We 1 (9-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 23, 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. 38 September 14 - 20, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Hurricane Isabel made landfall on September 18 near Okracoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks with maximum sustained winds near 100 m.p.h. Winds were down from a peak of 160 m.p.h. just 4 days prior to landfall, but the still-formidable hurricane caused extensive storm-surge damage along the Mid-Atlantic coast and wind damage in both the coastal plain and inland as far northwest as the central Appalachians. Mid-Atlantic flooding, although widespread, was not as extensive or severe as that associated with the September 1999 passage of Hurricane Floyd. By week's end, assessments of damage to livestock, poultry, and immature summer crops due to winds, flooding, and electrical disruptions were underway but incomplete. Elsewhere, heavy showers were confined to southern Texas, where wet conditions slowed fieldwork and caused local flooding, but replenished soil moisture and irrigation reserves for winter agricultural interests. Mild, dry weather across the remainder of the South favored summer crop maturation and harvesting. Meanwhile in the Corn Belt, showers provided additional drought relief across the upper Mississippi Valley. Farther east, the remnants of Isabel clipped the easternmost Corn Belt with briefly heavy showers. However, mild, dry weather across the majority of the Midwest favored corn and soybean maturation and initial harvesting. On the Plains, cool, mostly dry weather promoted fieldwork and summer crop maturation. Although winter wheat planting advanced throughout the region, cool weather (as much as 9 degrees F below normal), freezes, and soil moisture shortages slowed crop emergence and establishment from the central High Plains northward into Montana. Cool, dry weather also prevailed in most areas west of the Rockies, although isolated showers dotted the Pacific Northwest, warmth persisted in the Desert Southwest, and hot weather gradually returned to California. Cool air was already in place across the western half of the Nation as the week began. Daily-record lows on September 14 included 15 degrees F in West Yellowstone, MT, 28 degrees F in Idaho Falls, ID, and 29 degrees F in Denver, CO. It was also Denver's earliest autumn reading below 30 degrees F, previously established with a low of 23 degrees F on September 18, 1971. Warm weather briefly returned to the Plains and Northwest in advance of a cold front, the same feature that helped to direct Hurricane Isabel into eastern North Carolina. The other factor influencing Isabel's path was a high-pressure system (a ridge) over New England, which forced the hurricane to move steadily northwestward. The ridge also boosted weekly temperatures as much as 10 degrees F above normal in northern New England, and produced consecutive daily-record highs (82 and 84 degrees F) on September 14-15 in Caribou, ME. During the late-morning hours of September 18, wind gusts on North Carolina's Outer Banks reached 100 m.p.h. in Okracoke and 96 m.p.h. on the Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier. Later in the day, southeastern Virginia was also battered by high winds, with gusts reaching 74 m.p.h. in Norfolk and 73 m.p.h. in Richmond. Power outages affected much of the Mid-Atlantic region, in part because of downed trees due to high winds and saturated soils. Meanwhile, 5-foot storm surges were reported in locations such as Sewells Point, VA, and Cambridge, MD. Even greater surges were noted in some Mid-Atlantic tidal rivers, including an 8.6-foot surge on the James River at Richmond (VA) City Locks. Farther inland, the Shenandoah River at Front Royal, VA, crested 6.1 feet above flood stage on September 19, while the South Branch of the Potomac River at Springfield, WV, peaked at 9.7 feet above flood stage on September 20. Rainfall associated with Isabel was significant but not catastrophic, resulting in