We 1 (10-04) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 26, 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. 43 October 17 - 23, 2004 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A favorable start to the 2004-05 Western wet season benefited emerging winter grains, aided drought-stressed pastures and rangelands, and provided some relief from a multi-year drought. In addition, heavy snow blanketed high-elevation areas from the Sierra Nevada to the Wasatch Range. Farther east, light but beneficial rain and snow fell on the drought-affected northern High Plains, although cold weather slowed winter wheat emergence. Elsewhere on the Plains, dry weather and late-season warmth favored summer crop maturation and fieldwork, including harvest activities and final winter wheat planting. From the Mississippi River eastward to the western slopes of the Appalachians, widespread, locally heavy rainfall slowed fieldwork but boosted soil moisture reserves for cool-season pastures and winter grains. Harvest activities advanced more quickly in the western Corn Belt, where warm, mostly dry weather prevailed. Farther south, record warmth prevailed in the western Gulf Coast region, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 15 degrees F above normal and readings frequently topped 90 degrees F. A variety of conditions prevailed in the Atlantic Coast States, ranging from cool, dry weather in northern New England to above-normal temperatures and occasional showers in the Southeast. In between, cool weather and persistent showers affected the northern Mid-Atlantic region. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal in parts of the Northeast, northern High Plains, and West. Western storminess shattered several long-standing precipitation records. The Nevada Division of Forestry at Mt. Charleston, near Las Vegas, netted 9.78 inches of rain on October 20. Nevada's previous 24-hour precipitation record was established on January 31, 1963, when 7.13 inches fell in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe at the Mt. Rose Highway Station. Farther east, October 21 was the wettest October day on record in Utah locations such as Kanab (2.67 inches; previously, 1.75 inches on October 5, 1925), Zion National Park (2.40 inches; previously, 1.48 inches on October 31, 1992), and Cedar City (1.70 inches; previously, 1.40 inches on October 13, 1996). October 21 was the wettest day on record in Milford, UT, where 3.00 inches fell (previously, 1.80 inches on July 3, 1934). Elsewhere in Utah, Zion National Park's Lava Point netted 10.18 inches of rain from October 17-21, including 7.13 inches in a 24-hour period. Nearby Midway Valley, UT, in Cedar Breaks National Monument, measured 10.80 inches of precipitation and 45 inches of snow. Alta, in Utah's Wasatch Range, received 4 to 5 feet of snow. Farther south, 5.5 inches of snow blanketed Flagstaff, AZ, on October 21. Last year, Flagstaff's first measurable snowfall (0.4 inches) occurred on December 8, and the city's season-to-date snowfall finally topped 5 inches on January 20, 2004. In southern California, 48-hour (October 18-20) rainfall exceeded 10 inches in a few locations, including Mt. Baldy (10.37 inches). Santa Ana, CA, collected 3.15 inches of rain on October 20, surpassing its record for the entire month of October (1.89 inches in 1957). The wettest October day on record in Alpine, CA (2.32 inches on October 20), pushed the month-to-date rainfall to an October-record sum of 6.57 inches (previously, 3.94 inches in 1974). Similarly, southern California's Mt. Palomar collected 6.57 inches of rain in a 24-hour period on October 19-20 (previously, the October daily record was 3.66 inches on October 29, 1974), boosting its 5-day total to 12.02 inches. Mt. Palomar's former October monthly record of 4.04 inches was established in 1974. Finally, San Diego, CA, clocked a southerly wind gust to 39 m.p.h. on October 20, breaking its monthly record (31 m.p.h. from the north) established on October 8, 1961. Heavy rain also fell from the Mississippi Valley eastward to the Appalachians, setting a few daily records. London, KY, received 2.01 inches on October 18, followed the next day by daily-record totals in locations such as Muscle Shoals, AL (3.05 inches), and Chattanooga, TN (2.17 inches). Another round of rain toward week's end produced daily records in Watertown, SD (1.15 inches on October 22), and West Plains, MO (1.55 inches on October 23). Late in the