We 1 (10-04) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 19, 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 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 91, No. 42 October 10 - 16, 2004 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Heavy showers lingered across the South early in the week due to the interaction of remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Matthew and an upper-level disturbance. Across the southeastern Plains and the lower and middle Mississippi Valley, rain ended a 6-week dry spell and aided pastures and newly planted winter grains. In the Delta, however, rain also raised concerns about the quality of unharvested cotton. Later in the week, showers overspread the East, the southeastern half of the Corn Belt, and the remainder of the South, causing generally minor fieldwork delays. Farther west, sharply colder air overspread the upper Midwest and the northern Plains, slowing winter wheat emergence in the latter region. Rain and snow showers arrived on the drought-affected northern High Plains toward week's end, boosting topsoil moisture reserves. Meanwhile on the southern High Plains, favorably dry weather promoted a limited return to fieldwork, following excessively wet weather in late September and early October. Warm, dry weather prevailed in the West for much of the period, although stormy weather began to overspread the Pacific Coast States at week's end. Across the interior Northwest, warmth in advance of mid-October storminess promoted winter wheat planting and emergence. Early in the week, torrential rainfall soaked parts of the South, where daily-record totals for October 10 included 3.08 inches in Jackson, MS, and 2.49 inches in McAlester, OK. The following day, records for October 11 were established in locations such as Jackson, TN (3.15 inches), and Tupelo, MS (2.53 inches). Monroe, LA, collected record amounts on consecutive days (October 9-10), totaling 4.98 inches. Elsewhere in the region, 24-hour totals in southeastern Arkansas on October 10-11 reached 8.16 inches in Eudora (Chicot County) and 8.06 inches in Crossett (Ashley County). In northwestern Louisiana, storm-total, 96-hour rainfall from October 7-11 reached 15.71 inches near Homer (Claiborne Parish) and 12.67 inches in Arcadia (Bienville Parish). Farther north, Louisville, KY, netted rainfall totaling 0.23 inch on October 12 (and another 0.92 inch from October 13-15), ending a 39-day spell (September 3 - October 11) without measurable precipitation. Louisville's previous longest dry spell was 36 days, from September 20 - October 25, 1953. Locally heavy showers reached the Mid-Atlantic States on October 13, when daily-record totals in Virginia included 1.61 inches in Roanoke and 1.45 inches in Lynchburg. After midweek, precipitation accompanied a surge of cooler air across the northern Plains and upper Midwest. In Montana, daily-record amounts on October 14 reached 0.51 inch in Cut Bank and 0.30 inch in Billings. Two days later, a trace of snow fell in the Wisconsin cities of Green Bay and Rhinelander. In North Dakota, the season's first measurable snowfall occurred on October 17 in locations such as Bismarck (0.8 inch) and Williston (0.2 inch). Chilly weather arrived across areas from the Plains eastward in two waves. On October 14, Pueblo, CO, notched a daily-record low. Two days later, daily-record lows were set or tied in Florida locations such as Vero Beach (52 degrees F) and Ft. Myers (57 degrees F). Meanwhile, a stronger surge of cold air resulted in a daily-record low (17 degrees F on October 16) in