daily-record totals on September 18 in locations such as Richmond, VA (4.32 inches), and Baltimore, MD (2.13 inches). Where Isabel's remnants interacted with the central Appalachians, totals reached 11.10 inches in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park at Big Meadows and 8.75 inches on southwestern Virginia's Apple Orchard Mountain. Lost in the records related to Isabel's passage, significant rains also fell across southern Texas and the upper Midwest. However, rainfall reached excessive levels in parts of Texas, where Brownsville netted 14.91 inches (401 percent of normal) during the first 21 days of the month. Brownsville also posted a daily-record total of 5.94 inches on September 19. Prior to September, Brownsville's year-to-date rainfall stood at 10.96 inches (70 percent of normal). Farther north, Casper, WY (0.75 inch, including 2.5 inches of snow), netted a daily-record precipitation total for September 17. A day later, Rochester, MN (1.26 inches), collected a record sum for the date. After midweek, however, cool, dry air returned to the Plains and Northwest. On September 18, Cut Bank, MT (23 degrees F), posted a daily-record low. A day later, daily-record lows on the central High Plains included 31 degrees F in McCook, NE, and 33 degrees F in Hill City, KS. Farther west, a daily-record high on September 20 at southern California's Pierce College (102 degrees F) signaled a return to very warm weather along the West Coast. Warm, tranquil weather prevailed in Hawaii, with weekly temperatures averaging up to 1 degree F above normal and only isolated locations reporting daily rainfall totals in excess of 1 inch. Meanwhile, dry weather prevailed across much of Alaska, accompanied by well-below-normal temperatures. Weekly readings averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal across interior Alaska. Several Alaskan stations reported consecutive daily-record lows, including Northway (15 and 13 degrees F on September 14-15), Yakutat (25 and 29 degrees F on September 16-17), and King Salmon (22 and 23 degrees F on September 18-19). Significant precipitation was confined to southeastern Alaska, where September 1-21 precipitation reached 11.71 inches (190 percent of normal) on Annette Island and 7.51 inches (148 percent) in Juneau. In contrast, month-to-date totals elsewhere in Alaska included 0.09 inch (5 percent of normal) on St. Paul Island, 0.29 inch (14 percent) in King Salmon, and 0.33 inch (17 percent) in Anchorage. National Agricultural Summary September 15 - 21, 2003 Highlights: Hurricane Isabel hit the Atlantic Coast Thursday, bringing high winds, heavy rain, and flooding to North Carolina and the middle Atlantic Coast States. Though the winds abated as the storm moved further inland, moderate to heavy rainfall extended into the eastern Ohio Valley and northern Atlantic Coast. The Southeast was mostly dry, with near-normal temperatures. In the northern Corn Belt, the temperatures were slightly above normal, with light to moderate precipitation. The southern Corn Belt experienced below-normal temperatures, and most of the region was dry. The Mississippi Delta had very little rain and below-normal temperatures. Milder temperatures prevailed throughout the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains. Precipitation in these regions was limited to light rainfall in some areas and widely scattered pockets of moderate rain. In the Southwest, temperatures were above normal and the weather was dry. Corn: Ninety-five percent of the acreage was at or beyond the dent stage, the same as last year at this time but 1 percentage point behind the 5-year average. Sixty percent of the crop was mature, 2 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Twelve percent of the crop had been harvested, compared with 13 percent last year and 15 percent for the 5-year average. While the denting of the crop neared completion in most States, the Ohio Valley remained well behind average, with Indiana and Pennsylvania over 1 week behind their normal pace. The