week, heavy rain also developed in parts of Texas, where daily records included 3.60 inches (on October 22) in Waco and 3.43 inches (on October 23) in Austin-Bergstrom. Prior to the arrival of Texas' rain, summer-like heat prevailed. Dallas-Ft. Worth (93 degrees F) posted a daily-record high on October 18, followed the next day by record highs of 96 degrees F in McAllen and 94 degrees F in Houston, Waco, and Harlingen. In fact, Houston logged record highs on four consecutive days (94, 93, 93, and 91 degrees F) from October 19-22. Farther north, the week ended in Cheyenne, WY, without the season's first freeze (32 degrees F or lower). Cheyenne's latest first freeze was observed on October 27, 1963. Cool weather in southeastern Alaska (weekly temperatures as much as 5 degrees F below normal) contrasted with mild conditions (more than 10 degrees F above normal in many locations) across the Alaskan mainland. On October 19, daily-record lows were set at several location in southeastern Alaska, including Juneau (20 degrees F). Meanwhile, daily-record highs included 53 degrees F (on October 18) in King Salmon and 41 degrees F (on October 20) in McGrath. Precipitation continued to ease long-term dryness in east-central Alaska, where Fairbanks netted 4 inches of snow and a daily-record precipitation total (0.36 inch) on October 19. Meanwhile, warm weather accompanied scattered showers in Hawaii. On Kauai, Lihue (86 degrees F) posted a daily-record high on October 20. On the Big Island, weekly rainfall at Hilo totaled 4.41 inches, including 2.51 inches on October 19. National Agricultural Summary October 18 - 24, 2004 Highlights: The winter wet season began in the western part of the Nation, with below-normal temperatures and moderate to locally heavy precipitation, including some snow in the higher elevations, across much of the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain region, and northern and central Rocky Mountains. Though the precipitation was beneficial for winter wheat condition, crop development was slowed by the cool weather. With the exception of the northeastern Corn Belt and middle and northern Atlantic Coast States, mild temperatures prevailed across the rest of the Nation, with temperatures over 9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across most of the Delta and eastern Texas. Moderate to heavy rainfall limited fieldwork in the southern Corn Belt, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and interior areas of the Southeast. Across the southern and central Great Plains, warm, dry weather was favorable for winter wheat planting and emergence and harvesting of summer crops, while light precipitation hampered fieldwork in the northern-most areas of the region. Corn: Fifty-five percent of the crop had been harvested, 12 percentage points behind last year and 13 points behind normal. Harvest progress remained well behind normal across the northern and central Great Plains and western Corn Belt, trailing the normal pace by 49 points in North Dakota, 40 points in Minnesota, and 32 points in South Dakota. Meanwhile, harvest neared completion in the Southeast, reaching 99 percent in North Carolina and Tennessee. Winter Wheat: Growers had planted 85 percent of their acreage, 2 points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Emergence advanced to 68 percent complete, compared with 67 percent last year and 64 percent for the normal. Planting advanced slowly in areas that still had significant acreage left to be planted, hampered by rainy conditions. With just 3 to 4 days suitable for fieldwork, progress slipped to a week or more behind normal in the Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, emergence progressed well in the Ohio Valley, advancing 23 points in Indiana and 20 points in Ohio. However, the most rapid emergence was seen in Oregon, where 29 percent of the crop emerged, advancing to 25 points ahead of normal. Soybeans: Harvest reached 80 percent complete, 2 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Minnesota growers progressed rapidly, harvesting nearly one-third of their acreage under warm, mostly dry conditions. However, progress was limited to 14 points or less elsewhere, hampered by wet conditions in most growing areas. Cotton: Eighty-nine percent of the acreage had open bolls, compared with 92 percent last year and 96 percent for the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 44 percent of their acreage, 1 point ahead of last year but 7 