We 1 (10-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 8, 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. 41 September 29 - October 5, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Lili made landfall on the morning of October 3 along the Louisiana coast near the western edge of Vermillion Bay, the first hurricane to strike the mainland United States since Irene hit southern Florida in October 1999. Maximum sustained winds were near 100 mph at landfall, down from 145 mph the previous evening. Nevertheless, Lili left a considerable swath of agricultural wind damage, lodging sugarcane in southern Louisiana and buffeting unharvested summer crops, especially rice and cotton, in the Delta. Peak wind gusts generally ranged from 70 to 90 mph in the western portion of Louisiana's sugarcane region and 30 to 50 mph in the Delta. Although Lili produced less substantial rainfall than Isidore, which followed a similar track on September 26-27, persistent wetness in the Delta caused further discoloration of unharvested cotton. Elsewhere in the South, warm (4 to 12 degrees F above normal), mostly dry weather promoted autumn fieldwork. In contrast, cool, wet conditions hampered corn and soybean harvest activities in the upper Midwest. Weekly rainfall topped 2 inches in much of Iowa, Wisconsin, southern Minnesota, and northern Illinois. Elsewhere in the Corn Belt, scattered showers caused only minor harvest and winter wheat planting delays in the Ohio Valley, but soils remained unfavorably dry in parts of the soft red winter wheat belt, including southern Illinois. Meanwhile, very cool weather overspread the Plains, slowing winter wheat development and holding Montana's weekly temperatures as much as 9 degrees F below normal. Significant rain (generally 2 to 6 inches) fell from Texas' northern panhandle to southeastern Nebraska, halting fieldwork but boosting soil moisture reserves for winter grains. However, winter wheat areas farther to the west, including the central High Plains, will soon need more rain to ensure proper autumn establishment. Temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal in the West, accompanied by rain and snow showers in the Great Basin and Intermountain region. Only scattered showers fell, however, in the Northwest, leaving dryland winter wheat in need of additional moisture. Despite the development of 21 Atlantic Basin hurricanes since Irene crossed southern Florida on October 15-16, 1999, none struck the mainland United States. Although Hurricane Lili weakened markedly before making landfall and further still after moving inland, peak wind gusts across southern Louisiana included 92 mph in New Iberia and 72 mph in Lafayette. In Mississippi, peak gusts included 53 mph in Greenwood and 49 mph in Greenville. Daily-record rainfall totals for October 3 were established in Louisiana locations such as Monroe (3.33 inches) and Lake Charles (2.46 inches). Although higher daily totals were observed in Lafayette (4.28 inches) and Alexandria, LA (4.14), October 3 rainfall records remained intact due to the 1964 passage of Hurricane Hilda (7.10 inches in Lafayette) and the 1995 approach of Hurricane Opal (5.45 inches in Alexandria). Due to Lili's relatively rapid motion, the highest reported storm-total rainfall was 8.40 inches in Buras, LA. October 3 rainfall was also impressive on parts of the Plains, where Wichita, KS (2.73 inches), measured a daily-record total. A day later, the latest in a series of significant precipitation events soaked the upper Midwest, resulting in daily-record totals in locations such as Minneapolis, MN (1.93 inches), and Mason City, IA (1.40 inches). Farther west, a slow-moving, early-season snow storm affected much of the Intermountain region. In Nevada, 8.9 inches of snow blanketed Elko on October 1-2, becoming their