We 1 (5-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 13, 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. 19 May 4 - 10, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A rash of severe thunderstorms struck the Plains, Midwest, South, and East, slowing or halting fieldwork and causing localized wind, hail, and flood damage, but boosting soil moisture reserves for emerging summer crops. According to preliminary information from the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center (SPC), there were nearly 400 tornadoes spotted during the week, along with more than 700 reports of wind damage and close to 1,800 report of hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Weekly rainfall totaled at least 2 inches across large portions of the northern Plains, Midwest, and interior South. More than 4 inches soaked areas from the northern Delta to the southern Appalachians, most locations from central and southern Illinois to southwestern Ohio, and parts of the upper Mississippi Valley. Summer crops that had already been planted benefited from the rains, except in areas of lowland flooding, but planting progress slowed considerably. In contrast, warm, dry conditions on the southern Plains hastened winter wheat maturation and stressed emerging, dryland summer crops. The western and central Gulf Coast regions also experienced an increase in crop stress due to topsoil moisture shortages and record warmth (temperatures as much as 12 degrees F above normal). Farther north, however, cool weather and occasional frosts and freezes slowed winter wheat development and summer crop emergence on the northern Plains, where temperatures ranged from 2 to 12 degrees F below normal. Farther west, drier weather gradually overspread California's Central Valley, but cool weather (weekly temperatures ranged from 6 to 12 degrees F below normal) continued to slow the emergence and development of cotton and other summer crops. Meanwhile, rain and snow showers provided additional drought relief in the Great Basin and interior Northwest, while dry weather favored fieldwork in the Southwest. At least five tornadoes were reported in the United States each day from April 28 to May 10, according to SPC. During the 13-day span, there were also near 1,200 reports of wind damage and about 2,800 reports of hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The most active severe weather days were a trio of 3-day periods (April 30 - May 2, May 4-6, and May 8-10), with at least 300 reports of severe weather on each of the 9 days. SPC historical data since 1950 indicates only 9 months--all in May and June-- with more than 300 tornadoes, led by 399 in June 1992 and 391 in May 1995, and achieved most recently with 310 in May 1999. Very preliminary SPC reports indicated 412 tornadoes from May 1-11, although final numbers are commonly lowered as full tornado tracks are consolidated from individual reports. In addition, 43 tornado-related fatalities were reported through May 11, the Nation's highest monthly toll since May 1999, when 53 people perished (many of them in the F5 tornado that struck Moore, OK, on May 3). In Tennessee, month-to-date rainfall through May 11 included 8.00 inches (530 percent of normal) in Chattanooga and 9.17 inches (also 530 percent) in Nashville. Most of Chattanooga's rain (7.33 inches) fell in just 3 days from May 5-7, while Nashville experienced its wettest May day on record (4.63 inches on May 5), surpassing 3.95 inches on May 6, 1984. Nashville also reported a daily-record total of 2.52 inches on May 7. Other impressive daily totals across the South included 4.22 inches in Tupelo, MS, on May 5 and 4.67 inches in Muscle Shoals, AL, on May 6. Meanwhile, several rounds of precipitation also struck the Plains, Midwest, and Intermountain region. In Iowa, Sioux City noted a daily-record total of 1.85 inches on May 4, its second such record in 5 days (1.23 inches fell on April 30). Fort Wayne, IN, noted daily-record totals on May 4 (1.82 inches) and 9 (1.51 inches), en route to a month-to-date rainfall of 5.23 inches (396 percent of normal). Farther west, a late-season snowfall blanketed some areas. In Colorado, Denver received 7.0 inches in a 24-hour period on May 9-10, while Grand Junction (2.7 inches on May 9) experienced its second-snowiest May day behind 5.0 inches on May 18, 1979. Grand Junction also netted daily-record precipitation totals on May 4 (0.61 inch) and 9 (0.74 inch). In Nevada, May 7-9 snowfall included 11.2 inches in Ely and 1.8 inches in Elko. Early in the week, cool weather lingered across the East, where daily-record lows included 25 degrees F (on May 4) in Houlton, ME, and 32 degrees F (on May 5) in Atlantic City, NJ. Meanwhile in Texas, scattered daily-record highs included 97 degrees F on May 4 in Wichita Falls and 100 degrees F on