We 1 (4-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 26, 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. 17 April 17 - 23, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Significant precipitation fell in the Northwest for the fifth consecutive week, maintaining favorable prospects for small grains and providing incremental drought relief. Nevertheless, Northwestern water-supply shortages remained a concern due to near-record dryness from October to mid-March and meager high-elevation snow packs. Farther south, scattered showers hampered fieldwork in California and the Southwest, while cool weather (as much as 5 degrees F below normal) slowed summer crop emergence and development. Meanwhile on the Plains, heavy precipitation, including some wet snow, aided pastures and winter grains from much of Wyoming and Montana eastward across Nebraska and southern and western South Dakota. Farther south, only scattered showers dampened the southern Plains, parts of which have experienced substantial topsoil moisture reductions in March and April. In contrast, heavy precipitation overspread much of the Corn Belt, slowing or halting fieldwork but reversing an April drying trend and providing beneficial moisture for winter grains and recently planted corn. Late in the week, rain changed to wet snow in parts of the eastern Corn Belt. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather prevailed for much of the week across the South, promoting rapid crop development and planting progress. Toward week's end, however, widespread showers preceded the return of cool weather, especially in the Southeast. Frosty conditions were reported early in the week (on April 17) in the East as far south as the southern Mid-Atlantic States, followed by a rapid warming trend. Warmer-than-normal weather prevailed for a fourth consecutive week in most areas from the Plains to the Appalachians, with temperatures averaging up to 10 degrees F above normal across the central Plains and western Corn Belt. At week's end, however, very cool air overspread areas from the Plains to the East Coast. On April 23 and 24, temperatures near or slightly below the freezing mark (32 degrees F) were not low enough to pose a significant threat to newly emerged corn in the southern Corn Belt or jointing winter wheat from the central High Plains eastward across the southern and eastern Corn Belt. On April 17, lingering cool weather in the Mid-Atlantic States resulted in daily-record lows in locations such as Salisbury, MD (28 degrees F), and Georgetown, DE (29 degrees F). Farther north and west, however, record highs for April 17 included 86 degrees F in East Rapid City, SD, and 74 degrees F in Bangor, ME. Elsewhere in Maine, warmth reached its peak in Portland on April 20, when the high of 85 degrees F tied its monthly record established on April 21, 1957. Warmth also overspread the Great Lakes States, where records for April 19 included 80 degrees F in Green Bay, WI, and 83 degrees F in Detroit, MI. Farther west, a developing storm system brought several days of locally heavy precipitation to the interior Northwest. In Montana, Billings measured three consecutive daily-record precipitation totals (0.97, 0.82, and 0.55 inch) from April 18-20. Billings' 4-day total (through April 21) reached 2.62 inches, including 20.0 inches of snow. At least 5 inches of snow blanketed Billings on 3 consecutive days (April 18-20) for only the second time on record (previously, April 10-12, 1991). Meanwhile, storm-total rainfall locally topped 4 inches at a few locations in western South Dakota, including Norris (Mellette County) and Harrington (Bennett County). Daily-record rainfall totals were reported in locations such as Mason City, IA (2.74 inches on April 19), and Valentine, NE (1.95 inches on April 21). Farther south, high winds raked parts of the Southwest on April 19, resulting in peak gusts to 63 m.p.h. in Winslow and 51 m.p.h. in Flagstaff. Toward week's end, record warmth arrived in the Northwest, while rapid weather changes were observed across the Midwest, South, and East. On April 22, daily-record highs in Washington reached 78 degrees F in Seattle and 77 degrees F in Hoquiam. Farther east, daily-record rainfall totals for April 22 included 2.34 inches in Indianapolis, IN, and 1.31 inches in Dayton, OH. On April 23-24, rain changed to snow in Dayton, totaling 0.6 inch. Much heavier accumulations were reported farther north, where April 23-25 totals in Michigan included 4.3 inches in Detroit and 8.0 inches in Flint. Farther west, lows on April 23 in western Kansas dipped to 26 degrees F in Goodland and 30 degrees F in Dodge City. Hastings, NE (29 degrees F), tied its record for April 23. A day later, record lows for April 24 included 21 degrees F in Huron, SD, 27 degrees F in Beckley, WV, 30 degrees F in Fayetteville, AR, and 31 degrees F in Ponca City, OK. In Alabama, Muscle Shoals' low of 36 degrees F on April 24 represented its lowest reading