fourth-snowiest October in the last half-century, behind 12.1 inches in 1981 and 9.7 inches in 1971 and 1991. In Utah, daily-record snowfalls included 10 inches in Alta on October 1 and 8 inches in Brian Head on October 3. Cold air accompanied the unsettled weather, resulting in at least four dozen daily-record lows. In Arizona, Show Low closed the week with a trio of record lows (30, 25, and 30 degrees F from October 3-5). Farther north and east, daily-record lows on October 2 included 14 degrees F in Williston, ND, and 21 degrees F in Davenport, WA. Excluding a brief cold snap in New England, very warm conditions dominated the South and East. Early-week, record warmth briefly spread as far north as the central Plains and western Corn Belt, where September 29 highs reached 94 degrees F in Lincoln, NE, and 90 degrees F in Des Moines, IA. Lincoln posted another daily record (93 degrees F) on October 1, but suddenly colder weather resulted in the lowest high temperatures on record for October 2 in Cheyenne, WY (36 degrees F), and October 3 in North Platte, NE (47 degrees F). Farther east, high temperatures on October 3 reached 90 degrees F as far north as New Jersey's Atlantic City Marina. A day later, daily-record highs peaked at 97 degrees F in Shreveport, LA, and Texarkana, AR. In Alaska, the first week of October featured a continuation of September's mild, showery weather. Weekly temperature were near normal in southeastern Alaska, but as much as 9 degrees F above normal across northern areas. October 1-7 precipitation totaled 2.00 inches (357 percent of normal) in Anchorage and 0.99 inch (180 percent) in King Salmon. Meanwhile in Hawaii, showers intensified, primarily in windward locations, following a relatively quiet weather regime during September. However, no measurable rain fell during the first week of October in Kahului, Maui, following their driest September on record (a trace of rain, 0.39 inch below normal). In contrast, 48-hour (October 4-6) totals on the Big Island included 3.59 inches in Glenwood and 3.26 inches in Piihonua. National Agricultural Summary September 30 - October 6, 2002 Highlights: Widespread, heavy rain sharply curtailed fieldwork in an area extending from the central Great Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley. Corn and soybean harvests were delayed in the western Corn Belt, and winter wheat seeding was hampered in parts of the central Great Plains. Across the remainder of the Great Plains, winter wheat seeding rapidly progressed, while warm, dry weather favored rapid maturation and harvest progress in the southern and eastern Corn Belt. In the Southeast and interior areas of the lower Mississippi Valley, harvest resumed after crops and soils became sufficiently dry. However, additional tropical precipitation further delayed harvest near the Mississippi Delta's gulf coast. Corn: Ninety-two percent was mature and 28 percent was harvested, slightly more than last year's 88-percent mature and 27-percent harvested. Progress equaled the 5-year average for maturity, but trailed the 32-percent average for harvest. Above-normal temperatures quickly ripened late-maturing fields around the Great Lakes and eastern Corn Belt. Wisconsin led progress, with 30 percent of the acreage reaching maturity during the week. In Michigan and Ohio, about one-fifth of the crop reached maturity. Cold nighttime temperatures slowed ripening in the Great Plains, but one-fifth of the acreage also reached maturity in Colorado and North Dakota. Harvest was active in the southern and eastern Corn Belt, advancing 15 percentage points in Illinois and Kentucky. In the western Corn Belt and Great Plains, harvest was much slower due to heavy rain. Progress was especially slow in Iowa and Minnesota. Soybeans: Ninety-one percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, slightly