We 1 (9-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 9, 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. 36 August 31 - September 6, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: The remnants of Tropical Storm Grace became embedded in a nearly stationary frontal boundary stretching from the western Gulf Coast States to the northern Mid-Atlantic region. Cooler-than-normal weather was confined to areas along and just north of the front, primarily from the southern Plains into the Northeast. Weekly rainfall totaled 2 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts, from Missouri to the Mid-Atlantic States, providing drought relief to the southwestern Corn Belt but causing local flooding from the Ohio Valley eastward. In contrast, very dry conditions persisted in the Corn Belt roughly north of a line from Kansas City to Chicago. Meanwhile, hot, humid conditions and scattered showers prevailed south and east of the front, maintaining soggy conditions in much of the South as cotton bolls continued to open. Tropical Storm Henri weakened before crossing Florida toward week's end, but helped to produce heavy rainfall and local flooding in the already saturated Gulf Coast region of Florida's peninsula. Farther west, hot weather (weekly temperatures 4 to 10 degrees F above normal) quickly returned to the northern High Plains and the Northwest, where extremely dry conditions favored final summer crop harvesting and other fieldwork, but remained a major concern for the upcoming wheat establishment period. From Kansas southward, however, newly sown winter wheat benefited from recent soil moisture improvements. Early in the week, Tropical Depression Grace was absorbed into a stalled frontal boundary, but widespread rainfall continued along and near the front. On the last day of August, daily-record totals included 3.28 inches in Springfield, IL, and 2.97 inches in St. Joseph, MO. The August 31 rainfall accounted for 86 percent of the 3.82-inch monthly total in Springfield and 60 percent of the 4.93-inch August sum in St. Joseph. Farther north, however, extremely dry conditions persisted in the upper Midwest, where Waterloo, IA (0.08 inch, or 2 percent of normal), completed its driest August on record. Farther east, flooding rains overspread parts of the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys on September 1. Labor Day 2003 was the wettest day on record during any month in Indianapolis, IN, where the September 1 total reached 7.20 inches. Indianapolis' former daily record of 6.80 inches was established on September 4, 1895. Meanwhile in central and east-central Illinois, 24-hour totals on August 31 - September 1 included 5.60 inches in Arcola, 6.63 inches near Sullivan, and 7.01 inches near Findlay. In West Virginia, late-August showers propelled Charleston to its second-wettest summer on record (22.35 inches, or 171 percent of normal) behind only the June-August 1958 total of 23.13 inches. Elsewhere, locally heavy showers also continued through midweek in the Southwest, where Las Vegas, NV, netted a daily-record total of 0.52 inch on September 2. Nearly all of Las Vegas' precipitation (0.46 inch) fell in a short period of time, breaking its 15-minute rainfall record for September (previously, 0.35 inch on September 16, 1975). Henri achieved tropical-storm intensity on September 5, less than 2 days after a tropical depression formed over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, Henri soon weakened, crossing Florida (from near St. Petersburg to just south of Daytona Beach) on September 6 as a tropical depression. Daily-record totals on September 5 in Florida included 5.56 inches in Ft. Myers and 3.39 inches in