We 1 (5-04) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 11, 2004, 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 91, No. 19 May 2 - 8, 2004 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Record-high temperatures expanded from the Pacific Coast States across the remainder of the West, boosting weekly temperatures as much as 15 degrees F above normal and maintaining a pattern of persistent warmth that has persisted since early March. Warm, mostly dry conditions promoted Western fieldwork, winter wheat growth, and the emergence and development of spring-sown small grains. However, warmth has also lengthened the Western growing season, placing additional stress on already drought-lowered reservoirs. After midweek, record warmth also reached the High Plains (more than 10 degrees F above normal in some locations), where high temperatures near 100 degrees F increased stress on jointing to heading winter wheat. Warm, mostly dry weather favored winter wheat development and summer crop planting throughout the Nation's mid-section, although extremely dry conditions on the northern High Plains contrasted with generally favorable soil moisture levels across the southern and eastern Plains. Farther east, Midwestern temperatures quickly rebounded from early-May freezes, topping 90 degrees F in the western Corn Belt by week's end. On May 2-3, however, recently emerged corn experienced some leaf burn from temperatures near or below 32 degrees F as far south as northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri. Growers continued to evaluate emerging corn for unexpectedly serious freeze damage, such as deaths of growing points, that would require replanting. At the time of the freeze, corn was 54 percent emerged in northwestern Missouri and 24 percent emerged in northeastern Kansas. Other emergence figures valid on May 2, as reported by USDA/NASS, included 9 percent in Iowa and 7 percent in Nebraska. Corn was 5 percent emerged or less in northwestern Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and the remainder of the northern Corn Belt. In the lower Great Lakes region, especially in Michigan, frosts and freezes on May 3-4 posed a threat to grapes and other orchard crops. Meanwhile, heavy rain ended early in the week across the East, followed by a spell of warm, mostly dry weather. During the mid- to late-week period, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the Great Lakes and Northeastern States, while hot, dry weather overspread the Southeast. As a result, stress returned to Southeastern pastures, winter grains, and summer crops, despite beneficial late-April and early-May rainfall. Farther west, locally heavy showers developed at week's end in southern Texas, where weekly temperatures averaged 4 to 8 degrees F below normal. Early in the week, temperatures soared to 100 degrees F or higher in parts of southern California, where early-season wildfires charred more than 20,000 acres of vegetation. On May 2-3, consecutive daily-record highs were established in California locations such as Santa Ana (102 and 105 degrees F) and Long Beach (102 and 104 degrees F). By midweek, cooler weather and higher humidity aided wildfire containment efforts. However, heat persisted farther inland, where California daily-record highs on May 4 included 113 degrees F in Death Valley, 107 degrees F in Needles, and 101 degrees F in Bakersfield. Meanwhile, Midwestern and Eastern temperatures were the lowest on record for May 3 in more than two dozen locations, including Rhinelander, WI (19 degrees F), Waterloo, IA (25 degrees F), Lansing, MI (27 degrees F), Rockford, IL (29 degrees F), and South Bend, IN (29 degrees F). In northeastern Iowa, Cresco's temperature of 21 degrees F represented the State's lowest May reading since 1967. A day later, record lows for May 4 included 28 degrees F in Toledo, OH, and