exceeding last year's 89-percent pace and matching the 5-year average. Harvest progress, at 31 percent, trailed last year's 37 percent and the 44-percent average for this date. Nearly all fields in the western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains were shedding leaves by the end of the week. In the southern and eastern Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and Atlantic Coastal Plain, progress was less advanced, but above-normal temperatures aided development. Harvest accelerated in the Corn Belt and Great Plains, but heavy rain held progress far behind normal in Iowa and Minnesota. Rain also limited progress in Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. In the central and eastern Corn Belt, mostly dry weather supported rapid harvest, especially in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, where growers reaped about one-fifth of their fields during the week. However, progress remained behind the 5-year average. Cotton: Ninety percent of the acreage had open bolls, and 24 percent was harvested. Fields with open bolls slightly exceeded last year and the 5-year average of 89 percent. Harvest progress fell 5 percentage points behind last year's pace and 8 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Above-normal temperatures aided ripening of late-maturing fields throughout the South. In Missouri, nearly all fields had open bolls after a 21-percent advancement during the week. Rain and lingering wetness continued to hamper harvest in the lower Mississippi Valley, where progress was far behind normal in most areas. Meanwhile, favorably dry weather supported a gradual acceleration in the southern Great Plains and Southeast. Winter wheat: Seeding advanced to 64 percent complete, but progress fell behind last year's pace, when 68 percent was planted by this date. However, planting exceeded the 5-year average of 57 percent. Planting rapidly accelerated in the eastern Corn Belt, where growers sowed between one-fourth and one-third of their soft red winter wheat acreage during the week. The planting pace was slightly slower on the Great Plains, where less than one-fifth of the hard red winter wheat was sowed during the week. Thirty-eight percent of the acreage was emerged, matching last year's progress but exceeding the 30-percent average for this date. Soil moisture reserves remained low across most of the Great Plains, but recent precipitation slightly improved topsoil moisture supplies and promoted rapid germination and emergence. In Colorado, more than one-fourth of the acreage emerged during the week. Elsewhere, about one-fifth of the acreage emerged in Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. A few fields were emerged in the Corn Belt and interior areas of the Mississippi Delta. Rice: Harvest progressed to 83 percent complete, slightly less than last year's 87 percent but equal to the 5-year average. Rain limited harvest progress in Louisiana and Mississippi, but harvest continued without delay in Arkansas and Missouri. In California, growers reaped 25 percent of their acreage, as dry weather prevailed. Sorghum: Seventy-nine percent was mature and 50 percent was harvested. Both stages trailed last year's pace of 86 and 58 percent, respectively. Normally, 85 percent would be mature and 52 percent would be harvested by this date. Many fields reached maturity in the central and northern Great Plains, despite unfavorably cool weather. In Kansas and South Dakota, ripening lagged well behind normal. In the southern Great Plains and Corn Belt, above-normal temperatures ripened fields earlier than normal. Rain hampered harvest in parts of the Mississippi Delta and Great Plains, but delays were mostly short. In the southern and central Corn Belt, growers harvested more than one-fifth of their