Mobridge, SD. Farther west, late-week storminess helped to end a 3-week warm spell. Among the daily records set on October 13 were highs of 81 degrees F in Portland, OR, and 93 degrees F in downtown San Francisco, CA. Farther south, the season's first rain arrived in San Diego, CA, on October 17, when 0.09 inch fell. However, San Diego's rain fell too late to prevent its longest spell on record without measurable precipitation (182 days from April 18 - October 16), edging the standard set just last year (181 days from May 4 - October 31). Elsewhere in the Pacific Coast States, daily rainfall records for October 17 were established in locations such as Eugene, OR (1.05 inches), and Ephrata, WA (0.92 inch). Farther east, showery, blustery conditions prevailed at week's end across the Great Lakes and Northeastern States. On October 16, Buffalo, NY, received a daily-record precipitation total of 1.33 inches, while Gaylord, MI, measured 3.3 inches of snow. Mild weather prevailed in Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F above normal. On October 13, maximum temperatures of 57 degrees F in Juneau and 59 degrees F in Petersburg were among a handful of Alaskan daily-record highs. Little or no precipitation fell across the Alaskan interior, where October 1-17 totals were as low as 0.09 inch (10 percent of normal) in McGrath and 0.12 inch (24 percent) in Fairbanks. In contrast, month-to-date precipitation in southeastern Alaska reached 14.35 inches (104 percent of normal) in Yakutat and 7.98 inches (107 percent) on Annette Island. Meanwhile, warm weather (temperatures as much as 3 degrees F above normal) also encompassed Hawaii, where Honolulu, Oahu (92 degrees F), tallied a daily-record high on October 10. Showers were heaviest and most frequent in windward sections of the Big Island, where Hilo netted 2.88 inches from October 10-16. Elsewhere on the Big Island, Waiaha measured 3.80 inches in a 24-hour period on October 12-13. Toward week's end, heavy showers developed on Kauai, where Wailua collected 5.38 inches in 24 hours on October 15-16. National Agricultural Summary October 11 - 17, 2004 Highlights: Below-normal temperatures prevailed across the Nation's midsection, including the Great Plains, Corn Belt, Ohio Valley, and Mississippi Delta. Moderate precipitation, mostly from the remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew, limited fieldwork in the Delta and lower Corn Belt. Conditions were mostly dry across the Great Plains, favoring summer crop maturation and harvest. Along the Pacific Coast and in the northern and central Rocky Mountains, warm, dry weather aided winter wheat planting. Temperatures were below normal in Florida and the middle Atlantic Coast States but above normal elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast, with light to moderate rainfall. Corn: Maturation advanced to 95 percent complete, 2 percentage points behind last year and 3 points behind normal. Growers had harvested 44 percent of their acreage, compared with 51 percent last year and 53 percent for the 5-year average. The crop was mature or nearly mature in most States but remained well behind normal in the upper Midwest, trailing the average pace by 43 points in North Dakota. Harvest progress was 1 week behind normal across most of the central Great Plains and northern Corn Belt and over 2 weeks behind normal in the Dakotas. Winter Wheat: Planting reached 78 percent complete, 2 points behind last year but the same as the average. Fifty-seven percent of the acreage had emerged, the same as last year but 4 points ahead of normal. Growers in