We 1 (10-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 16, 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. 42 October 6 - 12, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Wet weather persisted across the Delta and elsewhere in the South in the wake of Hurricane Lili, causing additional fieldwork delays and adversely affecting unharvested summer crops, including open-boll cotton. Tropical Storm Kyle contributed to late-week downpours in the Atlantic Coast region, causing local flooding but further easing long-term rainfall deficits. Meanwhile, lingering wetness in the upper Mississippi Valley maintained the sluggish harvest pace of corn and soybeans. Rain also fell from the Ohio River southward, boosting soil moisture reserves for emerging soft red winter wheat. Elsewhere in the Midwest, dry weather favored fieldwork. Dry weather also promoted fieldwork, including winter wheat planting, from the West Coast to the central and northern Plains. However, a third consecutive week of cool weather (temperatures as much as 5 degrees F below normal) slowed wheat development across the northern Plains and Northwest. On October 12, emerging winter wheat in parts of northern High Plains and the interior Northwest was burned back by temperatures below 20 degrees F. In addition, wheat across the Northwest and the High Plains will soon need rain to ensure proper autumn establishment. Resilient Kyle, which survived for 22 days (September 20 - October 12) at strengths ranging from tropical depression to hurricane, and was on five occasions upgraded to a tropical storm, finally arrived along the Atlantic Seaboard on October 11, paralleling the Carolina coastline. In Atlantic Basin history, only Ginger (more than 27 days in September-October 1971) and Inga (nearly 25 days in September-October 1969) endured longer. October 11 peak wind gusts included 49 mph on Bald Head Island (Cape Fear), NC, and 50 mph in Georgetown, SC. Although Kyle was drawn into another, non-tropical storm system and not directly responsible for heavy rain farther inland, many locations from the eastern Carolinas to southeastern New York received late-week totals in excess of 4 inches. In Raleigh-Durham, NC, the 5.79-inch total on October 10-11 was their highest 2-day rainfall since 6.49 inches fell during the passage of Hurricane Floyd on September 15-16, 1999. The storm system that absorbed Kyle was also responsible for a swath of heavy rain from Texas into the southern Ohio Valley. In southern Texas, Del Rio received daily-record totals on consecutive days (2.14 inches on October 7 and 2.53 inches on October 8). Brownsville also posted a daily-record total, netting 3.43 inches on October 9. A day later, unwelcome heavy rain returned to the lower Mississippi Valley and adjacent areas, totaling 2.84 inches in Memphis, TN. Following record September wetness, rainfall during the first 15 days of October totaled 5.31 inches (347 percent of normal) in Tupelo, MS, and 7.23 inches (509 percent) in Memphis. Meanwhile, a sharp contrast existed between wet conditions in the southern Ohio Valley and dryness just to the north. September 1 - October 15 rainfall totaled 13.09 inches (230 percent of normal) in Bowling Green, KY, but just 1.41 inches (32 percent) in Peoria, IL. Farther east, heavy rain further eased long-term drought. Much of the rain fell on October 11, when daily-record totals included 3.06 inches in New York's Central Park, 2.55 inches in Allentown, PA, and 2.44 inches in Newark, NJ. Prior to the arrival of the storm, a high-pressure system centered over northern New England produced several daily-record lows on October 9 in Maine, including 20 degrees F in Houlton and 25 degrees F in Caribou. Toward week's end, more than six dozen daily-record lows were set or tied across the northern Plains and the Northwest. On October 12, the coldest weather on record so early in the season was noted at a few locations in Washington, including Spokane (19 degrees F; previous earliest reading below 20 degrees F was 18 degrees F on October 13, 1881), Omak (17 degrees F; previous earliest reading below 20 degrees F was 17 degrees F on October 15, 1970), and Davenport (13 degrees F; previous earliest reading below 15 degrees F was 14 degrees F on October 16, 1965). Farther east, Kalispell, MT, posted three