Sarasota-Bradenton. Respective 3-day (September 4-6) totals at the two locations reached 6.12 and 3.98 inches. Concerns over Henri's passage were exacerbated by the fact that the west coast of Florida recently completed one of its wettest summers on record. For example, June-August rainfall totaled 34.51 inches (135 percent of normal) in Sarasota-Bradenton, its fourth-wettest summer on record and highest amount since 39.63 inches fell in 1992. During the mid- to late-week period, hot weather returned to the northern High Plains and the Northwest, tying or breaking more than two dozen daily-record highs. On September 3, daily-record highs in Washington included 103 degrees F in LaCrosse and 102 degrees F in Dayton. Meanwhile in Oregon, monthly record highs were set in Monument (109 degrees F; previously, 105 degrees F on September 3, 1998) and tied in Meacham (previously, 97 degrees F on September 2, 1950). Hanford, WA, posted consecutive daily-record highs (102 and 101 degrees F) on September 4-5. In Montana, Miles City closed the week with a daily record-tying high of 97 degrees F on September 6. However, cooler air approached the Pacific Northwest at week's end. Saturday was the last of 61 consecutive days (July 8 - September 6) in Seattle, WA, with high temperatures of 70 degrees F or greater (the high on September 7 was 68 degrees F). Seattle's previous record of 49 days was established from July 9 - August 26, 1958. In southern Hawaii, early-week showers remained heavy as former Hurricane Jimena continued on a westward track south of the Big Island. In a 48-hour period from August 31 to September 2, Big Island rainfall totaled 9.72 inches in Glenwood and 7.17 inches in Mountain View. Thereafter, a more typical trade wind pattern resulted in widespread showers in windward areas. Some locally heavy showers returned on September 6-7, when 24-hour totals reached 2.31 inches in Glenwood and 2.20 inches in Mountain View. Meanwhile in Alaska, widespread precipitation accompanied near-normal temperatures. During the first 7 days of September, selected Alaskan rainfall totals included 0.65 inch (210 percent of normal) in Fairbanks and 4.40 inches (242 percent) on Annette Island. National Agricultural Summary September 1 - 7, 2003 Highlights: Heavy rainfall hit the southern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, bringing lower temperatures for the week. However, the northern and western portions of the Corn Belt had little rain and above-normal temperatures. In the Southeast, scattered showers brought moderate rainfall to most areas, while temperatures remained above normal. Mississippi Delta farmers saw light rain and below-normal temperatures. The northern and central Great Plains remained dry, with above-normal temperatures in the northern Great Plains, but normal to below-normal temperatures in the central Great Plains. The southern Great Plains had below-normal temperatures, with moderate to heavy rain in the east, but little rain in the west. Hot weather returned to the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains, and the region remained dry. The Southwest and southern and central Rocky Mountains experienced above-normal temperatures, with only scattered showers. In the Northeast, below-normal temperatures came with light to moderate rainfall. Corn: Ninety-five percent of the acreage was at or beyond the dough stage, 1 percentage point behind last year's progress and the 5-year average of 96 percent. Seventy-four percent of the crop had reached the dent stage, 3 points behind last year at this time and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Twenty-three percent of the crop was mature, compared with 27 percent last year and 30 