We 1 (4-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 22, 2003, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Troy M. Joshua at (202) 690-3234, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 90, No. 16 April 13 - 19, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Unsettled weather nearly nationwide caused some fieldwork disruptions but aided winter grains and newly planted summer crops. Warm weather (up to 10 degrees F above normal) spurred crop growth across the Plains, Midwest, and South, but cool conditions (as much as 10 degrees F below normal) prevailed in California and adjacent areas. In addition, late-season storminess in the West Coast States hampered fieldwork but boosted soil moisture reserves. Elsewhere from the Rockies westward, showery weather provided limited drought relief. Meanwhile on the northern and central Plains, widespread showers maintained generally favorable conditions for winter grains, despite underlying long-term drought and poor pasture conditions. Farther south, thunderstorms improved topsoil moisture in parts of Oklahoma and northern Texas, but warm, windy weather across the majority of the southern Plains further stressed winter wheat and emerging summer crops. Farther east, significant Midwestern rain slowed fieldwork but provided much-needed moisture in preparation for spring planting. The heaviest rain (2 inches or more) fell across northern Missouri and in a band from eastern South Dakota to central Wisconsin. Elsewhere, significant fieldwork delays were confined to parts of the interior South. Meanwhile, planting and crop development rapidly advanced across the Gulf Coast States under warm, dry conditions. Early in the week, record warmth spread from the Plains into the Northeast, resulting in well over 100 daily-record highs. With a high of 92 degrees F on April 13, Bismarck, ND, marked its earliest 90-degree heat on record (previously, 92 degrees F on April 18, 1987). The Nation's highest recorded temperature on Sunday was 93 degrees F in Mobridge, SD. A day later, daily-record highs reached or exceeded 90 degrees F in locations such as Eau Claire, WI (90 degrees F), Waterloo, IA (90 degrees F), Little Falls, MN (91 degrees F), and Hill City, KS (94 degrees F). Elsewhere in Kansas, Goodland noted three consecutive daily-record highs (81, 86, and 88 degrees F) from April 12-14. By April 15, warmth briefly spread into the Northeast, where daily-record highs included 86 degrees F in Albany, NY, Portland, ME (83 degrees F), and Bangor, ME (74 degrees F). Later in the week, however, Portland (24 and 21 degrees F) and Bangor (17 and 17 degrees F) posted consecutive daily-record lows on April 17-18. Elsewhere in Maine, Caribou's low of 5 degrees F on April 17 represented its latest reading at or below 5 degrees F (previously, 4 degrees F on April 10, 1977), while Houlton's low of 6 degrees F marked its latest reading below 10 degrees F (previously, 8 degrees F on April 16, 1981). Some record warmth lingered across the South, however, where daily-record highs included 90 degrees F on April 16 in Austin (Bergstrom), TX, and 89 degrees F a day later in Lake Charles, LA. Wet weather highlighted an active storm track, particularly across portions of the West, Plains, and Midwest. On Sunday, San Francisco, CA, notched a second consecutive daily-record rainfall, boosting its April 12-13 total to 1.76 inches. Farther inland, April storminess provided a late-season boost to high-elevation snow packs. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the Sierra Nevada snow pack gained about 4 inches of water equivalent, climbing from 20 inches (about 70 percent of normal) at the end of March to approximately 24 inches (94 percent of the April 21 normal) 3 weeks later. In southern California, record precipitation totals for April 14 included 2.71 inches on Mount Wilson, 1.06 inches in San Diego, and 0.45 inch in Bakersfield. In Minnesota, Minneapolis (0.86 inch on April 15 and 1.04 inches on April 16) and St. Cloud (2.34 inches on April 16 and 1.21 inches on April 17) set consecutive daily-rainfall records. Other Midwestern daily records for April 16 included 1.46 inches in Eau Claire, WI, and 1.33 inches in Kennebec, SD. Meanwhile in North Dakota, snowfall on Wednesday totaled 3.5 inches in Williston and 2.0 inches in Grand Forks. Farther south, a line of thunderstorms developed Oklahoma and northern Texas, but largely bypassed the southern High Plains. As a result, dry topsoils and high winds contributed to a significant dust storm on April 15-16. In New Mexico, minimum visibilities reported by automated observing stations included 5/8 mile in Hobbs and 3/4 mile in Carlsbad and Artesia. In addition, Artesia clocked a peak wind gust to 75 mph. In western Texas, the visibility dropped to 1/4 mile in El Paso, while winds gusted to 98 mph at Guadalupe Pass. Heavy rain returned