crop has been slow to mature in the Ohio Valley and the Corn Belt, where Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were over 1 week behind normal. Harvest progress slowed to a near halt in the Great Plains, as producers focused their efforts on planting winter wheat. Meanwhile, North Carolina farmers harvested over one-fifth of their crop and were over 1 week ahead of their normal harvesting pace. Harvest also gained momentum during the week in Kentucky and Tennessee, where 19 percent and 22 percent of the crop was harvested, respectively. Soybeans: Fifty-nine percent of the crop was dropping leaves, 2 percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Six percent of the crop had been harvested, the same as last year but 2 points behind the 5-year average. The crop dropped leaves 1 week or more behind the normal pace in the Ohio Valley. Development in the eastern Corn Belt and Mississippi Delta was also behind, while the northern Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Corn Belt were ahead of normal. Harvest progressed ahead of normal in the interior Mississippi Delta but began behind normal in the rest of the Nation. Winter Wheat: Thirty-one percent of the crop had been planted, 2 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of the 5-year average. Nine percent of the expected acreage had emerged, 2 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Dry weather allowed planting to progress ahead of normal throughout the Great Plains, with Oklahoma over 1 week ahead of normal. In Colorado and Nebraska, growers planted 30 percent and 34 percent of their expected acreage during the week, respectively. Planting was just getting underway in the Corn Belt. Emergence was limited to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, and trailed behind average in the Rocky Mountains. Cotton: Fifty-nine percent of fields had open bolls, 14 percentage points behind last year and 16 points behind the 5-year average. Ten percent of the acreage had been harvested, compared with last year's 13 percent and the 5-year average of 15 percent. Bolls opening and harvesting were over 1 week behind normal nationwide. Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia were 1 week or more behind normal in bolls opening, while Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee were 2 weeks or more behind normal. All cotton-producing States were behind their normal harvest pace, with most States 1 week or more behind. Nationwide, there was little change in condition of the crop, but condition ratings declined sharply in North Carolina and Virginia due to damage from Hurricane Isabel. Sorghum: Eighty-one percent of the crop had turned color, 5 percentage points behind last year and 12 points behind the 5-year average. Forty-eight percent of the crop was mature, compared with 59 percent last year and 65 percent for the 5-year average. Thirty-two percent of the acreage was harvested, 6 points behind last year and 11 points behind the 5-year average. Nationwide, coloring continued to lag over 1 week behind the average, with Kansas and Missouri over 1 week behind normal and Texas over 3 weeks behind. Maturation was also over 1 week behind normal, with several States behind by 1 week or more. Illinois was over 2 weeks behind, and Texas was over 3 weeks behind. Significant harvest progress during the week was mainly confined to the Mississippi Delta and Oklahoma. With limited progress elsewhere, Kansas and Texas remained over 2 weeks behind their normal harvest pace. Rice: Fifty-eight percent of the acreage was harvested, 3 percentage points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Harvest progressed well in the Mississippi Delta, as growers took advantage of the dry weather. Arkansas producers made the most progress during the week, harvesting over one-fourth of their acreage. But harvest was most advanced in Texas, where producers had harvested 95 percent of the crop, followed closely by Louisiana, at 93 percent. Peanuts: Eleven percent of the acreage was harvested, 2 percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest had begun in all States, with Alabama producers harvesting 22 percent of their crop during the week. Florida growers continued to lead the Nation, with 30 percent of their acreage harvested. North Carolina and Virginia producers saw their crop condition decline sharply due to wind and rain from Hurricane Isabel. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 97 91 88 90 IL : 97 91 96 97 IN : 89 78 91 97 IA : 97 93 99 97 KS : 99 98 98 99 KY : 100 92 100 99 MI : 77 51 91 87 MN : 99 97 97 97 MO : 97 96 100 99 NE : 96 89 97 98 NC : 100 95 100 99 ND : 98 94 93 97 OH : 88 71 84 92 PA : 60 51 88 79 SD : 98 93 96 96 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 98 99 99 WI : 87 69 86 85 : 18 Sts: 95 88 95 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 50 38 34 43 IL : 61 40 63 77 IN : 38 23 50 71 IA : 74 50 77 79 KS : 86 80 86 85 KY : 90 68 93 92 MI : 20 2 44 45 MN : 77 40 49 58 MO : 88 83 91 89 NE : 50 25 67 71 NC : 94 86 96 94 ND : 64 35 42 50 OH : 15 6 34 44 PA : 20 12 49 33 SD : 50 33 54 54 TN : 96 91 100 97 TX : 93 87 89 94 WI : 35 17 27 40 : 18 Sts: 60 40 62 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 0 1 3 IL : 8 3 8 15 IN : 5 2 7 11 IA : 5 3 6 7 KS : 41 33 42 43 KY : 41 22 55 54 MI : 1 0 4 4 MN : 4 1 1 3 MO : 44 30 51 44 NE : 6 2 10 11 NC : 73 50 35 52 ND : 2 1 0 2 OH : 1 0 4 5 PA : 1 1 21 11 SD : 3 1 5 5 TN : 58 36 77 74 TX : 75 67 69 74 WI : 0 0 0 2 : 18 Sts: 12 7 13 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 28 20 33 36 IL : 50 25 48 61 IN : 57 33 60 78 IA : 71 39 73 62 KS : 63 46 56 71 KY : 30 8 53 54 LA : 56 46 49 70 MI : 50 10 57 56 MN : 87 62 78 75 MS : 78 70 76 77 MO : 31 18 41 45 NE : 54 19 65 64 NC : 21 8 17 19 ND : 78 55 88 74 OH : 55 24 68 75 SD : 85 66 85 79 TN : 34 22 43 42 WI : 56 39 51 53 : 18 Sts: 59 35 61 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 13 NA 11 10 IL : 4 NA 2 8 IN : 5 NA 3 9 IA : 5 NA 4 6 KS : 3 NA 6 14 KY : 0 NA 4 6 LA : 32 NA 22 36 MI : 1 NA 5 4 MN : 10 NA 6 10 MS : 59 NA 44 41 MO : 1 NA 3 5 NE : 3 NA 5 6 NC : 0 NA 0 0 ND : 5 NA 10 10 OH : 2 NA 7 8 SD : 3 NA 5 6 TN : 2 NA 5 5 WI : 0 NA 0 2 : 18 Sts: 6 NA 6 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 1 2 1 CA : 2 1 3 1 CO : 62 32 48 53 ID : 27 10 28 20 IL : 3 0 1 1 IN : 4 2 3 4 KS : 22 8 20 15 MI : 10 6 17 12 MO : 0 0 3 2 MT : 23 9 46 30 NE : 65 31 57 57 NC : 0 0 2 5 OH : 1 0 2 2 OK : 38 17 32 22 OR : 14 5 5 5 SD : 43 21 41 42 TX : 40 22 34 32 WA : 55 45 67 59 : 18 Sts: 31 16 29 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 0 0 CA : 0 NA 0 0 CO : 16 NA 8 30 ID : 2 NA 6 4 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 4 NA 7 5 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 0 NA 0 0 MT : 0 NA 9 3 NE : 26 NA 28 21 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 13 NA 14 8 OR : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 7 NA 13 15 TX : 13 NA 14 12 WA : 24 NA 41 32 : 18 Sts: 9 NA 11 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 79 66 80 78 AZ : 96 83 98 95 AR : 77 63 84 86 CA : 60 40 71 63 GA : 68 55 81 76 LA : 90 75 90 94 MS : 80 74 91 97 MO : 57 36 65 83 NC : 52 27 78 69 OK : 68 61 47 66 SC : 35 22 58 64 TN : 55 36 84 91 TX : 46 34 62 67 VA : 42 33 75 59 : 14 Sts: 59 45 73 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 0 7 11 AZ : 4 2 13 9 AR : 5 1 3 9 CA : 0 0 2 0 GA : 5 2 10 9 LA : 15 6 14 27 MS : 17 9 16 22 MO : 0 0 4 15 NC : 0 0 3 2 OK : 0 0 3 2 SC : 0 0 7 8 TN : 2 0 8 14 TX : 19 17 21 23 VA : 0 0 7 2 : 14 Sts: 10 8 13 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 58 32 52 58 CA : 15 3 16 16 LA : 93 89 90 92 MS : 65 52 63 63 MO : 21 9 25 31 TX : 95 89 98 97 : 6 Sts : 58 41 55 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 22 0 18 20 FL : 30 15 18 27 GA : 12 5 17 18 NC : 1 0 6 5 OK : 3 1 4 2 TX : 3 0 5 13 VA : 5 1 5 8 : 7 Sts : 11 3 13 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 100 CO : 91 74 61 72 IL : 87 73 93 91 KS : 83 69 86 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 91 85 92 96 