We 1 (5-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 6, 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 Terry P. O'Connor at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 90, No. 18 April 27 - May 3, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: In California, wet weather and cool, damp soils hampered fieldwork and slowed the emergence and development of cotton and other summer crops. For the second consecutive week, Californian temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below. Elsewhere in the West, warm, dry weather prevailed in the Four Corners States, while rain and snow showers provided additional drought relief across the interior Northwest. Meanwhile on the northern and central Plains, topsoil moisture remained mostly favorable for winter wheat and spring-sown small grains, but some rangeland and pastures continued to exhibit the effects of long-term drought. Meanwhile on the southern Plains, warm (temperatures 4 to 10 degrees F above normal), windy, mostly dry weather further reduced soil moisture reserves for winter wheat and emerging summer crops. In contrast, at least 2 inches of rain soaked areas from eastern Nebraska to southern Lower Michigan, slowing spring planting operations but providing additional drought relief. Variable rains fell elsewhere in the Corn Belt, easing drought concerns and causing only minor fieldwork delays. Cool air settled across the North late in the week, resulting in frosts and freezes in the Great Lakes region, including western Michigan's fruit belt. Evaluation of potential damage to cherries and other blooming fruit trees continued at week's end. Farther south, unfavorably dry conditions expanded across most areas west of the Delta, increasing stress on emerging summer crops. Elsewhere, scattered showers maintained generally favorable soil moisture levels across the interior South and the southern Atlantic States, although severe thunderstorms caused localized wind and hail damage. More details on the large, deadly tornado outbreak that struck on May 4-5 in areas from the Plains to the interior South, including Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, will appear in next week's summary. Rain fell in two primary waves, starting along the West Coast and advancing northeastward. Early in the week, daily-record totals in California included 0.62 inch (on April 28) in San Francisco and 1.65 inches (on April 29) in Redding. Farther inland, the average water equivalent of the Sierra Nevada snow pack was 26 inches on May 1, according to the California Department of Water Resources, a substantial increase from 20 inches at the beginning of April. Farther east, heavy rains erupted across parts of the Plains, Midwest, and East at month's end. Daily-record totals for April 30 included 3.37 inches in Key West, FL, 2.22 inches in Chicago, IL, and 1.87 inches in Madison, WI. A day later, Grand Rapids, MI (2.02 inches) also reported a daily-record rainfall. By May 2, heavy precipitation returned to the West, where record totals for the date included 1.01 inches in Oxnard, CA, 0.42 inch in San Francisco, and 0.24 inch in Elko, NV. Oxnard set another record on May 3 (0.54 inch), while daily-record totals were also set in southern California locations such as Torrance (1.82 inches), Chatsworth (1.20 inches), and Simi Valley (1.10 inches). Heavy rains and locally severe thunderstorms returned to portions of the Plains and Midwest on May 4. However, mostly dry weather persisted across the South-Central United States, where Austin (Bergstrom), TX (0.06 inch, or 2 percent of normal), endured its driest April since only 0.03 inch fell in 1984, and Galveston, TX (4.61 inches), completed its driest January-April period since 4.03 inches was observed in 1980. In northwestern Lower Michigan, Traverse City noted low temperatures at or below 32 degrees F on 6 of the last 9 days in April and 3 of the first 4 days in May. Specific minima included lows of 23 degrees F on April 23 and 25 degrees F on April 24, 26, and May 3. Daily-record lows across the Great Lakes region on the last day of April included 19 degrees F in International Falls, MN, and 22 degrees F in Marquette, MI. Scattered daily-record lows were also noted in California, where Simi Valley (37 degrees F) posted a daily-record low on April 29. In contrast, a few