the eastern Corn Belt progressed rapidly, planting 22 percent of the crop in Indiana and 21 percent in Michigan, despite rainfall late in the week. Planting also progressed well in the Northwest, advancing 21 points in Idaho and 20 points in Oregon. Emergence was most active in the eastern Corn Belt, where over one-fourth of Michigan's and Ohio's crop emerged. Soybeans: Leaf dropping, at 97 percent complete, was the same as last year and the 5-year average. Harvest advanced to 71 percent complete, compared with 70 percent for last year and the average. Dropping leaves neared completion in most States but was 13 points behind normal in North Carolina, at 55 percent complete. With mostly dry weather, harvest progressed rapidly in the northern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, advancing 28 points in North Dakota, 33 points in South Dakota, and 29 points in Wisconsin. Minnesota growers harvested 17 percent of their acreage but remained 27 points behind normal. Cotton: Bolls were open on 85 percent the of acreage, 2 points behind last year and 9 points behind normal. Harvest reached 36 percent complete, 3 points ahead of last year but 6 points behind the normal pace. Although the open bolls stage was at or near completion in most States, the crop remained well behind normal in Texas, where just 68 percent of the acreage had open bolls, over 3 weeks behind normal. California growers harvested 20 percent of their acreage under warm, dry conditions. Harvest progress advanced 12 points in Georgia, 15 points in North Carolina, and 11 points in Virginia, but was limited to 10 points or less elsewhere. Sorghum: Eighty-one percent of the crop was mature, compared with 77 percent last year and 90 percent for the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 49 percent of their acreage, 2 points behind last year and 18 points behind normal. Maturation advanced 13 points in Kansas and Nebraska and 12 points in Colorado but was limited to 8 points or fewer elsewhere. Progress was over 2 weeks behind normal in New Mexico and Oklahoma and 3 weeks behind in Texas. Nebraska and South Dakota producers harvested 16 percent of their acreage but remained over 1 week behind normal. Progress was 2 weeks behind the normal pace in Kansas and New Mexico and over 5 weeks behind in Texas. Rice: Harvest advanced to 96 percent complete, 5 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. Arkansas growers harvested 7 percent of their acreage, nearing completion with 97 percent. In California, harvest advanced 10 points to 90 percent complete, 13 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States. Other Crops: Peanut growers had harvested 60 percent of their acreage, compared with 57 percent last year and 61 percent for the 5-year average. In North Carolina, harvest advanced 28 points to 80 percent complete, 30 points ahead of normal. Growers harvested 19 percent of the acreage in Georgia and 20 percent in Oklahoma but were 7 and 8 points behind normal, respectively. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 67 percent complete, 2 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. Minnesota and North Dakota growers harvested 35 percent of their acreage, advancing to 90 and 91 percent complete, respectively. Meanwhile, just 9 percent of Michigan's acreage had been harvested, over 3 weeks behind normal. Fourteen percent of the sunflower crop had been harvested, 40 points behind last year's pace and 24 points behind normal. Thirty-two percent of Colorado's acreage had been harvested, 5 points ahead of normal, while progress trailed the normal pace by 25 to 30 points in Kansas and the Dakotas. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 89 67 100 99 IL : 100 99 99 100 IN : 99 96 95 98 IA : 100 94 100 100 KS : 100 98 100 100 KY : 100 100 99 99 MI : 90 66 92 94 MN : 95 83 99 98 MO : 100 100 100 100 NE : 91 84 96 98 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 57 41 100 100 OH : 94 88 86 92 PA : 96 93 70 82 SD : 93 83 100 98 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 72 45 98 93 : 18 Sts: 95 88 97 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 29 20 47 36 IL : 74 64 60 66 IN : 60 47 32 47 IA : 30 16 48 48 KS : 73 64 85 83 KY : 88 83 81 89 MI : 19 13 15 26 MN : 14 4 61 46 MO : 78 72 81 82 NE : 31 19 39 50 NC : 97 95 96 87 ND : 4 1 56 34 OH : 38 25 18 30 PA : 53 49 28 39 SD : 14 9 41 36 TN : 97 95 94 96 TX : 91 80 91 94 WI : 13 5 31 28 : 18 Sts: 44 34 51 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 89 82 74 81 IL : 100 98 99 99 IN : 99 98 98 99 IA : 100 98 100 99 KS : 95 90 94 97 KY : 93 87 99 97 LA : 93 90 93 96 MI : 94 91 99 98 MN : 99 99 99 99 MS : 100 100 98 99 MO : 94 90 93 95 NE : 99 98 99 99 NC : 55 51 69 68 ND : 100 98 100 100 OH : 97 94 99 100 SD : 100 100 100 100 TN : 90 83 84 90 WI : 95 84 100 98 : 18 Sts: 97 94 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 60 55 41 44 IL : 78 70 75 74 IN : 82 73 58 67 IA : 91 81 91 83 KS : 61 52 30 61 KY : 45 37 31 45 LA : 72 70 67 76 MI : 52 40 62 52 MN : 59 42 95 86 MS : 96 95 87 78 MO : 47 39 36 52 NE : 80 63 81 79 NC : 10 7 7 11 ND : 79 51 94 86 OH : 70 61 59 68 SD : 76 43 88 74 TN : 44 37 29 35 WI : 57 28 70 61 : 18 Sts: 71 58 70 70 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 7 30 23 CA : 10 7 10 12 CO : 100 97 99 98 ID : 89 68 93 87 IL : 51 34 50 61 IN : 66 44 53 57 KS : 80 70 83 86 MI : 84 63 71 75 MO : 27 22 48 48 MT : 98 92 96 91 NE : 96 91 98 98 NC : 19 12 21 21 OH : 74 58 64 73 OK : 81 78 84 78 OR : 80 60 61 52 SD : 94 87 96 93 TX : 71 68 79 71 WA : 95 86 96 95 : 18 Sts: 78 70 80 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 1 13 8 CA : 3 2 3 4 CO : 94 80 81 81 ID : 38 24 45 41 IL : 20 6 20 25 IN : 21 9 19 24 KS : 57 43 59 59 MI : 40 12 30 38 MO : 12 6 26 23 MT : 73 63 55 57 NE : 85 71 88 87 NC : 6 4 9 11 OH : 35 9 18 34 OK : 68 49 70 54 OR : 31 14 29 24 SD : 68 55 59 67 TX : 49 44 57 45 WA : 83 66 78 80 : 18 Sts: 57 44 57 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 97 94 95 97 AZ : 100 99 100 100 AR : 99 98 92 98 CA : 98 95 98 98 GA : 96 94 92 93 LA : 98 96 100 100 MS : 99 97 99 100 MO : 100 97 90 98 NC : 100 99 91 95 OK : 91 87 96 95 SC : 93 91 79 89 TN : 99 98 93 98 TX : 68 61 77 90 VA : 99 95 78 89 : 14 Sts: 85 81 87 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 39 37 35 44 AZ : 27 20 19 30 AR : 49 43 43 57 CA : 35 15 16 23 GA : 33 21 28 32 LA : 54 45 78 80 MS : 72 62 68 67 MO : 46 40 34 62 NC : 40 25 11 20 OK : 22 20 21 34 SC : 33 23 15 28 TN : 40 35 30 57 TX : 22 21 27 36 VA : 28 17 9 25 : 14 Sts: 36 29 33 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 60 48 93 86 IL : 99 97 94 98 KS : 81 68 71 89 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 95 91 92 96 NE : 89 76 97 96 NM : 19 12 52 70 OK : 61 60 84 88 SD : 93 85 99 96 TX : 80 79 71 88 : 11 Sts: 81 74 77 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 95 99 99 CO : 17 12 38 34 IL : 69 67 27 62 KS : 34 27 34 58 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 59 56 64 73 NE : 30 14 45 52 NM : 2 1 10 17 OK : 44 43 51 59 SD : 39 23 78 58 TX : 62 61 62 79 : 11 Sts: 49 44 51 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 90 95 95 CA : 90 80 67 77 LA : 