acreage during the week. Other Crops: The peanut harvest advanced to 32 percent complete, but progress lagged 9 percentage points behind last year and the 5-year average. Along the eastern Gulf Coast, harvest gradually resumed as soils dried out from earlier tropical downpours, but progress remained behind normal in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Dry weather also allowed harvest to accelerate along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and southern Great Plains. Thirty-four percent of the sugarbeet crop was harvested in the 4 major sugarbeet-producing States, compared with 36 percent at this time last year and the average of 33 percent. In the northern Red River Valley, harvest was about one-half complete. The sunflower harvest, at 13 percent, lagged 4 percentage points behind last year and 7 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 91 71 88 86 IL : 95 86 97 96 IN : 85 74 93 95 IA : 99 95 92 98 KS : 98 94 96 97 KY : 99 96 100 96 MI : 89 70 67 69 MN : 95 86 86 95 MO : 99 96 98 98 NE : 92 84 89 94 NC : 100 99 100 100 ND : 91 70 96 95 OH : 71 51 73 75 PA : 84 70 67 58 SD : 91 78 91 91 TN : 100 100 100 99 TX : 98 97 100 99 WI : 81 51 48 74 : 18 Sts: 92 83 88 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 58 47 81 62 IL : 92 80 96 93 IN : 92 82 97 98 IA : 98 93 80 95 KS : 90 79 94 92 KY : 86 75 87 77 LA : 74 59 89 91 MI : 98 87 79 83 MN : 99 98 98 99 MS : 90 84 93 90 MO : 77 66 71 83 NE : 95 86 96 98 NC : 40 24 40 38 ND : 100 99 100 99 OH : 97 89 97 95 SD : 98 96 98 98 TN : 76 60 70 72 WI : 93 81 70 90 : 18 Sts: 91 83 89 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 3 16 17 IL : 35 20 45 40 IN : 21 14 30 27 IA : 13 10 8 23 KS : 74 63 66 64 KY : 78 63 84 72 MI : 11 7 9 13 MN : 9 4 5 18 MO : 81 68 62 63 NE : 24 17 17 30 NC : 55 43 89 79 ND : 11 4 10 17 OH : 15 7 11 15 PA : 46 38 25 17 SD : 16 9 17 18 TN : 92 89 87 89 TX : 83 75 89 88 WI : 8 2 5 13 : 18 Sts: 28 20 27 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 24 17 35 25 IL : 35 13 49 46 IN : 30 10 40 44 IA : 26 16 30 52 KS : 34 19 37 37 KY : 18 9 24 26 LA : 45 30 65 68 MI : 32 18 14 21 MN : 33 25 48 65 MS : 50 50 62 62 MO : 27 14 18 28 NE : 33 16 34 42 NC : 3 0 5 5 ND : 55 33 67 65 OH : 33 14 39 42 SD : 35 23 39 42 TN : 20 10 16 19 WI : 19 8 12 29 : 18 Sts: 31 17 37 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 2 6 5 CA : 5 4 7 4 CO : 90 71 89 90 ID : 64 45 52 56 IL : 28 5 22 16 IN : 27 8 24 26 KS : 67 50 77 59 MI : 51 26 33 44 MO : 20 8 21 19 MT : 82 74 82 68 NE : 91 82 91 92 NC : 12 4 13 13 OH : 40 9 38 37 OK : 73 56 79 54 OR : 22 13 36 33 SD : 84 70 86 86 TX : 61 52 69 56 WA : 90 80 80 83 : 18 Sts: 64 50 68 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 95 91 89 88 AZ : 100 100 100 99 AR : 97 94 99 95 CA : 90 87 89 89 GA : 91 87 85 84 LA : 98 96 99 99 MS : 96 95 100 98 MO : 97 76 94 98 NC : 95 92 89 87 OK : 80 65 79 86 SC : 79 69 86 84 TN : 97 94 93 97 TX : 84 78 83 84 VA : 92 81 75 76 : 14 Sts: 90 85 89 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 2 1 CA : 1 0 0 0 CO : 53 27 55 66 ID : 22 13 20 21 IL : 4 0 3 2 IN : 5 1 4 5 KS : 37 18 41 29 MI : 17 6 11 13 MO : 6 0 6 4 MT : 51 31 33 30 NE : 72 53 65 67 NC : 3 1 4 2 OH : 9 1 2 4 OK : 47 28 48 22 OR : 4 2 22 15 SD : 47 29 50 56 TX : 38 27 39 28 WA : 65 54 64 65 : 18 Sts: 38 23 38 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 21 14 16 29 AZ : 25 17 23 21 AR : 18 6 39 38 CA : 5 3 7 8 GA : 20 13 18 17 LA : 43 28 56 66 MS : 28 20 41 52 MO : 29 16 44 44 NC : 16 9 8 10 OK : 21 8 10 16 SC : 18 13 22 19 TN : 20 13 44 42 TX : 27 24 30 32 VA : 27 17 10 13 : 14 Sts: 24 17 29 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 98 100 99 CO : 48 37 60 49 IL : 94 82 86 82 KS : 74 65 85 86 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 92 80 89 90 NE : 90 75 89 90 NM : 35 18 42 33 