to portions of the Plains at week's end, producing daily-record totals for April 19 in locations such as Topeka, KS (3.19 inches), Kansas City, MO (2.50 inches), and Pueblo, CO (1.35 inches). In Hawaii, quiet weather early in the week yielded to showers in primarily windward locations. On the Big Island, weekly rainfall totaled 6.01 inches in Piihonua and 7.64 inches in Glenwood, including a 24-hour total of 3.01 inches in the latter location on April 17-18. Meanwhile, Alaska experienced a return to above-normal temperatures. Weekly readings generally ranged from 3 to 6 degrees F above normal in southern Alaska to as much as 16 degrees F above normal across northwestern portions of the State. On April 14, Juneau, AK, marked its third consecutive daily-record high (56, 59, and 57 degrees F). Meanwhile, short-term wetness was largely confined to parts of western Alaska, where April 1-20 precipitation included 1.55 inches (344 percent of normal) in Bethel and 0.88 inch (220 percent) in Nome. The Atlantic tropical season started early with the April 20 formation of Subtropical Storm Ana about 110 miles southwest of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds during the storm's brief existence were near 40 mph. Ana represented the Atlantic Basin's first tropical or subtropical storm development prior to June 1 in 11 years, when an unnamed subtropical storm formed traversed an area slightly farther south on April 22-23, 1992. Several days before Ana's formation, the strong, upper-level disturbance that eventually helped to spawn the subtropical development had sparked torrential rainfall across Puerto Rico, causing widespread flooding. Most of the heavy rain fell on April 17-18, totaling (rounded to the nearest inch) 12 inches in Fajardo, 13 inches in Ponce, 14 inches in Luquillo, 16 inches in Rio Grande, 17 inches in Las Piedras, and 22 inches in Naguabo. National Agricultural Summary April 14 - April 20, 2003 Highlights: Field preparation and planting resumed in the Southeast and Tennessee Valley as excess moisture gradually drained from soggy fields. Warmer-than-normal temperatures early in the week encouraged farmers to prepare soils for planting many areas of the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Later in the week, rainfall brought nearly all fieldwork to a halt, then high temperatures and strong winds negated much of the benefit from the showers activity in some areas. The precipitation in the Rocky Mountains provided slight improvement to the crop condition and soil moisture. Excellent weather along the Gulf Coast allowed field activity to escalate. Late-season showers provided relief to the Pacific Coast and Great Basin, while delaying fieldwork and planting. Corn: Planting was 12-percent complete, the same as this time last year but 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Ideal weather conditions supported rapid progress in Tennessee and Kentucky. Planting was very active in the central Great Plains and middle Mississippi Valley. Cool soil temperature continued to delay planting in Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Planting also progressed slightly below the 5-year average in Colorado. Planting resumed as the soil dried in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, where North Carolina growers were 24 percentage points behind last year's pace. Winter Wheat: Ten percent of the Nation's winter wheat was headed, ahead of last year's 8 percent but slightly behind the 5-year average of 11 percent. Warmer-than-normal weather accelerated wheat development in the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Fields were heading ahead of normal in California and Oklahoma, but behind-normal in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. Fields in Kansas entered the jointing stage slightly ahead of the average. In Montana, 3 percent of the fields were dormant, compared with 37 percent last year. Cotton: Planting advanced to 12-percent complete, 2 percentage points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Planting progress in California and Arizona increased significantly even though below-normal temperatures were reported. The cold, wet winter continued to delay planting in North Carolina. Drying fields allowed planting in the Delta. Land preparations in Texas continued in the Panhandle as producers pre-irrigated and applied herbicides. Moisture shortages were common in central, northern, and western areas. Small grains: Spring wheat planting progressed to 25 percent, 14 percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points above the 5-year average. Planting accelerated in Minnesota and South Dakota and remained active in Idaho. Planting progress remained behind normal in Montana and Washington. The barley crop was 22-percent seeded, compared with last year's 14 percent and the 5-year average of 18 percent. Even though temperatures