NE : 88 63 89 94 NM : 71 48 70 70 OK : 82 75 81 83 SD : 96 91 94 94 TX : 72 64 87 93 : 11 Sts: 81 69 86 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 97 96 95 CO : 50 36 21 22 IL : 20 6 68 58 KS : 36 26 48 59 LA : 99 98 100 100 MO : 52 38 65 71 NE : 30 12 59 55 NM : 6 2 7 9 OK : 47 39 62 45 SD : 39 17 39 45 TX : 60 57 75 82 : 11 Sts: 48 40 59 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1998- State:Sep 21,:Sep 14,:Sep 21,: 2002 : 2003 : 2003 : 2002 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 78 63 80 81 CO : 1 0 1 1 IL : 0 0 9 8 KS : 11 10 15 25 LA : 94 87 87 92 MO : 24 12 30 33 NE : 2 0 10 12 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 23 17 42 26 SD : 4 2 11 8 TX : 57 54 65 70 : 11 Sts: 32 29 38 43 -------------------------------------- 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 : 4 17 24 45 10 IL : 2 6 24 52 16 IN : 6 11 25 44 14 IA : 8 20 38 30 4 KS : 23 27 33 14 3 KY : 1 4 21 37 37 MI : 3 10 31 42 14 MN : 9 20 40 29 2 MO : 23 24 29 19 5 NE : 14 15 23 33 15 NC : 1 5 29 45 20 ND : 13 19 33 32 3 OH : 3 6 22 47 22 PA : 6 9 18 46 21 SD : 7 14 31 39 9 TN : 2 3 15 56 24 TX : 17 19 32 28 4 WI : 16 25 33 23 3 : 18 Sts : 9 15 30 36 10 : Prev Wk : 10 16 30 35 9 Prev Yr : 13 17 28 33 9 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 7 27 43 21 IL : 5 12 37 40 6 IN : 6 10 28 46 10 IA : 12 27 42 18 1 KS : 19 34 35 11 1 KY : 0 1 16 49 34 LA : 5 14 30 45 6 MI : 6 10 37 40 7 MN : 10 24 38 27 1 MS : 0 2 17 46 35 MO : 21 27 30 18 4 NE : 18 26 31 19 6 NC : 2 4 21 65 8 ND : 9 16 37 35 3 OH : 4 8 24 46 18 SD : 6 17 32 41 4 TN : 0 1 15 56 28 WI : 17 28 33 19 3 : 18 Sts : 9 18 33 33 7 : Prev Wk : 9 17 33 33 8 Prev Yr : 10 16 30 36 8 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 7 22 48 18 AZ : 0 5 29 24 42 AR : 1 6 25 51 17 CA : 0 0 15 45 40 GA : 1 6 28 49 16 LA : 1 2 25 53 19 MS : 2 7 14 48 29 MO : 2 14 32 44 8 NC : 6 8 31 49 6 OK : 7 15 45 28 5 SC : 0 2 25 70 3 TN : 0 3 18 61 18 TX : 17 22 38 18 5 VA : 0 15 30 55 0 : 14 Sts : 8 13 30 36 13 : Prev Wk : 8 13 30 37 12 Prev Yr : 5 13 30 38 14 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 4 22 54 20 CO : 11 42 37 8 2 IL : 1 19 38 35 7 KS : 23 37 29 10 1 LA : 0 2 31 62 5 MO : 9 23 38 27 3 NE : 23 33 34 10 0 NM : 25 30 39 4 2 OK : 4 32 37 27 0 SD : 18 12 36 26 8 TX : 10 24 34 27 5 : 11 Sts : 16 30 31 20 3 : Prev Wk : 15 30 32 20 3 Prev Yr : 18 25 34 20 3 -------------------------------------- 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 2 20 48 29 CA : 0 5 50 35 10 LA : 0 2 20 56 22 MS : 0 2 9 53 36 MO : 2 5 19 40 34 TX : 0 2 13 72 13 : 6 Sts : 1 3 24 47 25 : Prev Wk : 1 3 23 50 23 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 5 22 48 23 FL : 1 1 10 78 10 GA : 0 2 21 56 21 NC : 8 1 30 57 4 OK : 0 10 41 43 6 TX : 1 3 26 50 20 VA : 5 15 30 50 0 : 8 Sts : 1 3 24 55 17 : Prev Wk : 0 4 21 55 20 Prev Yr : 4 12 36 38 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 : 2 10 33 43 12 :: NJ : 0 0 32 68 0 AZ : 11 26 36 18 9 :: NM : 44 29 24 3 0 AR : 0 9 32 51 8 :: NY : 1 4 18 64 13 CA : 30 45 25 0 0 :: NC : 1 2 16 76 5 CO : 10 24 45 21 0 :: ND : 23 35 29 13 0 CT : 0 0 35 55 10 :: OH : 2 4 19 55 20 DE : 4 8 13 65 10 :: OK : 6 19 40 30 5 FL : 1 5 15 70 9 :: OR : 10 46 37 7 0 GA : 1 6 33 52 8 :: PA : 3 7 28 47 15 ID : 9 41 45 5 0 :: RI : 0 0 0 50 50 IL : 5 15 39 39 2 :: SC : 0 8 14 64 14 IN : 4 10 25 53 8 :: SD : 21 33 29 15 2 IA : 43 28 22 6 1 :: TN : 1 5 20 59 15 KS : 30 33 29 7 1 :: TX : 13 18 32 29 8 KY : 1 3 21 55 20 :: UT : 8 21 39 32 0 LA : 0 8 40 47 5 :: VT : 4 10 65 20 1 ME : 0 13 27 44 16 :: VA : 0 1 18 54 27 MD : 2 5 22 48 23 :: WA : 2 32 50 16 0 MA : 0 0 4 96 0 :: WV : 0 1 19 59 21 MI : 18 28 34 18 2 :: WI : 35 30 28 7 0 MN : 24 33 32 11 0 :: WY : 11 24 46 19 0 MS : 0 4 27 57 12 :: : MO : 11 25 40 21 3 :: 48 Sts : 15 22 31 27 5 MT : 33 36 25 6 0 :: : NE : 30 31 32 7 0 :: Prev Wk: 17 22 31 25 5 NV : 5 25 48 20 2 :: Prev Yr: 24 25 28 20 3 NH : 0 3 25 49 23 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 30, 2003. 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