OK : 80 76 68 70 SD : 74 54 85 86 TX : 85 79 91 89 : 11 Sts: 79 71 86 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 41 28 52 52 FL : 55 35 63 61 GA : 40 24 52 50 NC : 18 13 22 18 OK : 31 19 20 19 TX : 10 7 19 25 VA : 40 23 58 47 : 7 Sts : 32 20 41 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 9 NA 18 17 MI : 6 NA 16 24 MN : 45 NA 43 38 ND : 53 NA 50 43 : 4 Sts : 34 NA 36 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 81% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 89 99 94 CO : 17 7 25 13 IL : 39 18 51 26 KS : 36 27 49 42 LA : 92 91 99 99 MO : 69 48 58 53 NE : 31 25 17 26 NM : 2 0 4 4 OK : 62 53 44 30 SD : 20 14 39 28 TX : 70 68 80 75 : 11 Sts: 50 43 58 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 82 70 92 87 CA : 70 45 57 52 LA : 96 95 98 98 MS : 80 73 86 87 MO : 65 51 69 69 TX : 100 99 100 98 : 6 Sts : 83 71 87 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 6, :Sep 29,:Oct 6, : 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 15 NA 18 7 KS : 21 NA 33 37 ND : 7 NA 9 13 SD : 17 NA 23 27 : 4 Sts : 13 NA 17 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 89% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 22 25 29 21 3 IL : 11 19 34 31 5 IN : 18 24 31 25 2 IA : 1 9 20 47 23 KS : 25 29 33 12 1 KY : 8 22 33 30 7 MI : 6 19 30 38 7 MN : 1 6 21 55 17 MO : 21 28 29 19 3 NE : 23 15 28 26 8 NC : 20 25 35 18 2 ND : 7 10 24 49 10 OH : 28 31 29 11 1 PA : 28 34 26 10 2 SD : 14 19 25 35 7 TN : 8 12 33 41 6 TX : 9 24 26 34 7 WI : 3 9 23 46 19 : 18 Sts : 12 17 27 34 10 : Prev Wk : 13 17 27 34 9 Prev Yr : 3 9 30 44 14 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 13 29 42 14 2 AZ : 0 4 27 46 23 AR : 2 8 21 58 11 CA : 0 0 10 40 50 GA : 9 19 39 27 6 LA : 3 8 44 36 9 MS : 1 6 26 48 19 MO : 9 16 33 40 2 NC : 7 34 42 16 1 OK : 5 10 30 50 5 SC : 15 41 39 5 0 TN : 2 6 27 54 11 TX : 8 15 28 34 15 VA : 7 31 37 23 2 : 14 Sts : 6 14 30 36 14 : Prev Wk : 6 14 29 37 14 Prev Yr : 9 17 30 35 9 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 8 29 43 18 IL : 10 16 34 35 5 IN : 14 19 35 29 3 IA : 2 8 24 48 18 KS : 16 31 37 15 1 KY : 7 19 32 33 9 LA : 6 21 45 28 0 MI : 5 14 28 42 11 MN : 1 6 21 56 16 MS : 2 7 23 45 23 MO : 17 25 37 18 3 NE : 25 25 27 20 3 NC : 5 15 40 38 2 ND : 6 12 23 49 10 OH : 23 29 36 11 1 SD : 7 20 31 38 4 TN : 7 14 25 43 11 WI : 3 6 23 48 20 : 18 Sts : 9 16 30 36 9 : Prev Wk : 10 17 30 34 9 Prev Yr : 4 11 31 43 11 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 11 45 28 6 FL : 5 15 35 45 0 GA : 8 19 39 29 5 NC : 1 10 57 32 0 OK : 1 11 30 48 10 TX : 0 5 22 52 21 VA : 12 25 34 26 3 : 8 Sts : 5 13 36 37 9 : Prev Wk : 4 12 38 36 10 Prev Yr : 4 7 29 44 16 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 6 15 40 36 3 :: NJ : 0 10 80 10 0 AZ : 36 42 18 4 0 :: NM : 24 46 26 4 0 AR : 8 21 43 26 2 :: NY : 9 20 41 24 6 CA : 70 20 10 0 0 :: NC : 9 25 40 24 2 CO : 47 30 17 6 0 :: ND : 33 27 26 13 1 CT : 0 21 24 55 0 :: OH : 26 31 32 11 0 DE : 9 12 50 27 2 :: OK : 7 15 33 39 6 FL : 0 5 15 75 5 :: OR : 41 28 22 9 0 GA : 5 18 42 31 4 :: PA : 22 28 39 9 2 ID : 9 29 47 15 0 :: RI : 0 7 73 20 0 IL : 13 23 37 25 2 :: SC : 4 13 42 41 0 IN : 29 33 30 8 0 :: SD : 29 30 26 13 2 IA : 15 20 35 26 4 :: TN : 13 22 33 29 3 KS : 34 31 25 9 1 :: TX : 13 22 37 23 5 KY : 8 18 38 30 6 :: UT : 31 34 26 9 0 LA : 5 12 46 33 4 :: VT : 16 17 43 20 4 ME : 11 32 49 8 0 :: VA : 28 28 28 16 0 MD : 16 28 39 16 1 :: WA : 13 44 33 10 0 MA : 6 31 55 8 0 :: WV : 10 30 40 20 0 MI : 9 35 35 20 1 :: WI : 1 5 28 54 12 MN : 2 8 34 49 7 :: WY : 56 18 20 6 0 MS : 0 5 26 59 10 :: : MO : 31 31 28 9 1 :: 48 Sts : 22 23 31 21 3 MT : 27 28 28 16 1 :: : NE : 51 30 15 4 0 :: Prev Wk: 23 24 29 21 3 NV : 15 35 28 19 3 :: Prev Yr: 10 21 35 30 4 NH : 1 20 43 36 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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