We 1 (4-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 19, 2005, 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 92, No. 16 April 10 - 16, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Drier conditions allowed spring planting operations to resume in most of the Southeast, while locally heavy rain hampered early-week fieldwork in the Delta. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms in the western Corn Belt slowed fieldwork but boosted pre-planting moisture reserves. In contrast, dry weather reduced topsoil moisture in parts of the eastern Corn Belt and the lower Great Lakes region. Farther west, snow fell early in the week from eastern Colorado into parts of the western Dakotas. Just to the east, a band of locally heavy rain affected areas from Kansas to the eastern Dakotas. Later in the week, some much-needed precipitation overspread Montana's High Plains. With respect to the winter wheat crop, dryness-related concerns including significant subsoil moisture shortages on the northern High Plains and diminishing topsoil moisture reserves on the southern Plains, especially in Oklahoma. Spring fieldwork, including cotton planting, advanced under dry conditions in California and the Southwest. Meanwhile in the Northwest, winter wheat and spring-sown small grains continued to benefit from occasional showers and topsoil moisture improvements. Nevertheless, projected summer water supplies remained a major concern for irrigated Northwestern crops due to the minimal summer runoff expected from meager high-elevation snow packs. In addition, Northwestern fruit producers monitored the effects of several cold mornings--the coldest of which was April 13 in most locations--on blooming trees. Late in the week, frosts and freezes were also noted in the East as far south as the southern Mid-Atlantic States, although most of the region's fruit trees were not yet advanced to stages susceptible to the cold weather. Cool weather in the East and West Coast States contrasted with a third consecutive week of warm weather in most areas from the Plains to the Appalachians. Weekly temperatures ranged from as much as 8 degrees F below normal in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain to 12 degrees F above normal in parts of the upper Midwest. Early in the week, warm weather prevailed across the Midwest in advance of a strong spring storm. On April 10, Muskegon, MI (76 degrees F), collected a daily-record high, while locations such as LaCrosse, WI, and Indianapolis, IN (both 80 degrees F), tallied their first readings at or above 80 degrees F since September 2004. Farther west, Denver, CO, collected a daily-record precipitation total (1.09 inches on April 10) and measured 9.9 inches of snow on April 10-11. Storm-total snowfalls in excess of 2 feet were noted in the nearby Colorado Rockies. Farther north, Valentine, NE (5.6 inches), observed a daily-record snowfall for April 11, while Bismarck, ND (0.84 inch), reported its rainiest day since September 23, 2004, when 0.93 inch fell. Elsewhere on April 11, daily-record rainfall totals were observed in several Southern and Midwestern locations, including Shreveport, LA (4.00 inches), El Dorado, AR (3.12 inches), and Ames, IA (2.23 inches). Meanwhile, heavy rain finally subsided by mid-week in the Southeast. Pensacola, FL, measured 4.13 inches of rain on April 11-12, boosting its month-to-date total to 17.67 inches. Counting a 7.48-inch deluge on March 31, Pensacola's 13-day (March 31 - April 12) rainfall totaled 25.15 inches. Through April 16, Pensacola set records for its wettest April (previously, 17.03 inches in 1937) and wettest March-May period (30.60 inches; previously, 27.79 inches in 1937). At mid-week, cool air settled into the Northwest, where Yakima, WA (20 degrees F on April 13), tied its monthly record low (previously, 20 degrees F on April 21, 1985). A day later, records for April 14 included 11 degrees F in Ely, NV; 23 degrees F in Yakima; and 38 degrees F in Bakersfield, CA. The Northwestern chill lingered into April 15, when daily records were tied in Ephrata, WA (27 degrees F), and Pendleton, OR (28 degrees F). Ephrata had reported a lower temperature (25 degrees F) on April 13, but had just missed its record low (24 degrees F in 1968) for that date. Farther east, Martinsburg, WV, reported consecutive freezes (28 and 29 degrees F) on April 16-17. Daily-record lows for April 17 were reported in Mid-Atlantic locations such as Salisbury, MD (28 degrees F), and Georgetown, DE (29 degrees F). Prior to the arrival of the Eastern chill, heavy surf and high winds affected the Atlantic Seaboard. In eastern North Carolina, a wind gust to 63 m.p.h. was clocked in Hatteras Village on April 15. Unsettled conditions prevailed for much of the week in the Pacific Northwest, but stormy weather pushed farther inland toward week's end. Along the Oregon coast, Astoria netted a daily-record rainfall of 1.92 inches on April 15. Scattered showers and thunderstorms also developed