percent for the 5-year average. Warm, dry weather in the northern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains promoted development through the dent stage, but conditions deteriorated. Denting in the southern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley progressed less rapidly, but conditions there improved with the heavy rainfall. The crop was slow to mature throughout the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, as Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were 1 week or more behind the normal pace. Soybeans: Sixteen percent of the crop was dropping leaves, 2 percentage points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Progress in the Ohio Valley remained 1 week or more behind the average. The central Great Plains and most of the Corn Belt were also well behind the average, while the northern Great Plains remained ahead of the normal pace. Crop condition improved slightly in the southern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley but declined in the northern Corn Belt and the Great Plains. Winter Wheat: Seven percent of next year's crop had been planted, 1 percentage point behind last year, but even with the 5-year average. Washington farmers had made the most progress with 36 percent of their acreage sown, while growers in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas had planted between 10 and 13 percent of their acreage. In the Corn Belt, planting of soft red winter wheat had not begun. Cotton: Thirty-five percent of fields had open bolls, 14 percentage points behind last year and 17 points behind the 5-year average. Though most States progressed steadily, current progress nationwide was over 1 week behind the normal pace. Most of the Delta and Southeast was 1 week or more behind the normal pace, with the Carolinas trailing 2 weeks behind normal. The Texas crop was also nearly 2 weeks behind the normal pace, while Oklahoma was the only State with progress ahead of the 5-year average. Sorghum: Eighty-nine percent of the crop was headed, 6 percentage points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Sixty-two percent of the acreage was turning color, 10 points behind last year and 17 points behind the average. Thirty-three percent of the crop had reached maturity, 10 points behind last year and 12 points behind the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the acreage was harvested, compared with 28 percent last year and 31 percent for the 5-year average. Kansas and Texas, which account for nearly three-fourths of the acreage nationwide, were over 2 weeks behind the normal heading pace. Coloring and maturing were also over 1 week behind the normal pace nationwide, again driven by Kansas, which was 1 week behind in both stages, and Texas, which was over 2 weeks behind. Harvest had also started off slowly in these two States, but had progressed at or near the normal pace in other States. Rice: Thirty percent of the crop had been harvested, 1 percentage point behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Delta producers made the most progress during the week, with 17 percent of the crop harvested in Mississippi and 10 percent in Arkansas. However, Texas and Louisiana farmers still led the Nation, with 86 and 82 percent, respectively, of their crop harvested. Harvest began in California, but Missouri growers had still not begun. Small grains: The spring wheat crop advanced to 97 percent harvested, 25 percentage points ahead of last year and 12 points ahead of the 5-year average. Persistent hot, dry weather continued to aid harvest activities as all States neared completion well ahead of the normal pace. Barley was also 97 percent harvested, 18 percentage points ahead of last year and 10 points ahead of the 5-year average. Producers in North Dakota and Washington completed their harvest, while farmers in Minnesota and Montana were near completion. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 97 93 95 92 IL : 97 94 98 98 IN : 93 85 93 98 IA : 97 *87 99 96 KS : 99 97 100 100 KY : 97 95 100 100 MI : 78 72 76 82 MN : 98 96 98 98 MO : 100 98 100 99 NE : 97 95 100 98 NC : 100 93 100 100 ND : 99 95 99 99 OH : 93 85 91 95 PA : 70 68 89 84 SD : 97 89 96 95 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 97 100 100 WI : 86 74 85 86 : 18 Sts: 95 90 96 96 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 75 50 43 54 IL : 75 62 78 83 IN : 53 41 61 84 IA : 80 61 86 85 KS : 94 77 91 93 KY : 88 86 94 95 MI : 32 18 45 55 MN : 84 56 77 80 MO : 92 87 92 94 NE : 78 62 87 88 NC : 92 82 96 93 ND : 84 63 64 76 OH : 49 32 49 66 PA : 39 22 68 56 SD : 71 44 73 72 TN : 100 98 100 98 TX : 95 90 97 96 WI : 51 27 54 54 : 18 Sts: 74 57 77 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 14 9 9 11 IL : 20 8 23 34 IN : 7 3 18 32 IA : 27 10 32 33 KS : 65 38 56 59 KY : 60 49 69 70 MI : 0 0 8 11 MN : 16 3 8 12 MO : 67 52 63 64 NE : 14 7 29 23 NC : 77 47 83 79 ND : 18 5 6 16 OH : 2 0 6 12 PA : 5 3 28 16 SD : 14 6 23 18 TN : 79 65 89 84 TX : 82 75 81 83 WI : 0 0 0 7 : 18 Sts: 23 13 27 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 0 0 CA : 0 NA 0 0 CO : 11 NA 12 10 ID : 3 NA 4 4 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 2 NA 4 3 MI : 0 NA 1 1 MO : 0 NA 0 0 MT : 2 NA 7 4 NE : 12 NA 10 9 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 7 NA 11 6 OR : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 10 NA 13 11 TX : 13 NA 10 10 WA : 36 NA 35 30 : 18 Sts: 7 NA 8 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 15 10 18 16 IL : 5 2 8 15 IN : 12 6 17 33 IA : 13 *3 18 12 KS : 35 20 28 38 KY : 3 1 16 17 LA : 28 19 27 42 MI : 1 0 10 14 MN : 28 5 19 16 MS : 52 45 48 53 MO : 8 4 9 12 NE : 10 4 17 15 NC : 6 2 7 7 ND : 27 10 23 22 OH : 12 2 16 26 SD : 47 28 41 33 TN : 13 7 18 18 WI : 0 0 2 5 : 18 Sts: 16 7 18 20 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 45 23 62 55 AZ : 71 52 86 77 AR : 44 22 42 58 CA : 30 20 44 30 GA : 40 19 61 54 LA : 62 46 71 84 MS : 56 45 70 80 MO : 21 11 41 57 NC : 17 6 50 37 OK : 43 23 32 33 SC : 17 15 39 36 TN : 29 25 47 63 TX : 29 22 41 45 VA : 25 14 46 35 : 14 Sts: 35 24 49 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 6 21 22 CA : 2 0 2 2 LA : 82 76 80 83 MS : 32 15 21 25 MO : 0 0 5 4 TX : 86 81 94 90 : 6 Sts : 30 22 31 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 94 84 91 87 MN : 99 96 89 93 MT : 97 92 56 80 ND : 97 91 68 81 SD : 100 100 100 100 WA : 99 99 98 95 : 6 Sts : 97 93 72 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 89 78 90 86 MN : 99 99 95 95 MT : 97 91 60 83 ND : 100 97 79 87 WA : 100 99 98 95 : 5 Sts : 97 92 79 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 82% of last year's barley acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 93 91 79 91 IL : 96 94 99 98 KS : 90 83 98 99 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 97 100 100 NE : 94 90 97 99 NM : 75 66 86 82 OK : 90 85 90 91 SD : 100 100 99 99 TX : 85 77 94 97 : 11 Sts: 89 83 95 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 99 97 97 CO : 57 35 33 42 IL : 71 40 76 76 KS : 59 40 70 80 LA : 100 99 98 100 MO : 69 58 79 85 NE : 52 34 67 71 NM : 21 15 30 37 OK : 67 51 68 65 SD : 81 54 77 71 TX : 62 60 79 86 : 11 Sts: 62 50 72 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 79 86 84 CO : 27 8 4 4 IL : 1 0 26 24 KS : 16 7 26 30 LA : 96 93 89 97 MO : 20 11 40 46 NE : 2 1 11 13 NM : 1 0 2 1 OK : 32 23 48 29 SD : 9 5 16 15 TX : 56 54 69 73 : 11 Sts: 