were slightly below normal, planting continued in the Pacific Northwest. Above-normal temperatures continued to encourage barley planting in the northern Great Plains. The oat crop was 34-percent seeded and 7-percent emerged. Planting was ahead of last year's pace of 30-percent seeded, while emergence was slightly behind at 4-percent. The warm, dry weather conditions encouraged planting throughout the Corn Belt and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, rain and snow delayed planting in North Dakota. Planting was well ahead of normal in Iowa and South Dakota. Rice: Forty-six percent of the crop has been planted, and 16 percent has emerged. Planting was 8 percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Emergence was 1 percentage point behind normal. Planting was very active in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri, with Arkansas planting one-third of their crop. Warm weather and windy conditions in Arkansas have hindered emergence. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 17-percent complete, the same as last year, but slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 16 percent. Planting progressed in Missouri and Oklahoma. Favorable weather conditions continued to accelerate planting in Arkansas. In Texas, planting progressed at a near-normal pace. Other crops: Sugarbeets planting progressed to 33-percent planted in the four major sugarbeet- producing States. Planting was ahead of last year and the average for this date of 18 and 21 percent, respectively. Aided by warm, dry weather, Idaho and Michigan growers planted 28 and 26 percent of their acreage, respectively. A few fields were planted in North Dakota. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 18 2 32 46 CA : 80 66 73 73 CO : 0 0 0 1 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 1 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 1 0 5 3 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 20 7 32 31 OH : 0 0 0 6 OK : 23 6 16 21 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 24 13 19 29 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 10 4 8 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 1 3 4 IL : 21 3 16 13 IN : 9 1 2 5 IA : 3 0 10 4 KS : 27 16 24 21 KY : 44 22 28 33 MI : 1 0 1 1 MN : 3 0 3 3 MO : 48 30 48 35 NE : 4 1 7 5 NC : 32 16 56 53 ND : 2 0 0 1 OH : 4 0 2 4 PA : 1 0 6 3 SD : 0 0 1 1 TN : 70 36 58 51 TX : 68 63 65 59 WI : 0 0 0 1 : 18 Sts: 12 5 12 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 13 5 20 17 AZ : 35 17 51 42 AR : 1 0 5 2 CA : 30 17 56 44 GA : 3 1 11 8 LA : 6 0 8 7 MS : 10 0 4 5 MO : 4 1 9 4 NC : 0 0 6 5 OK : 3 0 1 2 SC : 1 1 13 8 TN : 1 0 1 1 TX : 18 15 16 14 VA : 0 0 5 4 : 14 Sts: 12 8 14 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 21 46 35 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 18 9 22 20 MO : 3 1 3 2 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 7 3 5 4 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 45 41 45 42 : 11 Sts: 17 15 17 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 55 22 37 33 CA : 5 0 2 2 LA : 71 63 77 76 MS : 29 11 17 29 MO : 12 2 5 5 TX : 65 60 89 74 : 6 Sts : 46 26 38 36 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 1 10 6 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 53 41 64 59 MS : 8 2 3 8 MO : 1 0 0 1 TX : 44 29 73 54 : 6 Sts : 16 9 20 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 89 61 54 62 MI : 26 0 35 33 MN : 26 7 4 7 ND : 8 5 4 6 : 4 Sts : 33 15 18 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 60 48 39 48 MN : 28 1 3 7 MT : 12 4 4 14 ND : 15 9 4 5 SD : 66 37 35 38 WA : 69 57 68 70 : 6 Sts : 25 13 11 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 50 37 36 39 MN : 14 1 3 6 MT : 19 9 9 17 ND : 5 2 2 2 WA : 53 36 49 58 : 5 Sts : 22 13 14 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 78 50 88 63 MN : 24 2 18 20 NE : 76 47 79 68 ND : 5 1 2 3 OH : 43 13 24 55 PA : 32 10 44 37 SD : 53 32 25 30 WI : 21 5 26 27 : 8 Sts : 34 16 30 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Apr 20,:Apr 13,:Apr 20,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 19 NA 30 21 MN : 3 NA 0 2 NE : 30 NA 40 33 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 8 NA 10 29 PA : 8 NA 17 17 SD : 12 NA 1 4 WI : 1 NA 2 2 : 8 Sts: 7 NA 8 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 10 30 47 10 CA : 0 0 10 45 45 CO : 6 12 34 41 7 ID : 0 1 5 79 15 IL : 1 1 22 63 13 IN : 1 3 17 60 19 KS : 4 13 36 36 11 MI : 1 18 40 37 4 MO : 0 3 22 61 14 MT : 1 7 23 56 13 NE : 1 11 44 39 5 NC : 1 8 34 54 3 OH : 0 2 18 57 23 OK : 2 7 23 52 16 OR : 0 19 49 21 11 SD : 2 10 38 42 8 TX : 11 20 39 25 5 WA : 2 7 26 52 13 : 18 Sts : 4 11 32 42 11 : Prev Wk : 4 12 33 42 9 Prev Yr : 15 18 32 31 4 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2002 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. 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