100 100 99 99 MS : 98 97 96 93 MO : 86 83 90 86 TX : 100 100 100 100 : 6 Sts : 96 91 91 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 71 69 79 73 FL : 80 65 87 83 GA : 63 44 69 70 NC : 80 52 42 50 OK : 43 23 41 51 TX : 30 23 15 29 VA : 74 55 51 73 : 7 Sts : 60 45 57 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 97% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 31 18 31 34 MI : 9 5 20 38 MN : 90 55 91 90 ND : 91 56 93 95 : 4 Sts : 67 41 69 73 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 84% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 32 27 36 27 KS : 23 18 43 53 ND : 8 2 54 33 SD : 21 9 62 49 : 4 Sts : 14 7 54 38 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 87% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 17, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 6 12 48 31 IL : 1 2 13 57 27 IN : 2 3 11 46 38 IA : 2 5 18 49 26 KS : 4 7 16 47 26 KY : 1 3 14 40 42 MI : 4 12 32 37 15 MN : 3 6 24 50 17 MO : 1 4 14 53 28 NE : 2 5 17 48 28 NC : 1 3 26 59 11 ND : 9 19 28 38 6 OH : 2 6 20 45 27 PA : 0 4 13 41 42 SD : 3 6 21 51 19 TN : 0 2 9 47 42 TX : 0 2 13 49 36 WI : 4 12 27 36 21 : 18 Sts : 2 5 18 49 26 : Prev Wk : 3 5 18 49 25 Prev Yr : 7 12 28 40 13 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 17, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 11 24 22 29 14 AZ : 0 0 20 45 35 AR : 0 1 18 41 40 CA : 0 0 0 40 60 GA : 9 21 38 28 4 LA : 1 12 34 47 6 MS : 1 6 17 49 27 MO : 0 0 24 49 27 NC : 0 3 18 61 18 OK : 2 2 41 47 8 SC : 0 5 26 62 7 TN : 0 1 10 53 36 TX : 4 9 21 49 17 VA : 0 1 19 57 23 : 14 Sts : 3 8 21 47 21 : Prev Wk : 4 9 21 45 21 Prev Yr : 8 13 29 36 14 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 17, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 2 35 51 11 CO : 1 15 37 39 8 IL : 0 1 9 68 22 KS : 3 9 25 45 18 LA : 0 6 52 42 0 MO : 0 4 25 55 16 NE : 3 9 42 38 8 NM : 0 2 49 40 9 OK : 0 1 33 52 14 SD : 11 22 39 25 3 TX : 1 7 24 49 19 : 11 Sts : 2 8 28 46 16 : Prev Wk : 2 8 28 46 16 Prev Yr : 16 29 32 20 3 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 17, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 6 34 50 7 FL : 0 1 19 80 0 GA : 4 12 38 39 7 NC : 0 1 10 77 12 OK : 0 4 20 65 11 TX : 6 12 22 43 17 VA : 0 0 14 70 16 : 8 Sts : 3 9 29 50 9 : Prev Wk : 3 8 27 52 10 Prev Yr : 1 4 26 51 18 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2003 planted acres. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 17, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 16 38 42 3 :: NJ : 0 0 70 30 0 AZ : 23 36 17 18 6 :: NM : 5 15 33 38 9 AR : 10 25 39 21 5 :: NY : 2 7 29 50 12 CA : 65 35 0 0 0 :: NC : 0 1 14 68 17 CO : 4 21 45 26 4 :: ND : 23 18 29 27 3 CT : 0 16 31 53 0 :: OH : 2 10 27 47 14 DE : 0 2 13 77 8 :: OK : 2 10 31 48 9 FL : 5 15 35 40 5 :: OR : 4 22 36 36 2 GA : 0 4 35 56 5 :: PA : 5 5 26 51 13 ID : 1 16 41 42 0 :: RI : 0 0 20 80 0 IL : 4 16 36 40 4 :: SC : 0 2 25 66 7 IN : 9 25 37 27 2 :: SD : 13 20 31 31 5 IA : 6 17 32 38 7 :: TN : 1 6 31 55 7 KS : 5 20 37 33 5 :: TX : 3 9 34 43 11 KY : 6 14 32 37 11 :: UT : 6 17 41 36 0 LA : 6 22 48 23 1 :: VT : 4 27 41 20 8 ME : 0 7 38 38 17 :: VA : 0 1 16 56 27 MD : 0 7 26 44 23 :: WA : 0 7 37 56 0 MA : 0 0 15 85 0 :: WV : 1 9 24 55 11 MI : 9 27 38 18 8 :: WI : 6 16 41 34 3 MN : 2 9 34 50 5 :: WY : 38 23 20 15 4 MS : 4 22 39 32 3 :: : MO : 5 17 31 40 7 :: 48 Sts : 10 16 31 37 6 MT : 18 25 37 17 3 :: : NE : 18 26 31 24 1 :: Prev Wk: 11 16 32 34 7 NV : 19 32 45 4 0 :: Prev Yr: 15 22 29 28 6 NH : 0 2 14 80 4 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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