33 27 43 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 53 NA 49 50 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 7 NA 5 12 LA : 78 NA 67 77 MO : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 2 1 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 14 NA 26 13 SD : 1 NA 3 2 TX : 53 NA 60 62 : 11 Sts: 26 NA 28 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 6 10 22 48 14 IL : 2 7 27 51 13 IN : 5 10 24 48 13 IA : 12 24 35 27 2 KS : 25 29 29 15 2 KY : 1 4 26 40 29 MI : 2 8 28 47 15 MN : 13 23 37 25 2 MO : 28 27 24 17 4 NE : 16 15 23 30 16 NC : 2 5 24 50 19 ND : 8 16 35 36 5 OH : 2 6 22 48 22 PA : 2 7 18 46 27 SD : 9 17 30 37 7 TN : 2 3 15 56 24 TX : 17 19 32 28 4 WI : 19 25 36 18 2 : 18 Sts : 11 16 29 35 9 : Prev Wk : 9 16 29 36 10 Prev Yr : 14 17 28 32 9 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 9 27 41 19 IL : 3 7 31 49 10 IN : 5 9 26 49 11 IA : 13 26 37 22 2 KS : 22 34 32 11 1 KY : 0 1 17 55 27 LA : 5 16 33 41 5 MI : 5 8 31 47 9 MN : 11 23 40 23 3 MS : 0 4 18 38 40 MO : 24 29 28 15 4 NE : 21 25 28 20 6 NC : 1 5 27 59 8 ND : 4 14 40 38 4 OH : 3 7 25 49 16 SD : 7 19 31 39 4 TN : 0 2 14 58 26 WI : 21 26 32 18 3 : 18 Sts : 9 17 31 35 8 : Prev Wk : 8 16 31 36 9 Prev Yr : 10 16 29 36 9 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 6 23 45 22 AZ : 0 3 14 40 43 AR : 1 5 26 51 17 CA : 0 0 15 55 30 GA : 1 4 26 52 17 LA : 1 3 31 52 13 MS : 3 10 17 43 27 MO : 4 18 37 32 9 NC : 3 7 28 57 5 OK : 4 12 42 35 7 SC : 0 3 25 69 3 TN : 0 3 19 63 15 TX : 15 22 40 18 5 VA : 0 8 22 47 23 : 14 Sts : 7 12 31 37 13 : Prev Wk : 6 13 29 40 12 Prev Yr : 5 13 29 39 14 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 4 22 54 20 CO : 32 31 27 8 2 IL : 0 3 35 51 11 KS : 25 38 28 9 0 LA : 0 3 23 65 9 MO : 10 24 36 25 5 NE : 18 28 39 15 0 NM : 23 30 43 2 2 OK : 5 36 31 28 0 SD : 32 14 21 30 3 TX : 10 24 34 27 5 : 11 Sts : 17 29 31 20 3 : Prev Wk : 16 29 33 19 3 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 : 1 3 21 51 24 CA : 0 5 45 40 10 LA : 0 1 25 57 17 MS : 0 1 5 39 55 MO : 1 2 13 43 41 TX : 0 2 13 72 13 : 6 Sts : 1 3 23 50 23 : Prev Wk : 1 3 26 49 21 Prev Yr : 1 3 28 43 25 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 8 25 38 27 FL : 1 1 23 60 15 GA : 1 3 19 59 18 NC : 0 3 15 72 10 OK : 0 10 42 42 6 TX : 0 3 23 48 26 VA : 0 7 13 54 26 : 8 Sts : 1 4 22 53 20 : Prev Wk : 0 3 22 55 20 Prev Yr : 3 11 37 39 10 -------------------------------------- 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 19 52 25 :: NJ : 0 0 27 73 0 AZ : 14 28 28 21 9 :: NM : 56 23 19 2 0 AR : 1 12 37 45 5 :: NY : 0 2 16 63 19 CA : 30 35 30 5 0 :: NC : 0 1 11 77 11 CO : 13 29 35 22 1 :: ND : 21 35 31 13 0 CT : 0 5 23 59 13 :: OH : 2 4 19 53 22 DE : 0 2 8 72 18 :: OK : 8 26 39 26 1 FL : 0 5 25 55 15 :: OR : 9 27 44 19 1 GA : 0 3 18 64 15 :: PA : 1 4 21 52 22 ID : 7 37 49 7 0 :: RI : 0 0 0 55 45 IL : 6 14 41 35 4 :: SC : 0 0 12 60 28 IN : 2 7 26 57 8 :: SD : 19 34 32 14 1 IA : 56 32 10 2 0 :: TN : 0 2 15 63 20 KS : 33 32 30 5 0 :: TX : 15 24 35 21 5 KY : 0 3 19 55 23 :: UT : 8 21 39 32 0 LA : 1 8 45 42 4 :: VT : 9 15 34 40 2 ME : 0 8 28 53 11 :: VA : 0 2 12 53 33 MD : 2 4 23 47 24 :: WA : 4 21 63 12 0 MA : 0 2 12 80 6 :: WV : 0 1 18 58 23 MI : 16 23 35 22 4 :: WI : 58 25 13 4 0 MN : 39 33 23 5 0 :: WY : 15 27 42 16 0 MS : 0 5 24 61 10 :: : MO : 34 34 22 9 1 :: 48 Sts : 18 22 29 25 6 MT : 42 35 19 4 0 :: : NE : 33 31 30 6 0 :: Prev Wk: 19 23 29 23 6 NV : 3 24 46 23 4 :: Prev Yr: 26 24 27 20 3 NH : 0 1 18 59 22 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 16, 2003. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http:/www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at http:/www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.