Beckley, WV. Chilly weather lingered through midweek across the South, where Apalachicola, FL (47 degrees F on May 5), tied its May 1981 monthly record low. Elsewhere in Florida, Vero Beach notched consecutive daily-record lows (58 and 55 degrees F) on May 5-6. However, much warmer weather arrived across the South at week's end. Montgomery, AL (93 degrees F), collected a daily record for May 8, while Panama City, FL, closed the week with a trio of daily-record highs (89, 92, and 93 degrees F from May 6-8). In Georgia, Athens observed its first 90-degree heat of the year (90 degrees F) on May 7, exactly 7 weeks earlier than last year's date (90 degrees F on June 25, 2003). Farther west, record warmth reached the Plains and western Corn Belt at midweek. On May 5, daily-record highs included 97 degrees F in Chadron, NE, and 100 degrees F in Kennebec, SD. Highs reached 100 degrees F on May 6 in Kansas locations such as Hays and Ness City. Elsewhere in Kansas, WaKeeney noted a high of 96 degrees F on 3 consecutive days from May 6-8, setting records for all three dates. Meanwhile, locally heavy showers developed across the Great Lakes States and southern Texas. Fort Wayne, IN, collected a daily-record total (1.08 inches) on May 7, followed the next day by a 4.56-inch deluge in Brownsville, TX. It was Brownsville's wettest May day since May 13, 1939, when 4.84 inches fell. At week's end, showers also overspread the Northwest, where Eugene, OR (0.47 inch on May 8), tallied a daily-record total. Other precipitation highlights were confined to the East early in the week. Record totals for May 2 included 1.36 inches in both Williamsport, PA, and Charlotte, NC. Two days later, Mt. Mansfield, VT, set daily records for precipitation (1.27 inches) and snowfall (8.5 inches). Heavy showers were widely scattered across Hawaii, where some of the more impressive 24-hour totals included 3.31 inches (on May 5-6) in Waiaha, on the Big Island, and 2.17 inches on Oahu at the Manoa Lyon Arboretum. Hawaiian temperatures generally averaged 1 to 3 degrees F above normal, aided by daily-record highs in locations such as Honolulu, Oahu (87 degrees F on May 3), and Hilo, on the Big Island (85 degrees F on May 2). Meanwhile, record warmth also prevailed in parts of Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged up to 12 degrees F above normal in western parts of the State. Bethel posted five consecutive daily-record highs (63, 64, 63, 63, and 59 degrees F) from April 30 - May 4. Elsewhere, record highs were set or tied on 3 days in a row (May 4-6) in locations such as Kodiak (68, 69, and 60 degrees F) and Anchorage (66, 69, and 71 degrees F). Dry weather was noted across much of the State, but some locally heavy showers developed in west-central and interior Alaska. During the first 9 days of May, precipitation reached 1.01 inches (1,122 percent) in Fairbanks and 1.27 inches (706 percent of normal) in Nome. Fairbanks also netted a daily-record total (0.60 inch) on May 6. National Agricultural Summary May 3 - 9, 2004 Highlights: Dry conditions and above-normal temperatures prevailed across the western half of the Nation, while moderate precipitation fell along the East Coast and in parts of the Corn Belt. In the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, central Rockies, and Great Plains, dry conditions and above-normal temperatures favored planting of summer crops but caused moisture stress for winter wheat. Fieldwork was not greatly hampered by the light to moderate precipitation that fell in most areas of the Corn Belt. Temperatures were below normal across most of the Mississippi Delta, and dry conditions were favorable for planting cotton. In the Southeast, light to moderate precipitation fell in most areas, with the heaviest rainfall helping to alleviate soil moisture shortages in coastal areas. Rainfall was moderate along the middle and northern