points behind normal. The open boll stage was at or near completion in all regions, except the southern Great Plains. In Texas, 75 percent of the acreage had open bolls, 19 points behind normal. Harvest continued to progress slowly, advancing just 8 points nationwide. Growers harvested 21 percent of the crop in Louisiana, under mostly dry conditions, while California producers harvested one-fourth of their acreage, despite persistent showers. Elsewhere, however, progress was limited to a maximum of 13 points, with Texas's harvest advancing just 4 points during the week. Sorghum: Maturation was 89 percent complete, 6 points ahead of last year but 4 points behind normal. Harvest advanced to 55 percent complete, 4 points behind last year and 20 points behind the 5-year average. In Kansas and Texas, the two largest producing States, the crop progressed steadily through maturation, advancing to within a week of normal. However, harvest continued to progress slowly, remaining over 2 weeks behind the normal pace nationwide. Growers in Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and South Dakota were 2 weeks behind normal, while Texas growers were over 5 weeks behind. Other Crops: Sixty-eight percent of the peanut crop had been harvested, 2 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Oklahoma producers progressed the most during the week, harvesting 19 percent of their acreage, while progress was limited to 13 points or less elsewhere. Progress was at or behind the normal pace in all States, except North Carolina, where 91 percent of the acreage had been harvested, 23 points ahead of normal. Sugarbeet growers had harvested 80 percent of their acreage, compared with 83 percent last year and 84 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest advanced 33 points in Idaho, reaching 64 percent complete, 11 points ahead of normal. In Michigan, where harvest was over 3 weeks behind normal a week ago, growers harvested over one-fourth of their acreage, advancing to within 1 week of their normal pace. The sunflower harvest advanced to 19 percent complete, 57 points behind last year and 41 points behind normal. With developmental delays caused by below-normal summer temperatures, growers in Kansas and the Dakotas trailed the normal harvest pace by over 2 weeks. Meanwhile, Colorado producers, with 41 percent of their acreage harvested, were just 1 point behind normal. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 37 29 73 57 IL : 81 74 76 79 IN : 72 60 47 60 IA : 47 30 71 68 KS : 81 73 91 91 KY : 92 88 87 92 MI : 34 19 24 39 MN : 28 14 85 68 MO : 81 78 87 88 NE : 45 31 54 65 NC : 99 97 98 91 ND : 9 4 80 58 OH : 48 38 31 43 PA : 55 53 36 45 SD : 21 14 63 53 TN : 99 97 97 99 TX : 92 91 95 97 WI : 26 13 47 43 : 18 Sts: 55 44 67 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 63 60 57 57 IL : 81 78 87 86 IN : 87 82 78 81 IA : 95 91 97 94 KS : 73 61 49 75 KY : 53 45 52 58 LA : 83 72 79 84 MI : 65 52 83 71 MN : 91 59 99 94 MS : 97 96 91 86 MO : 57 47 53 67 NE : 91 80 92 91 NC : 12 10 12 16 ND : 81 79 99 94 OH : 73 70 77 79 SD : 90 76 96 91 TN : 45 44 43 48 WI : 67 57 88 78 : 18 Sts: 80 71 82 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 98 97 97 98 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 99 95 99 CA : 99 98 100 100 GA : 97 96 94 95 LA : 100 98 100 100 MS : 100 99 100 100 MO : 100 100 92 98 NC : 100 100 95 98 OK : 94 91 98 97 SC : 97 93 86 93 TN : 100 99 96 99 TX : 75 68 86 94 VA : 100 99 87 94 : 14 Sts: 89 85 92 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 41 39 49 54 AZ : 28 27 28 41 AR : 56 49 58 70 CA : 60 35 34 46 GA : 44 33 38 43 LA : 75 54 90 86 MS : 78 72 81 77 MO : 48 46 48 72 NC : 53 40 23 30 OK : 34 22 36 44 SC : 45 33 25 38 TN : 42 40 43 68 TX : 26 22 32 41 VA : 40 28 24 35 : 14 Sts: 44 36 43 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 17 11 48 38 CA : 19 10 17 18 CO : 100 100 100 100 ID : 94 89 98 94 IL : 61 51 73 80 IN : 76 66 80 77 KS : 88 80 90 92 MI : 93 84 89 90 MO : 39 27 62 64 MT : 99 98 99 96 NE : 98 96 100 100 NC : 24 19 26 27 OH : 82 74 83 86 OK : 89 81 91 85 OR : 85 80 73 71 SD : 97 94 99 97 TX : 82 71 83 77 WA : 98 95 99 98 : 18 Sts: 85 78 87 85 -------------------------------------- 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 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 3 28 18 CA : 7 3 5 7 CO : 99 94 86 89 ID : 54 38 55 54 IL : 38 20 41 49 IN : 44 21 47 47 KS : 70 57 69 71 MI : 56 40 55 59 MO : 23 12 40 38 MT : 82 73 75 70 