consecutive daily-record lows (14, 16, and 17 degrees F) from October 12-14. Elsewhere in Montana, October 12 lows included 6 degrees F in Cut Bank and 16 degrees F in Great Falls. In contrast, some daily-record warmth lingered across Florida, where October 11 highs reached 93 degrees F in Orlando and 92 degrees F in Melbourne. Mild, showery weather prevailed in Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F above normal. During the first 15 days of October, precipitation in southern Alaska totaled 3.00 inches (268 percent of normal) in Anchorage, 3.90 inches (179 percent) in Cold Bay, and 6.24 inches (148 percent) in Kodiak. Meanwhile, tranquil weather prevailed again in much of Hawaii, although locally heavy showers fell early in the week on parts of the Big Island. On October 6-7, 24-hour totals included 1.28 inches in Waiaha and 1.14 inches in Kealakekua. National Agricultural Summary October 7 - 13, 2002 Highlights: Muddy fields and additional rain delayed fall harvest and winter grain seeding in the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and scattered parts of the Southeast. Along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and southern High Plains, the precipitation eased soil moisture shortages and provided much-needed moisture for forage growth and germinating winter grains. In the Mississippi Delta, soils were saturated and the additional precipitation only extended harvest delays. In the Corn Belt, central and northern Great Plains, and Pacific Coast States, dry weather supported harvest and winter grain seeding. However, many areas of the Great Plains remained unfavorably dry for germinating and establishing hard red winter wheat crop. Corn: Ninety-six percent was mature, 1 percentage point more than last year on this date but equal to the 5-year average. Harvest was 37 percent complete, slightly more than last year's 35 percent but well behind the 45-percent average for this date. Nearly all fields were mature in the southern and western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains. Late-planted fields quickly ripened in the eastern Corn Belt, especially in Ohio. Harvest gained momentum throughout the Corn Belt, but progress fell several days behind the 5-year average in Iowa and Minnesota, where most producers were focusing on the soybean harvest. In Illinois, harvest was 50 percent complete at the end of the week. Elsewhere, harvest was active in North Carolina most of the week and rapidly accelerated in Colorado. Harvest was well ahead of normal in Missouri and Pennsylvania. Soybeans: Ninety-six percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, matching last year's pace and the 5-year average. Harvest progress, at 53 percent, was slightly behind last year's 55 percent and lagged well behind the 63-percent average for this date. Warm weather promoted ripening in the lower Mississippi Valley and along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, especially in North Carolina, where nearly one-fifth of the acreage began shedding leaves during the week. In Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Tennessee, double-cropped and other late-planted fields neared maturity. In the Corn Belt, all but a few isolated fields were shedding leaves, and dry weather supported a rapid harvest pace. Iowa producers harvested more than one-third of their crop, while Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio growers harvested more than one-fourth of their acreage. Harvest also progressed without delay in the central and northern Great Plains. Cotton: Ninety-four percent of the acreage had open bolls, and 30 percent was harvested. Fields with open bolls slightly exceeded last year's pace and the 5-year average of 93 percent. Harvest progress lagged behind last year's 37-percent pace and the 5-year average of 41 percent. Late-ripening fields quickly approached maturity in the southern Great Plains, despite cooler-than-normal temperatures. In Oklahoma, fields with open bolls advanced 15 percentage points. Muddy fields and additional rain kept picking at a near standstill in the southern Great Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. Progress was far behind normal in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Rain also interrupted harvest in the Southeast, but lengthy delays were