Atlantic Coast, with near-normal temperatures. Corn: Growers had planted 84 percent of the Nation's corn crop, 22 percentage points ahead of last year and 21 points ahead of normal. Thirty-six percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 21 percent last year and 24 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed steadily across most of the Corn Belt, despite moderate rainfall in some areas, and remained well ahead of the normal pace. In Wisconsin, growers planted 40 percent of their acreage as soil temperatures increased. In the Great Plains, planting progressed rapidly, with Nebraska and South Dakota producers planting 33 and 38 percent of their crop, respectively. Emergence progressed rapidly in the southern Corn Belt, advancing by 28 points in Illinois, 24 points in Indiana, and 27 points in Iowa. Soybeans: Planting advanced to 35 percent complete, compared with 14 percent last year and 21 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was most advanced in Mississippi, where 89 percent of the crop had been planted. As corn planting neared completion across most of the Corn Belt, growers turned to planting soybeans and progressed rapidly. Producers in Iowa planted 42 percent of their acreage, while Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota growers planted one-fourth or more of their expected acreage. Planting progress was ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Winter Wheat: Fifty-five percent of the crop was at or beyond the heading stage, 5 points ahead of last year and 8 points ahead of normal. Heading neared completion in Arkansas, California, and Oklahoma. Heading rapidly advanced in the central Great Plains and the Corn Belt, where 51 percent of Illinois' crop, 35 percent of Kansas' crop, and 41 percent of Missouri's crop reached the heading stage. Crop condition declined in the Great Plains due to hot weather and moisture stress. Cotton: Producers had planted 45 percent of the cotton crop, 4 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. California growers continued to lead the Nation, with 99 percent of their crop planted. Warm, dry weather favored planting in the Delta, where Missouri Bootheel producers planted over one-third of their crop, and Arkansas and Mississippi growers planted one-fourth of their crop. Elsewhere, planting advanced by 26 points in Oklahoma and 27 points in Virginia. Rice: Planting advanced to 82 percent complete, compared with 76 percent last year and 78 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence, at 66 percent complete, was 8 points ahead of last year and 12 points ahead of normal. Planting neared completion in Texas, where 98 percent of the crop had been planted, followed closely by Louisiana and Mississippi, with 93 percent of their crop in the ground. California growers progressed the most under hot, dry conditions, planting 20 percent of their crop. Meanwhile, emergence was most rapid in Mississippi and Arkansas, where 22 and 18 percent of the crop emerged, respectively. Sorghum: Twenty-nine percent of the crop had been planted, 3 points ahead of last year and the average. Progress was most advanced in Louisiana and Arkansas, where growers had planted 81 and 69 percent of the crop, respectively. In Texas, planting was 55 percent complete, 6 points ahead of normal, while Illinois producers, at 21 percent complete, were 10 points ahead of normal. South Dakota growers began planting, leaving New Mexico as the only State where planting had not begun. Small Grains: Spring wheat was 84 percent planted, 17 points ahead of last year and 26 points ahead of normal. Emergence, at 49 percent complete, was 12 points ahead of last year and 20 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting in South Dakota and Washington was completed over 1 week ahead of the normal pace. North Dakota producers planted 22 percent