across the Southwest at week's end, when Albuquerque, NM, measured 0.61 inch on April 16. For the year-to-date, Albuquerque's precipitation reached 5.05 inches (279 percent of normal). Windy weather preceded the late-week Western storminess, resulting in a wind gust to 78 m.p.h. (on April 13) in Wendover, UT. Very warm weather (up to 5 degrees F above normal) prevailed in Hawaii, accompanied by locally heavy showers in windward locations. On Oahu, Honolulu posted highs of 87 degrees F on 5 consecutive days from April 11-15. Two of Honolulu's highs (on April 11 and 15) tied daily-record highs. On the Big Island, Mountain View collected a weekly rainfall total of 8.42 inches, including a 24-hour sum of 2.36 inches on April 11-12. Farther north, cold, dry weather overspread much of Alaska. Temperatures averaged as much as 8 degrees F below normal in Alaska, despite some early-week warmth. Anchorage tallied a daily-record high of 52 degrees F on April 11, followed by a daily-record low (24 degrees F) in Juneau just 4 days later. By April 17, temperatures fell below -20 degrees F across parts of interior Alaska, where Galena (-21 degrees F) notched a daily-record low. Through April 17, month-to-date Alaskan precipitation totals were as low as a trace (0.34 inch below normal) in McGrath and 0.02 inch (0.24 inch below normal) in Anchorage. National Agricultural Summary April 11 - 17, 2005 Highlights: Temperatures were mild across most of the Nation, particularly in the Corn Belt. Along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, however, below-normal temperatures prevailed. Thunderstorms in the Mississippi Delta limited fieldwork. Though conditions in the Southeast were drier than in previous weeks, soggy conditions continued to delay planting. Mostly dry weather the Ohio Valley was favorable for fieldwork. Despite heavy rain early in the week, planting progressed well in the central Corn Belt. Subsoil moisture shortages remained a problem in the northern Great Plains, despite light to moderate rainfall in the Dakotas early in the week. In the central Rockies and central Great Plains, a snowstorm late last week left as much as 2 feet of snow on the ground in some areas, slowing fieldwork early in the week but increasing soil moisture. Topsoil moisture levels declined in the southern Great Plains under mostly dry conditions. Light rainfall in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains continued to boost soil moisture, benefitting pastures and winter grains. Dry conditions in California were favorable for fieldwork, allowing cotton planting to progress after delays in recent weeks due to soggy conditions. Corn: Growers had planted 14 percent of their acreage, 4 percentage points behind last year but 4 points ahead of normal. In Illinois, where 35 percent of the crop had been planted, progress was 19 points ahead of the 5-year average. Meanwhile, planting was well behind normal in the Tennessee Valley and Southeast, where soggy conditions limited fieldwork. Planting had not yet begun across the northern Great Plains and northern Corn Belt, except in Michigan, where 9 percent of the acreage was planted, well ahead of normal. Winter Wheat: Eight percent of the crop was headed, compared with 10 percent last year and 9 percent for the 5-year average. Heading was most advanced in California, where 86 percent of the crop had reached the stage, 12 points ahead of normal. In Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, 18 percent of more of the crop was headed, but fields in the Pacific Northwest, northern and central Great Plains, and Corn Belt had not begun heading. Cotton: Planting reached 11 percent complete, 4 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Texas growers had planted 18 percent of their acreage, the same as last year but 3 points ahead of normal. However, planting progress was behind normal in most other States. In California, where soggy conditions prevented planting in previous weeks, only 30 percent of the acreage had been planted, 51 points behind last year and 21 points behind the 5-year average. Sorghum: Producers had planted 15 percent of their crop, the same as last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Planting was most advanced in Texas, where 45 percent of the acreage had been seeded, 2 points ahead of normal. Planting was most active in the Delta, advancing 11 points in Arkansas and 10 points in Louisiana. However, progress elsewhere was limited to 4 points or less. Rice: Planting was 22 percent complete, 21 points behind last year and 12 points behind normal. Eleven percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 19 percent last year and 15 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progress was behind normal in all States, but nowhere more than in the Delta, where Arkansas growers were 18 points behind their normal pace and Louisiana growers were 12 points behind due to soggy conditions. Meanwhile, emergence advanced to 44 percent complete in Texas and 41 percent complete in Louisiana. Emergence had not yet begun in California or Missouri and was behind the normal pace in the remaining States. