We 1 (8-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 26, 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 Brian T. Young at (202) 720-7621, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 90, No. 34 August 17 - 23, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. HIGHLIGHTS: A Midwestern cold front brought disappointing rainfall to most of the moisture-starved western Corn Belt, maintaining stress on immature corn and soybeans. Despite a brief, late-week cooling trend, weekly temperatures averaged 6 to 12oF above normal in the Midwestern areas of greatest concern from the middle and lower Missouri Valley northeastward across the upper Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, dryness began to expand across the northern Corn Belt, especially in Lower Michigan, but mild weather and mostly adequate soil moisture reserves continues to favor filling summer crops in the southeastern Corn Belt. Farther south, very warm weather promoted summer crop maturation, although locally heavy showers caused sporadic fieldwork delays along the Gulf Coast and in parts of the Southeast. On the Plains, hot (4 to 12oF above normal), mostly dry weather promoted fieldwork, including spring wheat harvesting, but continued to severely stress pastures and immature summer crops. Although heavy showers fell in a narrow band from west-central Kansas to eastern Nebraska, widespread rain will be needed throughout the Plains in coming weeks to improve soil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. In the West, scattered showers provided limited relief from the effects of a summer-long heat wave and long-term drought. Although flash flooding was reported in some areas, the Western showers locally aided wildfire containment efforts and eased irrigation demands. Nevertheless, low reservoir levels remained a concern throughout the Southwest and Intermountain West. In a departure from this summer's prevailing weather pattern, record heat expanded across much of the Nation. On August 17, daily-record highs in North Dakota included 106oF in Bismarck and 104oF in Minot. A day later, International Falls, MN (95oF), posted a record high for August 18. Farther south, high temperatures in Kansas City, MO, reached or exceeded 100oF on 6 consecutive days from August 16-21, its longest such streak since June 20-25, 1988. Elsewhere in Missouri, Joplin, noted high temperatures greater than 100oF on every day during the week, including five consecutive daily record highs (101, 101, 102, 103, and 101oF) from August 19-23. Although Joplin noted 7 days of triple-digit heat during the first 23 days of the month, there were 16 such days in August 1947 and 12 days at or above 100oF in August 1954 and 1983. Farther west, where this year's heat has been more persistent, additional heat wave records were established. For example, Cheyenne, WY, reported 32 days this year (through week's end) with high temperatures of 90oF or higher (including 91oF on August 20 and 92oF on August 22), eclipsing its former annual standard of 31 days, set in 1936. Similarly, year-to-date highs reached or exceeded 100oF on 28 days in Pueblo, CO (including 101oF on August 21 and 100oF on August 22), surpassing its 2002 annual record of 22 days. At midweek, heat edged into the upper Midwest, where daily-record highs for August 20 included 100oF in Lamoni, IA, and 97oF in LaCrosse, WI. Two days later, daily-record highs were briefly observed in the Northeast at locations such as Atlantic City, NJ (93oF) and Portland, ME (91oF). At week's end, hot weather re-intensified on the northern Plains, where daily-record highs in South Dakota for August 23 included 107oF in Huron and 108oF in Mobridge. It was the highest temperature on record so late in the summer at Huron, where the previous latest observance of a reading of 107oF or higher had been August 15, 1937. In contrast, temperatures again failed to reach 90oF in Charleston, WV, where the highest reading for the year-to-date was 89oF on July 8. Charleston's record for the fewest days of 90-degree heat in a calendar year was 3 days, set in 1996. Meanwhile, Indianapolis, IN, recorded only 3 days (July 3, 4, and 