daily-record highs were reported in the South-Central United States, including a maximum of 92 degrees F on May 3 in New Orleans (Audubon Park), LA. A day later, Wichita Falls, TX (97 degrees F), also notched a record high. Record warmth dominated Alaska, boosting weekly temperatures as much as 14 degrees F above normal. Valdez, AK, notched daily-record highs on 8 of 9 days from April 25 to May 3, including maxima of 67 degrees F on April 26 and 28. In addition, monthly precipitation totaled just 1.42 inches (40 percent of normal) in Valdez, marking its driest April since only 0.57 inch fell in 1981. Elsewhere in Alaska, April precipitation ranged from well below normal in locations such as Anchorage (0.17 inch, or 25 percent of normal) and Fairbanks (0.05 inch, or 24 percent), to significantly above normal in the western locations of Bethel (1.80 inches, or 277 percent) and Nome (1.10 inches, or 169 percent). Meanwhile, warm weather prevailed in Hawaii toward week's end. Hawaiian daily record-tying highs on May 3 included 88 degrees F in Kahului and 87 degrees F in Honolulu. Kahului also received record-low April rainfall, totaling 0.01 inch (normal is 1.75 inches) and breaking its April 1990 standard of 0.06 inch. In contrast, April rainfall (14.07 inches, or 112 percent of normal) accounted for 70 percent of Hilo's year-to-date total of 22.25 inches (49 percent). National Agricultural Summary April 28 - May 4, 2003 Highlights: Seasonal rains continued in the Pacific Northwest, and occasionally heavy rain fell over much of California where conditions remained wet and cool. Dry conditions dominated from southern California to the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. The Southeast was relatively dry with localized showers. Warm, sunny conditions allowed for an increase in fieldwork. Rain fell much of the week in the central Great Plains and across the Corn Belt. The heaviest precipitation was recorded in Nebraska and Iowa. Northern Illinois and Indiana received much needed rain. Farther north, dry conditions dominated in the northern Great Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation enabled producers to make excellent planting progress. Concern over fields drying out were alleviated by a late-week storm. The Ohio Valley had a warm, dry week conducive to fieldwork, and Pennsylvania saw the best week of the season in terms of number of days suitable for fieldwork. Corn: Planting was 55 percent complete, 14 percentage points ahead of last year's pace and 9 points ahead of the 5-year average. The crop was 13 percent emerged, 2 points ahead of last year and equal to the 5-year average. Most of the Corn Belt made good planting progress during the week despite sporadic showers, with most States advancing well ahead of their 5-year average pace. In Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana planting progressed 28, 21, and 24 percentage points during the week, respectively. Favorable conditions in the upper Great Plains, upper Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley allowed planting to accelerate rapidly, with Minnesota and Ohio producers planting over half of their crop during the week. Above normal temperatures and adequate topsoil moisture in most areas aided emergence. Winter Wheat: Thirty-nine percent of the Nation's winter wheat was headed, 3 percentage points ahead of last year's pace, and 4 points ahead of the 5-year average. Warm, sunny conditions in many States allowed heading to increase rapidly. Heading during the week increased 32 points in Texas, 27 points in Oklahoma and Missouri, 26 points in Arkansas, and 24 points in Kansas. Heading was well ahead of normal in Oklahoma and Texas, and slightly ahead of normal in Kansas. A few fields were headed in Colorado, Ohio, and Washington, but none had entered the heading stage in Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, or South Dakota. Cotton: Planting advanced to 32 percent complete, 5 percentage points behind last year but 1 point ahead of the 5-year average. Nearly ideal conditions supported planting in the Delta, with Louisiana and Mississippi producers seeding over one-third of their acreage during the week. Progress was only slightly slower in Arkansas. As soil conditions improved, planting progress gained momentum across the Southeast. California planting progress remained well behind average, but increased 28 points despite continued cool, wet conditions. Soybeans: Planting was 11 percent complete, 4 percentage points ahead of last year and equal to the 5-year average. Favorable conditions allowed Ohio planting to reach 41 percent complete, an increase of 36 points over last week's pace. Delta growers also made significant planting progress. Mississippi, at 68 percent complete, advanced 26 points from last week, and Louisiana, at 34 percent complete, increased 15 percent from last week. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 22 percent complete, 2 percentage points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Planting was just getting underway in Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska. Planting was active in the Delta where rain held off till the end of the week. Rice: Seventy-two percent of the crop has been planted, compared with 70 percent planted last year and the 5-year average of 67 percent. The crop was 47 percent emerged, 4 percentage points behind last year but 6 points ahead of the 5-year average. Arkansas was 16 points ahead of their 5-year average planting pace while Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas were slightly behind their average pace. In all of the major producing states except California, warm conditions promoted emergence, with the pace in Arkansas well ahead of average. Small grains: Spring wheat planting progressed to 63 percent, 27 percentage points ahead of last year and 13 points ahead of the 5-year average. The crop was 27 percent emerged, 18 points ahead of last year and 7 points ahead of the 5-year average. The barley crop was 56 percent seeded, compared with last year's 35 percent and the 5-year average of 49 percent. The crop was 25 percent emerged, 13 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 points above the 5-year average. The oat crop was 73 percent seeded and 37 percent emerged. Planting was ahead of last year's pace of 56 percent seeded, while emergence was 9 points ahead of last year's pace. Rain in Idaho slowed the planting of spring wheat and barley. Producers in the central Great Plains continued to seed small grains despite occasionally heavy showers. Farther north, small grain seeding advanced rapidly during the week in the Dakotas due to warm, dry conditions. Conditions also favored planting in the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes region, and upper Mississippi Valley. Other crops: Sugarbeet planting progressed to 86 percent in the four major sugarbeet- producing States. Planting was ahead of last year by 19 percentage points and 14 points ahead of the 5-year average for this date. As soil conditions improved, growers in Michigan rapidly increased plantings. Dry weather aided rapid progress in the Red River Valley, where Minnesota and North Dakota growers seeded 57 and 47 percent of their acreage during the week, respectively. Planting slowed in Idaho as progress neared completion. Peanut planting was 9 percent complete, 7 percentage points behind last year and the 5-year average. Plantings in Oklahoma increased to 25 percent, advancing 11 points from last week, and more than doubling the 5-year average pace. Plantings in the Southeast slowly gained momentum as soil conditions improved. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 29 10 40 35 IL : 68 47 29 48 IN : 50 26 9 34 IA : 56 28 50 50 KS : 58 39 67 65 KY : 70 57 46 61 MI : 24 2 15 24 MN : 80 25 51 55 MO : 66 57 72 63 NE : 33 14 52 44 NC : 73 63 90 82 ND : 49 17 24 28 OH : 83 18 10 28 PA : 26 5 28 24 SD : 27 9 30 25 TN : 85 80 85 81 TX : 83 73 84 81 WI : 28 8 17 27 : 18 Sts: 55 29 41 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 80 54 92 93 CA : 96 90 100 98 CO : 3 1 1 3 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 22 0 10 19 IN : 8 2 11 16 KS : 25 1 25 21 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 33 6 43 37 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 60 41 86 85 OH : 2 0 0 0 OK : 91 64 85 74 OR : 0 0 7 2 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 72 40 54 62 WA : 3 0 3 2 : 18 Sts: 39 21 36 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 2 0 2 3 IL : 23 7 11 16 IN : 11 1 1 8 IA : 3 0 5 7 KS : 24 16 30 25 KY : 52 28 38 39 MI : 0 0 1 2 MN : 2 0 1 8 MO : 43 26 47 35 NE : 5 1 8 7 NC : 41 16 71 63 ND : 1 0 0 2 OH : 8 0 2 