May 8 in San Angelo. Record warmth expanded across the South after midweek, resulting in three consecutive daily-record highs (92, 91, and 92 degrees F) in Baton Rouge, LA. Farther west, however, Pocatello, ID, posted a daily-record low of 25 degrees F on May 6, followed the next day by records in locations such as Davenport, WA (24 degrees F), and Pendleton, OR (31 degrees F). By May 9, daily-record lows across the Intermountain region included 14 degrees F in Ely, NV, and 13 degrees F at Bryce Canyon, UT. Wet weather returned to parts of southern and western Alaska in early May, boosting May 1-11 precipitation totals to 2.45 inches (219 percent of normal) in Valdez and 1.10 inches (250 percent) in King Salmon. In contrast, month-to-date totals in southeastern Alaska included 0.01 inch (less than 1 percent of normal) on Annette Island and 0.11 inch (9 percent) in Juneau. Weekly temperatures averaged within 2 degrees F of normal across most of Alaska, but as much as 4 to 8 degrees F above normal in westernmost parts of the State. Meanwhile, warm, drier-than-normal weather prevailed in Hawaii, boosting weekly temperatures 1 to 3 degrees F above normal. On the Big Island, Hilo posted a daily-record high of 85 degrees F on May 4, followed 3 days later by a daily record of 90 degrees F in Kahului, Maui. Showers increased across Hawaii's windward locations after midweek, resulting in May 8-11 (72-hour) totals on the Big Island of 2.40 inches in Glenwood and 1.79 inches in Mountain View. National Agricultural Summary May 5 - 11, 2003 Highlights: Tornado activity was reported across a wide area that included the central Great Plains, Midwest, Southeast, lower Great Lakes Region, and Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. Heavy rains fell in a wide swath from southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, through Tennessee to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia , causing flooding in many locations. Much of Iowa and Wisconsin also reported heavy rainfall. Most of California remained cool, with continued wet conditions in the north. Dry conditions dominated in a band from southern California to the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Subsoil moisture conditions remained very dry in the central and northern Rockies, despite some localized heavy showers. Rain slowed planting progress much of the week in the central and northern Great Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. The Southeast was mixed, as some areas received heavy showers and others little to no precipitation. Farther north, Pennsylvania had scattered, heavy rains that limited planting progress, while a relatively dry week allowed growers across New York and New England to make good progress. Corn: Planting was 64 percent complete, 4 percentage points ahead of last year's pace but 3 points behind the 5-year average. The crop was 24 percent emerged, 4 points ahead of last year but 5 points behind the 5-year average. Heavy showers across most of the Corn Belt slowed planting progress during the week. States in the eastern Corn Belt remain ahead of their 5-year average pace but planting progress in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin was several days behind normal. In Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, planting progressed 8 percentage points or less during the week. With drier conditions, producers in Kansas and South Dakota planted about one-fifth of their crop during the week. Above-normal temperatures and adequate topsoil moisture in the eastern Corn Belt and Atlantic Coastal Plains led fields to rapidly emerge during the week. Soybeans: Planting was 16 percent complete, equal to last year's pace but 10 points behind normal for this date. Heavy rainfall across the Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Delta, Tennessee Valley, and Southeast limited planting progress to 5 points or less in most States. Planting progress was more than one week behind normal in Iowa and Illinois, and several days behind average in the rest of the Corn Belt. Winter Wheat: Fifty-six percent of the Nation's winter wheat was headed, 4 percentage points ahead of last year's pace, and 6 points ahead of the 5-year average. Above normal temperatures stimulated development in the central and southern Great Plains, central Corn Belt and along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and yielded double-digit increases in the percent headed during the week. Heading was well ahead of normal in Kansas and Illinois, and slightly ahead of normal in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. A few fields were headed in Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, and Washington, but none had entered the heading stage in Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and South Dakota. Cotton: Planting advanced to 44 percent complete, 8 percentage points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Nearly ideal conditions supported planting in Virginia, with producers seeding over one-third of their acreage during the week. Progress was only slightly slower in North Carolina and Oklahoma. Planting continued across the Southeast as local soil conditions allowed but all States except Mississippi remained behind average. California planting progress remained well behind their average, but increased 12 points despite continued cool, wet conditions. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 27 percent complete, 2 percentage points behind last year and the 5-year average. Planting was most active in the Delta, with Louisiana and Arkansas advancing 14 percentage points this week despite scattered showers. Planting was also active in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota, but minimal progress was seen in Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Rice: Seventy-eight percent of the crop had been planted, compared with 82 percent last year and the 5-year average of 79 percent. The crop was 63 percent emerged, 1 percentage point behind last year but 7 points ahead of the 5-year average. Missouri and Mississippi led the way on planting progress and emergence this week. Planting accelerated 23 percentage points and emergence increased 22 points in Missouri, while planting and emergence in Mississippi rose 16 and 30 points, respectively. Conditions in California limited planting progress, and no rice emergence was reported, well behind last year's pace and the 5-year average. Small grains: Spring wheat planting progressed to 69 percent, 23 percentage points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of the 5-year average. The crop was 41 percent emerged, 26 points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of the 5-year average. Minnesota planting advanced 14 percentage points to 89 percent complete, 49 points ahead of last year and 26 points ahead of normal pace. Below normal temperatures across the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest slowed crop development. The barley crop was 63 percent seeded, compared with last year's 45 percent but equal to the 5-year average. The crop was 39 percent emerged, 20 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the 5-year average. Minnesota's planting progress advanced to 88 percent complete, 52 points ahead of last year and 32 points ahead of normal pace as growers seeded 26 percent of their crop during the week. Planting was virtually completed in Washington, where emergence advanced 18 percentage points. Rains slowed plantings in North Dakota, but allowed the newly seeded crop to rapidly emerge. The oat crop was 79 percent seeded and 54 percent emerged. Planting was ahead of last year's pace of 67 percent seeded and emergence was 13 points ahead of last year's pace. Planting was completed in Iowa and Ohio. Other States showed slow progress due to wet conditions. Emergence during the week was boosted by 23 percentage points in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, and 22 points in Ohio. Emergence in South Dakota was 18 points above the 5-year average. Other crops: Sugarbeet planting progressed to 91 percent in the four major sugarbeet- producing States. Planting was ahead of last year by 16 percentage points and 10 points ahead of the 5-year average. Each of the four major producing States was ahead of normal planting progress for this date. As favorable soil conditions continued, growers in Michigan rapidly increased plantings. Progress slowed in Idaho as planting neared completion. Peanut planting was 26 percent complete, 8 percentage points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Planting in Oklahoma increased to 40 percent, advancing 15 points from last week and 9 points ahead of the 5-year average pace. Planting progress in the Southeast accelerated as soil conditions improved, but a slow start earlier in the year kept Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia behind their 5-year average pace. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 43 29 60 58 IL : 73 68 48 69 IN : 58 50 11 54 IA : 64 56 81 78 KS : 80 58 85 81 KY : 71 70 50 69 MI : 35 24 38 51 MN : 85 80 75 74 MO : 71 66 77 71 NE : 46 33 76 71 NC : 82 73 97 89 ND : 58 49 38 45 OH : 86 83 16 53 PA : 41 26 49 46 SD : 47 27 60 47 TN : 86 85 92 89 TX : 92 83 95 90 WI : 42 28 33 53 : 18 Sts: 64 55 60 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 80 98 98 CA : 97 96 100 99 CO : 11 3 11 10 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 68 22 56 56 IN : 35 8 35 40 KS : 65 25 54 50 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 69 33 64 60 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 1 0 2 3 NC : 80 60 93 95 OH : 3 2 3 6 OK : 98 91 95 90 OR : 0 0 22 7 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 85 72 75 78 WA : 5 3 5 5 : 18 Sts: 56 39 52 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 8 2 7 13 IL : 41 23 23 37 IN : 32 11 4 25 IA : 12 3 15 25 KS : 42 24 49 46 KY : 62 52 45 53 MI : 3 0 3 16 MN : 7 2 3 26 MO : 57 43 59 52 NE : 13 5 24 22 NC : 60 41 88 77 ND : 12 1 2 10 OH : 34 8 8 22 PA : 9 2 21 14 SD : 3 1 3 9 TN : 83 74 83 74 TX : 77 69 79 75 WI : 3 1 6 13 : 18 Sts: 24 13 20 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 31 24 26 24 IL : 10 6 9 28 IN : 21 17 3 31 IA : 6 4 27 28 KS : 13 5 20 22 KY : 6 4 3 14 LA : 36 34 37 48 MI : 8 4 18 21 MN : 24 12 21 34 MS : 73 68 62 58 MO : 8 6 13 19 NE : 6 3 18 20 NC : 7 2 18 12 ND : 10 8 2 10 OH : 46 41 6 33 SD : 7 2 9 12 TN : 4 4 14 11 WI : 8 5 17 19 : 18 Sts: 16 11 16 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 87 88 83 CA : 20 19 56 47 LA : 93 87 92 95 MS : 85 69 83 84 MO : 69 46 51 66 TX : 97 93 99 97 : 6 Sts : 78 72 82 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 64 58 72 68 AZ : 70 65 91 87 AR : 51 37 61 56 CA : 80 68 94 89 GA : 41 22 55 45 LA : 65 50 73 77 MS : 73 64 68 65 MO : 33 20 73 64 NC : 42 17 56 51 OK : 41 15 37 24 SC : 24 10 54 43 TN : 23 20 47 44 TX : 33 24 34 30 VA : 64 26 81 75 : 14 Sts: 44 32 52 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 99 98 96 98 MI : 98 91 94 95 MN : 88 83 69 75 ND : 84 78 57 70 : 4 Sts : 91 86 75 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 56 72 59 CA : 0 0 18 11 LA : 84 73 86 87 MS : 65 35 66 62 MO : 40 18 32 31 TX : 92 80 95 90 : 6 Sts : 63 47 64 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 84 70 89 79 CO : 7 2 4 5 IL : 2 1 3 12 KS : 10 3 13 13 LA : 62 48 68 74 MO : 26 20 26 27 NE : 2 1 6 8 NM : 4 1 0 1 OK : 16 14 20 15 SD : 7 0 3 7 TX : 52 49 53 52 : 11 Sts: 27 22 29 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 35 19 30 42 FL : 25 10 34 37 GA : 17 5 34 33 NC : 32 5 37 36 OK : 40 25 25 31 TX : 32 *10 31 31 VA : 29 10 58 52 : 7 Sts : 26 10 34 35 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 7 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 84 78 89 90 MN : 89 75 40 63 MT : 61 57 45 72 ND : 56 51 30 49 SD : 97 92 92 87 WA : 98 96 93 97 : 6 Sts : 69 63 46 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 80 72 85 85 MN : 88 62 36 56 MT : 61 55 45 74 ND : 46 40 18 39 WA : 98 97 94 95 : 5 Sts : 63 56 45 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 98 100 98 MN : 89 81 74 77 NE : 96 94 99 97 ND : 49 42 28 46 OH : 100 99 72 91 PA : 86 79 79 85 SD : 92 86 83 82 WI : 76 71 62 85 : 8 Sts : 79 73 67 76 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 65 59 60 66 MN : 43 23 10 34 MT : 23 12 4 32 ND : 35 21 5 24 SD : 84 64 54 63 WA : 84 70 70 82 : 6 Sts : 41 27 15 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 58 44 45 55 MN : 34 13 14 30 MT : 33 22 10 35 ND : 25 11 2 16 WA : 85 67 73 78 : 5 Sts : 39 25 19 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:May 11,:May 4, :May 11,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 83 74 92 85 MN : 55 32 34 49 NE : 86 77 88 84 ND : 25 11 4 18 OH : 79 57 48 76 PA : 58 35 67 60 SD : 73 55 50 55 WI : 40 22 31 55 : 8 Sts: 54 37 41 51 -------------------------------------- 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 20 65 15 CO : 6 12 28 39 15 ID : 0 0 4 74 22 IL : 1 5 23 61 10 IN : 1 3 17 55 24 KS : 5 14 32 37 12 MI : 2 9 22 54 13 MO : 1 6 30 47 16 MT : 1 5 19 56 19 NE : 0 8 32 47 13 NC : 2 12 34 49 3 OH : 1 2 14 55 28 OK : 4 10 29 43 14 OR : 0 5 49 43 3 SD : 1 4 26 53 16 TX : 18 24 37 18 3 WA : 2 7 19 54 18 : 18 Sts : 6 12 30 40 12 : Prev Wk : 5 11 29 43 12 Prev Yr : 16 19 31 29 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 25 53 18 :: NJ : 0 0 3 87 10 AZ : 20 32 26 18 4 :: NM : 34 37 27 2 0 AR : 1 7 40 44 8 :: NY : 0 1 14 64 21 CA : 0 0 20 60 20 :: NC : 0 2 20 63 15 CO : 13 34 32 18 3 :: ND : 6 21 40 31 2 CT : 0 17 18 50 15 :: OH : 1 4 22 58 15 DE : 0 2 14 76 8 :: OK : 3 14 38 37 8 FL : 0 5 40 50 5 :: OR : 2 10 39 43 6 GA : 0 3 20 62 15 :: PA : 0 6 26 53 15 ID : 0 1 25 61 13 :: RI : 0 10 50 40 0 IL : 0 1 19 61 19 :: SC : 0 0 11 72 17 IN : 1 5 21 58 15 :: SD : 11 20 35 29 5 IA : 0 2 17 61 20 :: TN : 1 4 19 60 16 KS : 16 24 35 21 4 :: TX : 14 22 36 24 4 KY : 0 3 13 56 28 :: UT : 7 16 38 38 1 LA : 1 13 49 35 2 :: VT : 0 0 41 59 0 ME : 0 3 57 40 0 :: VA : 1 6 24 56 13 MD : 0 3 21 53 23 :: WA : 0 1 55 43 1 MA : 0 16 20 56 8 :: WV : 0 3 43 46 8 MI : 2 9 24 51 14 :: WI : 1 5 23 50 21 MN : 3 7 35 47 8 :: WY : 7 21 46 20 6 MS : 2 10 32 48 8 :: : MO : 2 9 32 49 8 :: 48 Sts : 6 12 31 41 10 MT : 3 14 30 43 10 :: : NE : 11 19 39 26 5 :: Prev Wk: 6 15 33 38 8 NV : 5 10 25 46 14 :: Prev Yr: 9 16 31 36 8 NH : 0 2 35 53 10 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 20, 2003. 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