7) with highs of 90oF or greater through August 23, just slightly ahead of its record-low annual total of 2 days, set in 1877, 1958, and 1992. Early- to midweek showers and thunderstorms across the Rockies and Plains provided local drought relief. On August 17, daily-record totals in Wyoming included 1.00 inch in Casper and 0.40 inch in Riverton. Showers were more numerous in the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic States, where Ft. Lauderdale, FL, collected a daily-record total of 2.84 inches on August 20. After midweek, beneficial showers spread northward across the West, resulting in several daily records. Wells, NV, noted consecutive daily-record amounts on August 21 and 22, totaling 1.46 inches. Elsewhere in Nevada, record sums for August 21 included 0.51 inch in Reno and 0.69 inch in Elko. Meanwhile in California, downtown Sacramento netted 0.22 inch on August 21 and 0.06 inch on August 22, setting records for both dates. Farther east, year-to-date rainfall in Bristol, TN, reached 47.94 inches (more than 19 inches above normal), becoming the wettest year since 49.64 inches fell during all of 1996. Bristol's wettest year on record was 1950, when precipitation totaled 54.50 inches. Meanwhile in Maryland, Baltimore noted 4 days in a row with no rain from August 18-21, but still has not experienced 5 consecutive days without a drop of precipitation since October 19-23, 2002. A more pronounced drying trend was observed in Atlanta, GA, where a 10-day streak without measurable precipitation (August 14-23) was its longest such spell since a 13-day run of dry weather from November 22 - December 4, 2002. Extremely wet conditions persisted, however, in parts of Florida. Month-to-date rainfall surpassed 14 inches in Sarasota-Bradenton, its highest August sum since a record-setting total of 24.42 inches in 1981. Cool, unsettled weather prevailed in Alaska, holding weekly temperatures as much as 5oF below normal. In southern Alaska, Yakutat closed the week with consecutive daily-record lows (33 and 36oF on August 22-23). Elsewhere in Alaska, Fairbanks collected a daily-record rainfall of 0.50 inch on August 23, while month-to-date (August 1-24) precipitation reached 7.87 inches (176 percent of normal) on Annette Island and 4.00 inches (172 percent) in Bethel. In Barrow, AK, a 2.8-inch snowfall on August 21 broke a 1936 standard for its greatest daily total on record in August. Meanwhile in Hawaii, warm weather (1 to 3oF above normal) accompanied scattered showers, mainly in typically wet windward locations. For example, Kauai's Mount Waialeale collected 4.10 inches of rain in 24 hours on August 22-23, en route to a weekly total of 7.19 inches. National Agricultural Summary August 18 - 24, 2003 Highlights: Hot, dry weather continued in the Pacific Northwest, aiding small grain harvest activities but stressing pasture and rangeland. In the Southwest, above-normal temperatures aided crop development, but scattered showers were insufficient to relieve stress on dryland crops. In the northern Rocky Mountains, crops have endured 8 consecutive weeks of above-normal temperatures, but scattered showers brought some relief. The southern Rocky Mountain region also had hot weather and scattered showers. Hot weather continued to dominate most of the Great Plains, with the central part of the region receiving moderate rainfall, providing only limited relief to the corn and soybean crops. The hot weather moved eastward into the Corn Belt, promoting crop development, but with no rain in most areas, stressed crops and increased irrigation needs. The Delta had scattered showers and above-normal temperatures. In the Southeast, moderate rainfall helped improve crop conditions slightly in most States, but some areas received too much rain, worsening conditions. Drier weather and above-normal temperatures were welcomed in the Ohio Valley and middle and northern Atlantic Coast States. Corn: Seventy-six percent of the acreage was at or beyond the dough stage, 4 percentage points behind last year's 80 percent and 6 points behind the 5-year average of 82 percent. Thirty-four percent of the crop had reached the dent stage, 8 points behind