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting advanced to 23 percent complete, 8 points behind last year but 6 points ahead of the 5-year average. In Washington, 89 percent of the acreage had been sown, 20 points ahead of normal. South Dakota growers, with 69 percent of their acreage planted, were 26 points ahead of normal. In Minnesota, where persistent rainfall limited fieldwork, just 5 percent of the acreage had been planted, compared with the normal 11 percent. Barley planting, at 19 percent complete, was 12 points behind last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Planting was most advanced in Washington, at 58 percent complete. North Dakota growers had planted just 6 percent of their acreage but were 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. In the northern Rocky Mountains, planting progressed 11 points in Idaho and 13 points in Montana. Oat growers had planted 55 percent of their acreage, compared with 57 percent last year and 46 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed rapidly in the Ohio Valley, advancing 38 points in Ohio and 35 points in Pennsylvania. South Dakota growers also progressed well, sowing 26 percent of their acreage during the week. Planting was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Minnesota. Other Crops: Sugarbeet planting reached 28 percent complete, 19 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Michigan producers planted nearly 60 percent of their acreage during the week, reaching 91 percent complete, 48 points ahead of normal. Planting was just getting underway in the Red River Valley. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 NA 2 2 IL : 35 NA 35 16 IN : 12 NA 13 6 IA : 6 NA 16 5 KS : 22 NA 29 21 KY : 20 NA 55 35 MI : 9 NA 4 1 MN : 0 NA 5 2 MO : 49 NA 62 42 NE : 5 NA 6 4 NC : 32 NA 49 42 ND : 0 NA 3 1 OH : 9 NA 3 3 PA : 5 NA 3 2 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 31 NA 67 49 TX : 64 NA 63 59 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 14 NA 18 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 18 NA 31 26 CA : 86 NA 84 74 CO : 0 NA 0 0 ID : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 0 NA 0 0 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 1 NA 3 2 MT : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 7 NA 13 22 OH : 0 NA 1 0 OK : 18 NA 22 17 OR : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 19 NA 26 25 WA : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 8 NA 10 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 9 1 11 10 AZ : 27 19 31 37 AR : 1 0 2 1 CA : 30 *10 81 51 GA : 2 1 4 4 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 6 1 6 5 MS : 0 0 4 4 MO : 2 0 3 3 NC : 0 0 1 2 OK : 0 0 0 1 SC : 3 1 5 5 TN : 0 0 3 1 TX : 18 15 18 15 : 14 Sts: 11 8 15 12 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 19 8 29 31 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 1 1 0 0 LA : 35 25 29 18 MO : 2 0 7 3 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 4 2 3 4 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 45 41 48 43 : 11 Sts: 15 13 15 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 13 6 44 31 CA : 0 0 3 3 LA : 62 46 77 74 MS : 11 4 22 19 MO : 7 7 40 12 TX : 68 44 79 74 : 6 Sts : 22 14 43 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 NA 7 5 CA : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 41 NA 63 56 MS : 3 NA 10 6 MO : 0 NA 1 1 TX : 44 NA 68 54 : 6 Sts : 11 NA 19 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 87 73 86 66 MN : 14 4 43 22 NE : 85 73 81 67 ND : 9 4 9 4 OH : 48 10 28 36 PA : 50 15 22 25 SD : 59 33 60 35 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 31 16 38 24 : 9 Sts : 55 43 57 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 60 38 66 50 MN : 5 1 22 11 MT : 16 6 25 11 ND : 11 3 17 8 SD : 69 39 72 43 WA : 89 79 93 69 : 6 Sts : 23 12 31 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 32 21 48 41 MN : 4 0 12 7 MT : 24 11 43 18 ND : 6 1 8 3 WA : 58 48 88 54 : 5 Sts : 19 11 31 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 17,:Apr 10,:Apr 17,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 79 34 93 70 MI : 91 32 84 43 MN : 1 0 33 11 ND : 1 0 16 6 : 4 Sts : 28 11 47 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 17, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 8 41 44 7 CA : 0 2 11 27 60 CO : 1 9 28 43 19 ID : 0 0 5 83 12 IL : 1 9 26 54 10 IN : 1 6 23 56 14 KS : 1 3 20 59 17 MI : 2 5 33 53 7 MO : 2 7 33 50 8 MT : 2 7 32 45 14 NE : 1 4 30 52 13 NC : 0 3 23 65 9 OH : 1 4 19 55 21 OK : 1 8 31 48 12 OR : 1 5 23 67 4 SD : 1 2 17 60 20 TX : 2 8 24 45 21 WA : 1 2 22 62 13 : 18 Sts : 1 5 25 53 16 : Prev Wk : 1 5 24 53 17 Prev Yr : 8 15 31 38 8 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2004 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. 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