more isolated. Picking remained ahead of normal along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and in the Southwest. Winter wheat: Seeding advanced to 74 percent complete, compared with 79 percent on this date last year and the 5-year average of 70 percent. Fifty-two percent of the acreage was emerged, slightly less than last year's 54 percent progress but well ahead of the 43-percent average for this date. Rain interrupted seed bed preparation and sowing in parts of the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Atlantic Coastal Plain, while dry weather supported planting in the Corn Belt and central and northern Great Plains. Illinois and Ohio producers planted about one-third of their soft red winter wheat during the week. Producers in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri seeded between one-fifth and one-fourth of their acreage. Fields quickly emerged in the Great Plains and Corn Belt, even though moisture shortages hampered seed germination in many areas. Rice: Harvest progressed to 88 percent complete, behind last year's 92 percent and the 5-year average of 91 percent. Rain curtailed harvest progress in the lower Mississippi Valley, especially in Mississippi. Along the western Gulf Coast, the first crop harvest was virtually complete, but rain delayed harvest of the ratoon crop. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather aided harvest in California. Sorghum: Eighty-five percent was mature, 7 percentage points behind last year and the average for this date. Harvest, at 53 percent complete, also lagged behind last year and the average of 67 and 61 percent, respectively. Near-normal temperatures supported ripening on the central and southern Great Plains, where about one-fifth of the Colorado and New Mexico fields reached maturity during the week. Rain limited harvest progress in the lower Mississippi Valley, while dry weather aided progress in the central and southern Corn Belt. In the central and northern Great Plains, slow ripening limited harvest progress. Other Crops: The peanut harvest, at 47 percent complete, lagged 10 percentage points behind last year and 8 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Harvest quickly advanced in the Southeast, where rain delays were mostly brief. Cool, wet weather hampered ripening and harvest in the southern Great Plains. Fifty-nine percent of the sugarbeet crop was harvested in the four major sugarbeet-producing States. Progress trailed last year's 62-percent pace, but exceeded the 5-year average of 56 percent. Digging rapidly progressed in the northern Red River Valley, where cold nighttime temperatures and mild daytime temperatures favored piling. Harvest gained momentum in Idaho and Michigan, but progress remained behind normal. The sunflower harvest advanced to 23 percent, but progress lagged behind last year and the 5-year average of 32 and 34 percent, respectively. Harvest accelerated, but remained far behind normal in Kansas and well behind normal in North Dakota. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 95 91 95 96 IL : 98 95 100 98 IN : 92 85 98 98 IA : 100 99 97 99 KS : 99 98 99 99 KY : 100 99 100 99 MI : 95 89 83 85 MN : 97 95 95 98 MO : 100 99 100 100 NE : 97 92 95 98 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 97 91 100 99 OH : 87 71 89 89 PA : 87 84 84 72 SD : 97 91 96 96 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 98 100 99 WI : 89 81 67 87 : 18 Sts: 96 92 95 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 68 58 89 75 IL : 99 92 99 98 IN : 97 92 100 100 IA : 99 98 94 99 KS : 97 90 97 97 KY : 95 86 96 90 LA : 88 74 92 95 MI : 100 98 94 96 MN : 99 99 99 99 MS : 96 90 97 95 MO : 90 77 85 93 NE : 98 95 99 100 NC : 58 40 66 57 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 99 97 100 99 SD : 100 98 100 100 TN : 88 76 83 85 WI : 97 93 89 97 : 18 Sts: 96 91 96 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 21 7 31 31 IL : 50 35 54 54 IN : 31 21 37 39 IA : 21 13 13 38 KS : 81 74 78 75 KY : 87 78 89 83 MI : 27 11 18 21 MN : 17 9 12 37 MO : 85 81 71 71 NE : 30 24 27 43 NC : 73 55 92 86 ND : 19 11 20 28 OH : 22 15 17 24 PA : 53 46 44 27 SD : 25 16 28 29 TN : 94 92 91 94 TX : 91 83 95 93 WI : 14 8 9 21 : 18 Sts: 37 28 35 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 29 24 46 36 IL : 65 35 63 66 IN : 