last year at this time and 12 points behind the 5-year average. Seven percent of the crop was mature, compared with 9 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Fields rapidly entered the dough stage in the Corn Belt but remained behind the normal pace in most States in the region. Denting was over 1 week behind the normal pace in Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. In Texas, the crop was 69 percent mature, 5 points ahead of the average. Crop condition continued to decline in most areas, especially in the Corn Belt, where hot, dry weather prevailed. Soybeans: Ninety-one percent of the acreage was setting pods, 1 percentage point behind last year and the 5-year average. Four percent of the crop was dropping leaves, 1 point behind last year but even with the 5-year average. Above-normal temperatures and drier weather in the Southeast promoted biological development, but fields in most States set pods well behind the average. Both Indiana and Kansas were 1 week behind their normal pod-setting pace. The crop was most advanced in Mississippi, where 32 percent had begun dropping leaves. Crop condition continued to decline in most States, especially in the Corn Belt. Cotton: Ninety-three percent of the acreage was setting bolls, 4 percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Sixteen percent of fields had open bolls, compared with 27 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Though most States are near completion in setting bolls, Texas was 2 weeks behind its normal pace. Most areas remained well behind the average in bolls opening. Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina were 1 week behind their normal pace, while North Carolina and Texas were 2 weeks behind. Crop condition declined slightly in the Delta and Great Plains but held steady or improved in the Southeast. Sorghum: Seventy-seven percent of the crop was headed, 8 percentage points behind last year and 14 points behind the 5-year average. Forty-one percent of the acreage was turning color, 8 points behind last year and 12 points behind the average. Twenty-three percent of the crop had reached maturity, 1 point behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Acreage heading remained well behind the average in most States, with Illinois and New Mexico 1 week behind the normal pace and Texas over 2 weeks behind normal. Acreage turning color steadily advanced in the Great Plains but still remained well behind normal in most States. Kansas and New Mexico were 1 week behind the normal pace for turning color, while Illinois and Texas were over 2 weeks behind. The crop rapidly matured in the Delta, where Louisiana's acreage was 85 percent mature and Arkansas's acreage, at 63 percent mature, was over 1 week ahead of its normal pace. Rice: Ninety-five percent of the crop was headed, the same as last year but 3 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Seventeen percent of the rice had been harvested, 1 point behind last year and the 5-year average. California producers saw 15 percent of their crop enter the heading stage to keep ahead of the normal pace. In the Delta, heading was nearly complete. Harvest in Louisiana and Texas was over 60 percent complete as farmers harvested 14 and 17 percent of their acreage, respectively. Harvest had not yet started in California and Missouri. Small grains: The spring wheat crop was 82 percent harvested, 33 percentage points ahead of last year and 20 points ahead of the 5-year average. Hot, dry weather throughout major producing areas aided harvesting. Montana farmers harvested 39 percent of their crop to bring the total to 78 percent. Farmers in Idaho, Minnesota, and North Dakota harvested one-fourth or more of their crop. All States were well ahead of the average in their harvesting progress. Barley was 82 percent harvested, 31 percentage points ahead of last year and 21 points ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers in Montana harvested one-fourth of their crop, while Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington producers harvested over 20 percent. Hot, dry weather allowed harvest to progress rapidly with all States well ahead of their normal harvest pace. The oat crop advanced to 91 percent harvested, 5 percentage points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. North Dakota farmers harvested over one-fourth of their crop and were nearly 1 week ahead of normal. In the rest of the northern Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Corn Belt, harvest was at or near completion. Pennsylvania farmers, taking advantage of the drier weather, harvested almost one-fourth of their crop, but remained 1 week behind normal. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 70 37 64 59 IL : 88 74 88 90 IN : 70 45 72 89 IA : 71 45 81 77 KS : 96 87 91 93 KY : 94 70 97 94 MI : 44 13 29 48 MN : 61 35 70 74 MO : 93 88 93 93 NE : 87 74 90 89 NC : 88 86 97 94 ND : 79 62 86 88 OH : 73 52 70 79 PA : 49 30 70 67 SD : 70 42 79 79 TN : 100 97 100 98 TX : 96 95 98 98 WI : 57 35 65 60 : 18 Sts: 76 57 80 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 29 6 15 19 IL : 42 24 45 56 IN : 21 6 25 50 IA : 27 7 43 41 KS : 69 48 64 64 KY : 71 42 81 77 MI : 3 0 6 16 MN : 23 7 25 31 MO : 75 63 71 74 NE : 42 16 56 50 NC : 67 53 89 80 ND : 24 10 20 40 OH : 13 4 17 31 PA : 7 6 33 26 SD : 18 6 37 34 TN : 94 79 95 88 TX : 84 80 91 87 WI : 7 2 20 17 : 18 Sts: 34 18 42 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 NA 0 0 IL : 4 NA 7 10 IN : 1 NA 1 5 IA : 2 NA 3 3 KS : 26 NA 21 21 KY : 19 NA 30 25 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 31 NA 22 30 NE : 2 NA 7 5 NC : 28 NA 57 48 ND : 2 NA 1 2 OH : 0 NA 0 2 PA : 0 NA 8 4 SD : 3 NA 12 6 TN : 35 NA 49 42 TX : 69 NA 67 64 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 7 NA 9 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 62 37 57 54 MN : 88 62 66 73 MT : 78 39 26 53 ND : 80 51 45 59 SD : 99 96 100 97 WA : 90 73 72 68 : 6 Sts : 82 53 49 62 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 74 87 82 IL : 90 77 91 92 IN : 82 63 83 93 IA : 98 92 99 98 KS : 81 70 88 90 KY : 66 50 79 77 LA : 88 82 97 98 MI : 94 73 97 92 MN : 99 95 99 98 MS : 99 97 99 99 MO : 83 60 82 80 NE : 95 83 98 97 NC : 55 28 58 57 ND : 99 95 100 100 OH : 88 71 87 95 SD : 98 90 98 94 TN : 81 60 92 81 WI : 89 83 92 85 : 18 Sts: 91 79 92 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 NA 4 4 IL : 0 NA 1 1 IN : 1 NA 4 6 IA : 2 NA 0 0 KS : 13 NA 8 12 KY : 1 NA 1 2 LA : 12 NA 15 21 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 1 NA 0 0 MS : 32 NA 27 30 MO : 3 NA 2 1 NE : 2 NA 3 3 NC : 1 NA 0 1 ND : 3 NA 1 3 OH : 0 NA 0 4 SD : 16 NA 16 12 TN : 4 NA 4 4 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 4 NA 3 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 100 98 100 98 AZ : 99 97 100 100 AR : 100 98 100 100 CA : 96 95 99 89 GA : 99 97 100 99 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 98 97 100 100 MO : 100 99 97 99 NC : 95 92 100 98 OK : 91 80 89 96 SC : 88 77 93 92 TN : 100 97 100 100 TX : 87 76 94 97 VA : 93 85 100 100 : 14 Sts: 93 87 97 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 6 36 26 AZ : 44 29 58 44 AR : 10 3 6 20 CA : 13 10 29 14 GA : 11 5 36 27 LA : 33 24 35 54 MS : 22 11 38 52 MO : 8 2 17 22 NC : 0 0 24 17 OK : 17 7 7 8 SC : 8 2 22 16 TN : 13 3 14 19 TX : 20 19 27 26 VA : 0 0 26 13 : 14 Sts: 16 12 27 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 82 69 58 77 IL : 86 67 97 94 KS : 75 65 83 92 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 91 87 92 94 NE : 82 72 88 93 NM : 48 44 67 62 OK : 79 70 78 81 SD : 98 95 90 88 TX : 74 68 89 92 : 11 Sts: 77 69 85 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 91 90 86 CO : 15 7 9 8 IL : 23 15 52 48 KS : 28 16 34 43 LA : 95 92 92 98 MO : 44 28 49 58 NE : 25 9 40 30 NM : 5 4 14 13 OK : 41 30 49 39 SD : 39 25 43 38 TX : 57 54 70 73 : 11 Sts: 41 33 49 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 63 NA 47 36 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 1 1 KS : 3 NA 4 9 LA : 85 NA 69 85 MO : 3 NA 11 13 NE : 0 NA 2 1 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 13 NA 15 10 SD : 1 NA 3 2 TX : 52 NA 54 58 : 11 Sts: 23 NA 24 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 63 40 56 54 MN : 96 81 72 80 MT : 79 54 38 56 ND : 92 70 53 67 WA : 90 69 60 63 : 5 Sts : 82 60 51 