of their crop to finish the week with 78 percent of their acreage planted, 35 points ahead of normal. Meanwhile, emergence progressed by 19 points in Minnesota and 18 points in North and South Dakota. Barley growers had planted 81 percent of their crop, 22 points ahead of last year and 27 points ahead of normal. Emergence advanced to 45 percent, compared with 33 percent last year and 28 percent for the normal. Planting reached completion in Washington, 2 weeks ahead of normal. Meanwhile, North Dakota growers planted one-fourth of their crop and advanced to 38 points ahead of their 5-year average. Emergence was most rapid in Idaho, where 25 percent of the crop emerged. Oat seedings advanced to 89 percent complete, compared with 78 percent last year and 71 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty percent of the crop had emerged, 10 points ahead of last year and 15 points ahead of normal. Iowa growers finished planting, while Nebraska and South Dakota producers neared completion. The crop emerged rapidly during the week, with one-fifth or more emerging in Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Other Crops: Sugarbeet planting reached 99 percent complete, 10 points ahead of last year and 21 points ahead of normal. Activity was limited to Minnesota and North Dakota, where planting neared completion well ahead of normal by the end of the week. Peanut planting advanced to 24 percent complete, 3 points ahead of last year but 3 points behind normal. Texas growers progressed rapidly, planting 40 percent of their crop, and led the nation with 44 percent of their acreage planted, 17 points ahead of normal. Oklahoma producers also progressed well, advancing by 24 points, and finished the week 14 points ahead of normal. Meanwhile, in the Southeast, planting progress continued to lag behind the normal pace, by as much as 23 points in Alabama, where growers were furthest behind. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 47 19 39 44 IL : 95 82 72 72 IN : 87 70 56 58 IA : 94 74 62 71 KS : 84 63 74 74 KY : 89 78 71 73 MI : 60 42 32 41 MN : 90 71 84 68 MO : 95 86 70 73 NE : 85 52 42 56 NC : 96 90 79 89 ND : 73 48 55 40 OH : 62 52 85 62 PA : 54 21 37 42 SD : 71 33 41 39 TN : 95 87 86 90 TX : 94 80 89 88 WI : 56 16 38 45 : 18 Sts: 84 63 62 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 8 1 6 8 IL : 67 39 36 35 IN : 44 20 26 23 IA : 36 9 9 18 KS : 36 20 37 40 KY : 68 50 59 57 MI : 10 2 2 7 MN : 14 4 6 13 MO : 78 61 53 52 NE : 29 7 11 17 NC : 84 70 55 72 ND : 7 0 9 7 OH : 22 5 27 19 PA : 12 2 7 10 SD : 8 1 2 5 TN : 86 70 80 76 TX : 73 65 75 72 WI : 3 0 2 7 : 18 Sts: 36 18 21 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 38 25 29 24 IL : 33 6 9 23 IN : 48 23 20 29 IA : 51 9 5 21 KS : 16 4 11 18 KY : 15 8 5 13 LA : 54 43 35 41 MI : 22 12 7 15 MN : 47 11 21 23 MS : 89 78 72 61 MO : 29 10 7 17 NE : 25 5 5 14 NC : 13 3 6 9 ND : 27 5 9 6 OH : 28 23 45 35 SD : 15 2 6 8 TN : 12 4 4 9 WI : 13 3 6 13 : 18 Sts: 35 12 14 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 87 92 97 CA : 98 96 97 98 CO : 23 5 9 8 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 64 13 55 47 IN : 29 11 27 31 KS : 63 28 54 47 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 69 28 59 56 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 3 0 1 2 NC : 88 72 74 90 OH : 3 3 3 3 OK : 97 91 96 90 OR : 11 2 0 5 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 82 69 81 77 WA : 7 5 4 3 : 18 Sts: 55 39 50 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 61 42 62 64 AZ : 72 65 69 80 AR : 46 21 47 51 CA : 99 95 77 91 GA : 33 18 36 39 LA : 77 58 61 72 MS : 79 54 70 65 MO : 59 24 29 61 NC : 41 36 35 42 OK : 34 8 34 23 SC : 38 20 20 33 TN : 22 4 22 40 TX : 30 23 30 26 VA : 67 40 53 67 : 14 Sts: 45 31 41 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 69 49 80 78 CO : 5 1 6 5 IL : 21 14 2 11 KS : 9 2 8 11 LA : 81 62 58 