NE : 92 85 95 94 NC : 10 6 12 15 OH : 55 35 44 59 OK : 76 68 79 65 OR : 60 31 38 35 SD : 78 68 71 78 TX : 62 49 65 53 WA : 85 83 84 87 : 18 Sts: 68 57 67 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 96 CO : 82 60 98 94 IL : 100 99 96 98 KS : 90 81 81 93 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 95 95 98 NE : 95 89 99 99 NM : 32 19 57 83 OK : 71 61 88 91 SD : 97 93 100 99 TX : 89 80 77 91 : 11 Sts: 89 81 83 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 99 CO : 25 17 48 49 IL : 79 69 46 72 KS : 43 34 47 70 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 64 59 73 82 NE : 43 30 60 69 NM : 5 2 17 28 OK : 54 44 61 67 SD : 54 39 88 72 TX : 66 62 64 82 : 11 Sts: 55 49 59 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 75 71 88 81 FL : 91 80 94 92 GA : 72 63 82 82 NC : 91 80 68 68 OK : 62 43 64 67 TX : 33 30 26 38 VA : 87 74 78 87 : 7 Sts : 68 60 70 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 97% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 64 31 45 53 MI : 36 9 62 57 MN : 94 90 99 98 ND : 96 91 100 100 : 4 Sts : 80 67 83 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 84% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1999- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 2003 : 2004 : 2004 : 2003 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 41 32 59 42 KS : 32 23 60 70 ND : 12 8 80 56 SD : 28 21 77 69 : 4 Sts : 19 14 76 60 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 87% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 24, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 2 4 12 48 34 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 : 3 11 30 35 21 MN : 2 7 28 47 16 MO : 1 4 14 53 28 NE : 2 4 14 47 33 NC : 1 3 26 59 11 ND : 12 16 36 31 5 OH : 2 6 19 45 28 PA : 0 4 13 41 42 SD : 3 5 18 49 25 TN : 0 2 9 47 42 TX : 0 2 13 49 36 WI : 5 13 24 44 14 : 18 Sts : 2 5 18 48 27 : Prev Wk : 2 5 18 49 26 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Oct 24, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 15 14 67 4 CA : 0 0 35 10 55 CO : 0 2 17 48 33 ID : 0 0 13 61 26 IL : 0 2 32 62 4 IN : 1 3 38 51 7 KS : 1 2 19 65 13 MI : 4 11 46 34 5 MO : 0 0 34 61 5 MT : 1 3 21 47 28 NE : 0 2 36 53 9 NC : 0 0 18 57 25 OH : 1 2 27 54 16 OK : 0 2 20 55 23 OR : 0 0 18 69 13 SD : 1 2 32 49 16 TX : 0 2 19 42 37 WA : 0 2 25 68 5 : 18 Sts : 0 2 22 56 20 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 5 12 30 44 9 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 24, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 11 17 25 32 15 AZ : 0 0 20 47 33 AR : 0 1 16 42 41 CA : 0 0 5 55 40 GA : 8 19 39 30 4 LA : 1 12 34 47 6 MS : 1 6 17 49 27 MO : 0 1 22 52 25 NC : 0 1 20 66 13 OK : 2 1 41 48 8 SC : 0 4 26 63 7 TN : 0 1 10 53 36 TX : 5 9 23 47 16 VA : 0 0 28 52 20 : 14 Sts : 3 8 23 47 19 : Prev Wk : 3 8 21 47 21 Prev Yr : 8 12 28 37 15 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 24, 2004 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 2 35 51 11 CO : 1 14 36 41 8 IL : 0 1 9 68 22 KS : 4 10 23 44 19 LA : 0 6 52 42 0 MO : 0 4 25 55 16 NE : 3 10 33 40 14 NM : 0 1 42 53 4 OK : 0 3 36 49 12 SD : 15 26 33 23 3 TX : 1 7 24 49 19 : 11 Sts : 3 9 26 45 17 : Prev Wk : 2 8 28 46 16 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. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 24, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 10 41 44 3 :: NJ : 0 0 75 25 0 AZ : 41 21 18 17 3 :: NM : 2 9 39 36 14 AR : 6 21 43 26 4 :: NY : 1 10 32 44 13 CA : 55 35 10 0 0 :: NC : 1 3 19 60 17 CO : 3 17 43 32 5 :: ND : 20 17 37 23 3 CT : 0 12 33 55 0 :: OH : 3 8 27 48 14 DE : 0 2 12 80 6 :: OK : 1 8 28 54 9 FL : 0 20 25 50 5 :: OR : 4 28 27 40 1 GA : 0 4 36 54 6 :: PA : 3 20 16 59 2 ID : 1 10 43 46 0 :: RI : 0 0 15 85 0 IL : 2 10 39 42 7 :: SC : 1 2 28 63 6 IN : 6 22 40 30 2 :: SD : 14 20 31 29 6 IA : 8 17 30 36 9 :: TN : 0 5 25 62 8 KS : 8 20 32 35 5 :: TX : 2 9 33 46 10 KY : 3 10 31 47 9 :: UT : 6 11 33 49 1 LA : 4 17 47 29 3 :: VT : 0 23 48 27 2 ME : 0 0 45 45 10 :: VA : 0 3 16 56 25 MD : 2 7 19 52 20 :: WA : 1 14 36 49 0 MA : 0 0 13 87 0 :: WV : 1 11 23 54 11 MI : 6 22 43 22 7 :: WI : 8 13 39 37 3 MN : 2 10 32 50 6 :: WY : 38 22 24 12 4 MS : 10 19 39 29 3 :: : MO : 2 13 33 46 6 :: 48 Sts : 9 15 32 38 6 MT : 23 25 34 15 3 :: : NE : 15 22 36 26 1 :: Prev Wk: 10 16 31 37 6 NV : 11 25 50 14 0 :: Prev Yr: 16 23 29 27 5 NH : 0 0 10 88 2 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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