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 82% of last year's barley acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 92 97 94 CA : 80 65 87 76 LA : 99 97 100 99 MS : 98 96 100 94 MO : 87 79 81 88 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 6 Sts : 95 88 95 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 2 1 2 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 64 51 74 71 MS : 5 2 2 5 MO : 0 0 0 0 TX : 61 45 83 72 : 6 Sts : 17 12 18 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MN : 95 88 86 90 NE : 99 97 100 100 ND : 81 55 59 71 OH : 96 84 98 100 PA : 76 52 90 87 SD : 100 99 100 99 WI : 90 78 93 92 : 8 Sts : 91 78 86 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 63% of last year's oat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 6 10 22 47 15 IL : 2 6 27 49 16 IN : 5 11 28 43 13 IA : 5 14 35 39 7 KS : 24 31 28 16 1 KY : 2 6 28 37 27 MI : 1 10 25 53 11 MN : 6 14 38 37 5 MO : 29 29 23 16 3 NE : 15 16 24 29 16 NC : 1 4 17 55 23 ND : 4 9 27 51 9 OH : 2 6 24 46 22 PA : 2 7 20 45 26 SD : 6 12 24 47 11 TN : 2 3 14 55 26 TX : 17 19 32 28 4 WI : 14 18 33 30 5 : 18 Sts : 8 13 29 39 11 : Prev Wk : 6 10 24 44 16 Prev Yr : 13 16 29 33 9 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 9 28 45 14 IL : 2 7 33 46 12 IN : 5 9 29 47 10 IA : 6 16 35 37 6 KS : 22 37 33 8 0 KY : 0 4 19 50 27 LA : 6 20 32 36 6 MI : 1 7 30 54 8 MN : 6 15 39 33 7 MS : 0 3 19 43 35 MO : 32 29 23 13 3 NE : 17 22 34 20 7 NC : 1 4 27 62 6 ND : 2 10 31 50 7 OH : 3 7 27 47 16 SD : 4 8 25 52 11 TN : 0 2 13 61 24 WI : 15 16 32 28 9 : 18 Sts : 8 13 31 38 10 : Prev Wk : 5 11 28 43 13 Prev Yr : 9 15 30 37 9 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 4 22 53 18 AZ : 0 3 17 40 40 AR : 1 5 33 42 19 CA : 0 0 20 70 10 GA : 0 3 21 55 21 LA : 1 3 26 56 14 MS : 3 6 16 49 26 MO : 2 20 41 32 5 NC : 4 6 26 58 6 OK : 8 15 49 26 2 SC : 0 3 27 65 5 TN : 0 4 20 63 13 TX : 13 24 38 21 4 VA : 0 7 24 43 26 : 14 Sts : 6 13 30 40 11 : Prev Wk : 5 11 29 43 12 Prev Yr : 4 12 30 41 13 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 7 33 48 12 CO : 20 28 38 12 2 IL : 0 20 49 31 0 KS : 24 37 32 7 0 LA : 0 2 23 66 9 MO : 15 25 36 21 3 NE : 17 33 37 12 1 NM : 30 27 40 3 0 OK : 7 31 39 23 0 SD : 28 9 29 31 3 TX : 9 23 33 28 7 : 11 Sts : 16 29 33 19 3 : Prev Wk : 13 26 34 23 4 Prev Yr : 20 25 33 20 2 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2002 planted acres. Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 5 28 43 22 CA : 0 5 50 35 10 LA : 0 1 20 57 22 MS : 0 1 11 56 32 MO : 2 4 22 37 35 TX : 0 2 13 72 13 : 6 Sts : 1 4 28 46 21 : Prev Wk : 1 3 25 51 20 Prev Yr : 1 3 32 46 18 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 2 12 66 20 FL : 1 1 8 80 10 GA : 0 3 15 60 22 NC : 0 2 20 71 7 OK : 0 8 44 44 4 TX : 0 5 21 51 23 VA : 0 7 13 60 20 : 8 Sts : 0 4 17 60 19 : Prev Wk : 0 3 17 57 23 Prev Yr : 3 10 34 38 15 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 0 2 10 61 27 :: NJ : 0 10 22 68 0 AZ : 16 31 28 22 3 :: NM : 57 26 16 1 0 AR : 7 18 38 30 7 :: NY : 0 6 23 54 17 CA : 30 30 30 10 0 :: NC : 0 2 15 64 19 CO : 18 28 42 12 0 :: ND : 14 30 37 18 1 CT : 0 0 28 58 14 :: OH : 2 5 21 56 16 DE : 0 0 11 68 21 :: OK : 9 30 43 17 1 FL : 1 9 25 45 20 :: OR : 11 32 40 17 0 GA : 0 1 15 63 21 :: PA : 2 7 24 50 17 ID : 5 30 46 15 4 :: RI : 0 0 0 40 60 IL : 9 22 46 21 2 :: SC : 0 0 15 58 27 IN : 3 7 23 61 6 :: SD : 14 24 35 23 4 IA : 37 37 20 6 0 :: TN : 0 2 16 61 21 KS : 35 40 22 3 0 :: TX : 15 27 34 20 4 KY : 1 3 24 55 17 :: UT : 7 22 39 32 0 LA : 0 11 46 39 4 :: VT : 2 10 25 55 8 ME : 0 5 10 38 47 :: VA : 0 1 12 60 27 MD : 2 5 22 47 24 :: WA : 3 25 58 14 0 MA : 0 0 15 80 5 :: WV : 0 3 19 53 25 MI : 8 25 41 24 2 :: WI : 42 35 16 7 0 MN : 20 33 36 11 0 :: WY : 11 23 49 16 1 MS : 0 5 20 59 16 :: : MO : 46 30 16 7 1 :: 48 Sts : 17 23 29 25 6 MT : 33 32 23 10 2 :: : NE : 34 32 27 6 1 :: Prev Wk: 14 21 30 28 7 NV : 9 18 41 30 2 :: Prev Yr: 25 23 28 21 3 NH : 0 1 18 67 14 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 after 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 after 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 September 3, 2003. 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