66 MO : 32 19 24 28 NE : 7 2 2 4 NM : 0 0 3 1 OK : 21 13 15 15 SD : 7 0 5 3 TX : 55 53 51 49 : 11 Sts: 29 23 26 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 77 90 83 CA : 45 25 20 44 LA : 93 88 91 93 MS : 93 75 80 80 MO : 83 74 62 67 TX : 98 90 96 96 : 6 Sts : 82 70 76 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 72 54 71 59 CA : 15 5 0 9 LA : 87 80 81 84 MS : 79 57 56 54 MO : 57 46 34 29 TX : 92 85 89 89 : 6 Sts : 66 51 58 54 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 4 30 33 FL : 20 15 21 30 GA : 20 10 14 23 NC : 17 2 24 31 OK : 39 15 36 25 TX : 44 4 26 27 VA : 24 7 24 43 : 7 Sts : 24 8 21 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States planted 97% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 100 100 99 97 MI : 100 100 96 91 MN : 99 90 87 71 ND : 99 87 82 65 : 4 Sts : 99 93 89 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 83% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 96 82 82 87 MN : 90 72 85 59 MT : 83 72 60 64 ND : 78 56 55 43 SD : 100 97 96 85 WA : 100 99 97 96 : 6 Sts : 84 68 67 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 71 56 63 64 MN : 46 27 37 26 MT : 43 29 20 24 ND : 39 21 31 19 SD : 84 66 78 59 WA : 91 86 80 77 : 6 Sts : 49 32 37 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 92 69 78 82 MN : 80 56 81 51 MT : 90 85 59 66 ND : 70 45 44 32 WA : 100 99 98 93 : 5 Sts : 81 63 59 54 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 51 26 54 53 MN : 30 18 28 21 MT : 59 45 30 29 ND : 30 12 21 11 WA : 92 89 80 73 : 5 Sts : 45 28 33 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 99 99 99 MN : 91 84 87 72 NE : 99 96 95 96 ND : 74 54 47 39 OH : 84 61 100 92 PA : 82 72 84 83 SD : 97 91 90 78 WI : 92 73 75 78 : 8 Sts : 89 77 78 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 93 77 80 83 MN : 62 41 48 40 NE : 82 67 83 83 ND : 36 13 21 14 OH : 56 28 73 72 PA : 48 35 51 55 SD : 71 48 68 50 WI : 59 34 35 44 : 8 Sts: 60 39 50 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 53% of last year's oat acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 3 11 29 51 6 :: NJ : 0 0 20 80 0 AZ : 26 18 20 21 15 :: NM : 14 24 46 15 1 AR : 0 2 26 59 13 :: NY : 0 2 25 49 24 CA : 5 20 25 50 0 :: NC : 1 5 27 60 7 CO : 16 32 40 11 1 :: ND : 9 32 38 21 0 CT : 0 16 27 57 0 :: OH : 1 3 24 56 16 DE : 0 2 10 77 11 :: OK : 2 9 30 47 12 FL : 0 10 70 20 0 :: OR : 5 10 37 40 8 GA : 6 20 45 26 3 :: PA : 0 3 20 51 26 ID : 0 3 28 52 17 :: RI : 0 0 0 65 35 IL : 0 1 14 74 11 :: SC : 0 15 41 42 2 IN : 1 2 18 65 14 :: SD : 21 26 36 16 1 IA : 1 9 32 50 8 :: TN : 0 3 19 60 18 KS : 14 23 28 31 4 :: TX : 6 10 27 40 17 KY : 1 2 19 55 23 :: UT : 1 16 41 41 1 LA : 1 5 30 57 7 :: VT : 0 3 53 42 2 ME : 1 13 33 46 7 :: VA : 0 2 19 62 17 MD : 2 4 15 49 30 :: WA : 8 5 34 51 2 MA : 4 11 14 32 39 :: WV : 1 4 25 65 5 MI : 3 5 32 46 14 :: WI : 2 14 32 49 3 MN : 5 21 47 25 2 :: WY : 22 26 33 19 0 MS : 1 6 37 50 6 :: : MO : 1 7 23 53 16 :: 48 Sts : 6 13 31 41 9 MT : 23 32 28 16 1 :: : NE : 13 24 37 24 2 :: Prev Wk: 6 13 31 41 9 NV : 0 15 22 62 1 :: Prev Yr: 6 12 31 41 10 NH : 0 8 27 45 20 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 7 31 52 9 CA : 0 5 20 45 30 CO : 18 33 31 16 2 ID : 0 2 18 74 6 IL : 1 1 12 62 24 IN : 0 2 14 62 22 KS : 14 22 29 30 5 MI : 0 1 22 60 17 MO : 1 3 26 58 12 MT : 14 27 38 18 3 NE : 11 18 36 32 3 NC : 0 6 23 61 10 OH : 1 3 20 55 21 OK : 4 10 32 45 9 OR : 1 10 41 42 6 SD : 19 23 34 21 3 TX : 3 18 37 34 8 WA : 2 7 38 48 5 : 18 Sts : 8 16 31 37 8 : Prev Wk : 8 14 30 40 8 Prev Yr : 6 12 30 40 12 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 4 30 50 15 CA : 0 0 55 35 10 LA : 0 4 21 63 12 MS : 0 0 26 69 5 MO : 1 3 20 72 4 TX : 0 0 20 65 15 : 6 Sts : 1 3 31 53 12 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2003 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 May 18, 2004. 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