58 30 53 65 IA : 63 26 53 75 KS : 54 34 54 55 KY : 27 18 35 38 LA : 46 45 70 78 MI : 55 32 24 37 MN : 48 33 75 85 MS : 55 50 72 71 MO : 48 27 28 44 NE : 54 33 60 67 NC : 8 3 9 9 ND : 68 55 84 80 OH : 59 33 64 64 SD : 46 35 62 64 TN : 23 20 21 29 WI : 36 19 28 51 : 18 Sts: 53 31 55 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 7 14 14 CA : 10 5 10 7 CO : 96 90 97 96 ID : 88 64 73 76 IL : 65 28 51 45 IN : 49 27 41 48 KS : 80 67 91 78 MI : 74 51 56 64 MO : 41 20 33 36 MT : 94 82 94 84 NE : 96 91 97 97 NC : 15 12 23 19 OH : 72 40 64 63 OK : 78 73 87 67 OR : 28 22 55 53 SD : 92 84 91 91 TX : 69 61 76 64 WA : 92 90 91 91 : 18 Sts: 74 64 79 70 -------------------------------------- 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 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 97 95 93 93 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 98 97 100 98 CA : 95 90 94 95 GA : 94 91 91 88 LA : 99 98 100 100 MS : 97 96 100 98 MO : 98 97 98 100 NC : 97 95 93 93 OK : 95 80 85 89 SC : 84 79 91 91 TN : 99 97 96 98 TX : 90 84 89 90 VA : 97 92 84 87 : 14 Sts: 94 90 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 1 3 3 CA : 5 1 1 2 CO : 74 53 78 79 ID : 38 22 31 35 IL : 22 4 18 11 IN : 23 5 13 16 KS : 55 37 67 47 MI : 33 17 20 31 MO : 17 6 17 14 MT : 70 51 50 50 NE : 82 72 81 82 NC : 10 3 9 5 OH : 32 9 11 19 OK : 61 47 61 34 OR : 8 4 33 28 SD : 67 47 66 70 TX : 50 38 47 36 WA : 72 65 75 76 : 18 Sts: 52 38 54 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 29 21 27 41 AZ : 30 25 28 27 AR : 26 18 50 53 CA : 25 5 14 13 GA : 30 20 26 26 LA : 45 43 75 79 MS : 30 28 49 66 MO : 39 29 54 57 NC : 25 16 18 17 OK : 25 21 22 32 SC : 25 18 26 28 TN : 26 20 57 58 TX : 30 27 33 37 VA : 39 27 27 22 : 14 Sts: 30 24 37 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 68 48 82 72 IL : 99 94 94 93 KS : 81 74 93 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 92 93 95 NE : 96 90 94 95 NM : 56 35 62 56 OK : 85 80 82 83 SD : 87 74 95 94 TX : 88 85 93 92 : 11 Sts: 85 79 92 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 56 41 68 66 FL : 70 55 78 76 GA : 54 40 69 65 NC : 47 *25 46 37 OK : 49 31 42 38 TX : 17 10 26 32 VA : 62 40 72 71 : 7 Sts : 47 33 57 55 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 17 9 29 27 MI : 13 6 30 28 MN : 76 45 76 69 ND : 92 53 83 72 : 4 Sts : 59 34 62 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 81% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 93 100 97 CO : 26 17 36 20 IL : 60 39 71 49 KS : 39 36 61 55 LA : 95 92 100 100 MO : 74 69 64 63 NE : 42 31 33 43 NM : 8 2 14 11 OK : 65 62 59 40 SD : 28 20 63 44 TX : 72 70 82 78 : 11 Sts: 53 50 67 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 82 97 93 CA : 80 70 73 72 LA : 98 96 99 99 MS : 82 80 93 93 MO : 74 65 73 80 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 6 Sts : 88 83 92 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1997- State:Oct 13,:Oct 6, :Oct 13,: 2001 : 2002 : 2002 : 2001 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 22 15 28 12 KS : 31 21 52 52 ND : 14 7 23 27 SD : 34 17 37 42 : 4 Sts : 23 13 32 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 89% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 12 43 39 4 :: NJ : 0 0 67 33 0 AZ : 38 41 17 4 0 :: NM : 29 36 27 7 1 AR : 5 20 46 26 3 :: NY : 7 19 45 28 1 CA : 75 20 5 0 0 :: NC : 9 29 35 25 2 CO : 53 20 20 7 0 :: ND : 30 28 28 13 1 CT : 0 14 36 50 0 :: OH : 22 28 36 13 1 DE : 3 15 37 43 2 :: OK : 6 12 40 36 6 FL : 0 5 30 65 0 :: OR : 40 27 22 11 0 GA : 6 18 43 29 4 :: PA : 24 22 35 17 2 ID : 8 31 50 11 0 :: RI : 0 19 79 2 0 IL : 12 23 38 24 3 :: SC : 4 12 42 41 1 IN : 25 30 30 15 0 :: SD : 32 25 26 14 3 IA : 12 27 32 25 4 :: TN : 6 15 33 41 5 KS : 35 28 25 11 1 :: TX : 12 22 36 24 6 KY : 3 9 35 41 12 :: UT : 31 35 24 10 0 LA : 2 11 46 36 5 :: VT : 20 22 37 17 4 ME : 17 19 58 6 0 :: VA : 18 31 31 19 1 MD : 11 22 39 24 4 :: WA : 11 44 31 14 0 MA : 4 18 67 11 0 :: WV : 8 23 45 23 1 MI : 6 22 38 33 1 :: WI : 1 8 29 55 7 MN : 1 9 32 49 9 :: WY : 52 23 19 6 0 MS : 0 5 25 59 11 :: : MO : 35 33 24 8 0 :: 48 Sts : 22 22 30 23 3 MT : 24 29 31 15 1 :: : NE : 49 32 15 4 0 :: Prev Wk: 22 23 31 21 3 NV : 14 32 33 20 1 :: Prev Yr: 11 21 32 32 4 NH : 1 20 47 32 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 October 22, 2002. 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