4 PA : 2 0 8 3 SD : 1 0 1 2 TN : 74 51 65 57 TX : 69 63 71 65 WI : 1 0 3 2 : 18 Sts: 13 6 11 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 24 17 19 16 IL : 6 2 1 11 IN : 17 4 2 15 IA : 4 *0 6 11 KS : 5 *0 10 10 KY : 4 2 2 8 LA : 34 19 27 32 MI : 4 1 6 6 MN : 12 0 5 14 MS : 68 42 52 44 MO : 6 3 10 11 NE : 3 1 9 7 NC : 2 0 7 5 ND : 8 0 1 3 OH : 41 5 5 15 SD : 2 0 3 4 TN : 4 2 7 5 WI : 5 0 1 3 : 18 Sts: 11 3 7 11 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 87 72 79 71 CA : 19 8 28 25 LA : 87 77 89 91 MS : 69 50 70 71 MO : 46 20 40 45 TX : 93 86 98 94 : 6 Sts : 72 58 70 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 58 37 62 52 AZ : 65 58 82 74 AR : 37 9 44 29 CA : 68 40 89 80 GA : 22 11 40 28 LA : 50 16 62 53 MS : 64 26 51 39 MO : 20 10 53 41 NC : 17 4 32 26 OK : 15 3 17 10 SC : 10 2 28 23 TN : 20 7 28 24 TX : 24 20 21 21 VA : 26 15 47 42 : 14 Sts: 32 18 37 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 98 94 91 92 MI : 91 34 86 84 MN : 83 43 60 65 ND : 78 31 49 61 : 4 Sts : 86 48 67 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 56 29 57 39 CA : 0 0 4 4 LA : 73 58 78 78 MS : 35 26 40 40 MO : 18 8 24 13 TX : 80 67 89 83 : 6 Sts : 47 30 51 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 70 54 81 67 CO : 2 1 1 2 IL : 1 0 3 7 KS : 3 0 7 7 LA : 48 27 56 53 MO : 20 12 23 18 NE : 1 0 1 1 NM : 1 0 0 0 OK : 14 12 12 10 SD : 0 0 0 3 TX : 49 48 49 48 : 11 Sts: 22 19 24 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 19 12 17 21 FL : 10 2 27 23 GA : 5 2 16 15 NC : 5 1 17 12 OK : 25 14 11 12 TX : 7 3 9 13 VA : 10 0 35 22 : 7 Sts : 9 4 16 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 78 72 79 83 MN : 75 41 24 45 MT : 57 36 35 56 ND : 51 35 21 35 SD : 92 85 81 77 WA : 96 88 89 92 : 6 Sts : 63 45 36 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 72 66 71 73 MN : 62 24 25 40 MT : 55 44 34 58 ND : 40 21 12 25 WA : 97 81 78 86 : 5 Sts : 56 41 35 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 98 93 99 93 MN : 81 47 60 61 NE : 94 87 96 94 ND : 42 19 18 30 OH : 99 72 59 82 PA : 79 53 69 73 SD : 86 75 72 69 WI : 71 38 42 69 : 8 Sts : 73 52 56 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 59 41 42 51 MN : 23 7 2 14 MT : 12 4 3 19 ND : 21 5 2 10 SD : 64 35 28 40 WA : 70 57 63 70 : 6 Sts : 27 12 9 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 44 29 30 41 MN : 13 1 3 11 MT : 22 11 7 20 ND : 11 1 0 5 WA : 67 39 52 59 : 5 Sts : 25 12 12 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 4, :Apr 27,:May 4, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 74 50 79 64 MN : 32 9 16 25 NE : 77 51 80 71 ND : 11 1 1 6 OH : 57 20 27 59 PA : 35 12 53 43 SD : 55 27 29 34 WI : 22 3 15 28 : 8 Sts: 37 17 28 31 -------------------------------------- 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 : 1 11 30 48 10 CA : 0 0 15 75 10 CO : 7 14 25 44 10 ID : 0 0 5 75 20 IL : 0 3 22 59 16 IN : 0 2 14 61 23 KS : 4 12 32 40 12 MI : 3 5 37 46 9 MO : 1 5 26 53 15 MT : 1 8 22 53 16 NE : 0 7 34 47 12 NC : 2 12 38 46 2 OH : 1 2 16 53 28 OK : 3 8 24 47 18 OR : 0 5 56 32 7 SD : 1 9 31 47 12 TX : 17 24 37 19 3 WA : 2 7 19 53 19 : 18 Sts : 5 11 29 43 12 : Prev Wk : 4 11 31 43 11 Prev Yr : 16 17 31 31 5 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 3 20 65 11 :: NJ : 0 0 4 92 4 AZ : 14 31 36 14 5 :: NM : 30 40 27 3 0 AR : 1 6 47 40 6 :: NY : 0 40 40 20 0 CA : 0 0 20 50 30 :: NC : 0 1 20 59 20 CO : 19 34 29 18 0 :: ND : 14 26 38 21 1 CT : 0 15 25 47 13 :: OH : 1 4 24 57 14 DE : 0 9 19 65 7 :: OK : 3 12 39 37 9 FL : 0 5 30 60 5 :: OR : 2 11 36 46 5 GA : 0 3 25 60 12 :: PA : 3 9 25 52 11 ID : 0 2 31 59 8 :: RI : 0 1 16 83 0 IL : 0 1 24 64 11 :: SC : 0 1 12 71 16 IN : 1 5 27 57 10 :: SD : 12 27 37 21 3 IA : 0 5 33 52 10 :: TN : 0 2 17 64 17 KS : 14 25 34 22 5 :: TX : 13 22 35 25 5 KY : 0 2 19 59 20 :: UT : 7 21 36 35 1 LA : 0 8 53 36 3 :: VT : 0 9 40 50 1 ME : 25 32 37 6 0 :: VA : 1 6 24 57 12 MD : 0 4 29 49 18 :: WA : 0 1 67 31 1 MA : 0 16 40 36 8 :: WV : 0 6 48 41 5 MI : 5 15 55 20 5 :: WI : 3 15 36 44 2 MN : 3 9 34 49 5 :: WY : 12 29 41 18 0 MS : 1 8 24 54 13 :: : MO : 1 11 36 43 9 :: 48 Sts : 6 15 33 38 8 MT : 7 20 33 34 6 :: : NE : 13 23 37 23 4 :: Prev Wk: NA NA NA NA NA NV : 4 18 31 33 14 :: Prev Yr: 8 15 33 37 7 NH : 0 2 41 49 8 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 May 13, 2003. 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