 15 1 KY : 9 23 32 31 5 LA : 3 10 31 47 9 MI : 7 17 32 35 9 MN : 1 6 23 54 16 MS : 1 9 21 42 27 MO : 19 30 33 16 2 NE : 25 27 25 20 3 NC : 4 14 41 39 2 ND : 5 11 23 51 10 OH : 23 30 35 11 1 SD : 7 17 30 42 4 TN : 7 15 27 42 9 WI : 2 8 25 48 17 : 18 Sts : 10 17 30 34 9 : Prev Wk : 10 16 30 36 8 Prev Yr : 4 11 30 44 11 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 13 24 43 18 2 AZ : 0 4 23 46 27 AR : 2 5 20 59 14 CA : 0 0 10 40 50 GA : 9 19 40 26 6 LA : 0 1 30 53 16 MS : 0 6 19 50 25 MO : 9 21 29 39 2 NC : 5 31 43 20 1 OK : 8 13 35 44 0 SC : 14 40 40 6 0 TN : 2 6 27 54 11 TX : 9 16 29 33 13 VA : 6 31 33 28 2 : 14 Sts : 6 14 29 37 14 : Prev Wk : 5 13 30 38 14 Prev Yr : 10 17 29 34 10 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 27 53 14 CO : 27 44 17 11 1 IL : 21 34 34 11 0 KS : 27 32 29 11 1 LA : 5 13 40 36 6 MO : 10 22 39 26 3 NE : 40 30 24 6 0 NM : 27 16 40 17 0 OK : 10 10 40 35 5 SD : 26 31 27 16 0 TX : 12 18 40 26 4 : 11 Sts : 20 25 33 19 3 : Prev Wk : 18 25 34 20 3 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 9 13 51 22 5 FL : 0 20 40 40 0 GA : 6 17 42 30 5 NC : 1 8 55 36 0 OK : 1 12 35 42 10 TX : 1 4 22 50 23 VA : 10 26 35 26 3 : 8 Sts : 4 12 38 36 10 : Prev Wk : 4 12 36 38 10 Prev Yr : 4 8 26 47 15 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 8 22 41 27 2 :: NJ : 0 20 52 28 0 AZ : 32 42 20 6 0 :: NM : 31 41 23 5 0 AR : 4 21 42 31 2 :: NY : 12 42 31 10 5 CA : 70 20 10 0 0 :: NC : 10 25 40 25 0 CO : 48 35 13 4 0 :: ND : 30 27 28 14 1 CT : 0 21 34 45 0 :: OH : 35 34 26 5 0 DE : 16 16 44 23 1 :: OK : 8 12 33 40 7 FL : 0 5 5 80 10 :: OR : 35 29 27 9 0 GA : 5 19 42 31 3 :: PA : 44 24 29 3 0 ID : 7 34 48 11 0 :: RI : 0 13 68 19 0 IL : 17 23 37 22 1 :: SC : 5 14 40 40 1 IN : 38 29 25 8 0 :: SD : 26 32 23 17 2 IA : 14 31 28 24 3 :: TN : 17 26 35 20 2 KS : 40 30 22 7 1 :: TX : 12 21 33 26 8 KY : 13 23 40 19 5 :: UT : 35 33 25 7 0 LA : 3 10 49 33 5 :: VT : 16 19 42 22 1 ME : 10 64 23 3 0 :: VA : 22 29 31 18 0 MD : 13 28 41 16 2 :: WA : 13 44 27 16 0 MA : 2 23 69 6 0 :: WV : 18 35 35 12 0 MI : 11 32 38 18 1 :: WI : 1 4 29 55 11 MN : 1 10 36 49 4 :: WY : 57 20 19 4 0 MS : 2 9 26 54 9 :: : MO : 32 32 27 9 0 :: 48 Sts : 23 24 29 21 3 MT : 30 26 28 14 2 :: : NE : 53 32 11 4 0 :: Prev Wk: 24 25 28 20 3 NV : 16 34 28 19 3 :: Prev Yr: 11 20 33 31 5 NH : 4 16 34 46 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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