so late in the year since April 24, 1986. The late-week chill followed record or near-record Midwestern warmth during the first 3 weeks of April. In Madison, WI, the April 1-20 average temperature of 54.5 degrees F was the highest on record for the period, eclipsing the 1977 standard of 52.7 degrees F. Warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 4 degrees F above normal. Through April 24, month-to-date precipitation totals were as low as 0.29 inch (20 percent of normal) in Kahului, Maui, and 0.51 inch (55 percent) in Honolulu, Oahu. Farther north, chilly weather (as much as 10 degrees F below normal) across the Alaskan mainland contrasted with mild conditions (up to 4 degrees F above normal) in southeastern Alaska. Galena opened the week with three consecutive daily-record lows (-22, -21, and -16 degrees F) from April 17-19. In contrast, Annette Island posted consecutive daily-record highs (76 and 74 degrees F) on April 23-24. Alaskan precipitation was widespread and occasionally heavy, featuring a daily-record rainfall (1.07 inches on April 19) in Juneau and a record-setting snowfall (10.7 inches in a 24-hour period on April 18-19) at Denali National Park. Denali's snowfall eclipsed its 24-hour April record, previously established with a 7.5-inch total on April 8-9, 1981. National Agricultural Summary April 18 - 24, 2005 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures again prevailed across most of the Nation, most notably in the Corn Belt and Great Plains. However, temperatures dropped well below normal over the weekend, reaching near freezing in the central Corn Belt and below freezing in the northern Corn Belt and northern and central Great Plains. Temperatures were not low enough to damage newly emerged corn and jointing winter wheat in these areas. Persistent showers in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains continued to improve soil moisture conditions but caused planting delays in some areas. Mostly dry conditions in the southern Great Plains were beneficial for winter wheat development and summer crop planting but continued to cause topsoil moisture shortages. In the central Great Plains, another week of wet weather continued to hamper fieldwork but maintained favorable soil moisture levels. Planting rapidly advanced in the Delta under warm, dry conditions. Though precipitation totals in the Southeast were considerably lower than in previous weeks, soggy conditions continued to hamper planting in some areas. In the Ohio Valley, dry conditions early in the week were favorable for planting, but showers late in the week slowed fieldwork. Corn: Planting advanced to 30 percent complete, 5 percentage points behind last year but 8 points ahead of normal. Growers in the Ohio Valley progressed rapidly during the week, planting 45 percent of their acreage in Ohio and 40 percent in Kentucky. Nearly one-third or more of the crop was planted in the Tennessee Valley and Southeast under mostly warm, dry weather after soggy conditions delayed planting in previous weeks. Producers in the central Corn Belt were well ahead of their normal planting pace, while western Corn Belt producers trailed slightly behind normal. Winter Wheat: Eighteen percent of the crop was at or beyond the heading stage, compared with 22 percent last year and 17 percent for the 5-year average. Heading was nearly complete in California, ahead of last year and the normal pace. Oklahoma's crop progressed the most, with 39 percent of the acreage entering the heading stage, while Arkansas's crop advanced 31 points. Heading was just getting started in the central Great Plains. Weekend temperatures dropped below freezing across much of the northern and central Great Plains and northern Corn Belt but were not low enough to damage the crop during the critical jointing stage. Cotton: Growers had planted 18 percent of their acreage, 4 points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Planting progressed well under warm, dry conditions in the lower Delta, advancing 25 points in Louisiana and 18 points in Mississippi. Seeding rapidly advanced in Arizona, where planting progressed 29 points. Planting remained behind normal across most of the Southeast due to continued soggy conditions. Sorghum: Planting was 17 percent complete, the same as last year but 2 points ahead of normal. Progress advanced just 2 points nationwide, due to limited progress in the two largest producing States, Kansas and Texas. Planting was most active in the Delta, advancing 31 points in Arkansas and 12 points in Louisiana. In all other States, progress was 7 points or less, with planting not started yet in Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota. Rice: Producers had seeded 46 percent of their acreage, compared with 57 percent last year and 50 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence, at 19 percent complete, was 12 points behind last year and 7 points behind normal. Planting progressed rapidly in the Delta, advancing 38 points in Arkansas and 45 points in Mississippi. However, planting was just getting underway in California, and progress remained behind normal in all States, except Mississippi, where planting was 17 points ahead of the 5-year average. Meanwhile, emergence progressed well in Texas, advancing 21 points, but was limited to 14 points or less elsewhere. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting, at 40 percent complete, was 5 points behind last year but 12 points ahead of normal. Planting was most advanced in Washington, at 93 percent complete, and in South Dakota, at 86 percent complete. However, Montana growers progressed the most, planting 22 percent of their acreage. Planting progress was 8 points behind normal in Minnesota, but ahead of normal elsewhere, by as much as 26 points in South Dakota. Barley growers had sown 34 percent of their acreage, compared with 44 percent last year and 29 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was most active in Montana, advancing 19 points during the week, while North Dakota producers seeded 16 percent of their acreage. Persistent rainfall in Idaho hindered planting, with growers falling 18 points behind their normal pace. Oat planting advanced to 67 percent complete, 3 points behind last year but 10 points ahead of normal. Forty percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 39 percent last year and 36 percent for the 5-year average. In the Ohio Valley, growers took advantage of dry weather early in the week, planting 33 percent of their acreage in Ohio and 28 percent in Pennsylvania despite heavy rainfall in the latter half of the week. Excluding Texas, where oats are seeded in the fall, emergence was most advanced in Iowa and Nebraska, with 60 percent and 57 percent of the crop emerged, respectively. Other Crops: Sugarbeet producers had seeded 49 percent of their acreage, 14 points behind last year but 9 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting neared completion in Michigan and was 90 percent complete in Idaho. However, planting was most active in the Red River Valley, advancing 23 points in Minnesota and 33 points in North Dakota under dry conditions. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 15 5 9 8 IL : 64 35 61 36 IN : 36 12 38 19 IA : 17 6 34 19 KS : 41 22 44 38 KY : 60 20 70 52 MI : 25 9 14 5 MN : 4 0 21 13 MO : 62 49 76 60 NE : 9 5 20 14 NC : 67 32 72 65 ND : 11 0 15 7 OH : 54 9 26 10 PA : 15 5 7 5 SD : 7 0 7 5 TN : 63 31 80 71 TX : 72 64 69 67 WI : 8 0 3 4 : 18 Sts: 30 14 35 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 49 18 65 58 CA : 97 86 94 89 CO : 6 0 0 1 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 1 0 2 1 IN : 1 0 1 1 KS : 3 0 5 3 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 6 1 10 9 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 28 7 35 42 OH : 0 0 2 0 OK : 57 18 64 43 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 32 19 46 38 WA : 4 0 1 0 : 18 Sts: 18 8 22 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 51 13 64 57 CA : 2 0 9 7 LA : 71 62 81 80 MS : 56 11 54 39 MO : 21 7 62 25 TX : 78 68 84 83 : 6 Sts : 46 22 57 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 2 27 20 CA : 0 0 2 0 LA : 51 41 69 65 MS : 17 3 20 15 MO : 2 0 13 5 TX : 65 44 79 69 : 6 Sts : 19 11 31 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 30 9 26 25 AZ : 56 27 49 54 AR : 7 1 11 8 CA : 43 30 89 68 GA : 4 2 8 10 KS : 1 0 0 0 LA : 31 6 33 21 MS : 18 0 22 15 MO : 13 2 13 12 NC : 4 0 12 7 OK : 0 0 3 2 SC : 5 3 6 8 TN : 3 0 3 4 TX : 21 18 21 17 : 14 Sts: 18 11 22 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 50 19 41 51 CO : 1 0 0 1 IL : 7 0 3 1 KS : 2 1 0 1 LA : 47 35 51 32 MO : 7 2 17 10 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 5 4 6 7 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 47 45 50 45 : 11 Sts: 17 15 17 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 66 60 74 63 MN : 14 5 41 22 MT : 38 16 42 24 ND : 29 11 30 17 SD : 86 69 89 60 WA : 93 89 98 81 : 6 Sts : 40 23 45 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 37 32 59 55 MN : 13 4 22 15 MT : 43 24 60 32 ND : 22 6 21 10 WA : 72 58 96 71 : 5 Sts : 34 19 44 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 92 87 96 84 MN : 30 14 59 35 NE : 91 85 87 83 ND : 28 9 25 12 OH : 81 48 49 54 PA : 78 50 52 44 SD : 75 59 81 52 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 51 31 58 40 : 9 Sts : 67 55 70 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 60 NA 42 38 MN : 9 NA 13 7 NE : 57 NA 45 46 ND : 1 NA 2 1 OH : 20 NA 9 25 PA : 19 NA 14 17 SD : 29 NA 32 16 TX : 100 NA 100 100 WI : 11 NA 14 8 : 9 Sts : 40 NA 39 36 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Apr 24,:Apr 17,:Apr 24,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 90 79 99 84 MI : 98 91 95 57 MN : 24 1 53 27 ND : 34 1 34 19 : 4 Sts : 49 28 63 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 24, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 8 46 40 6 CA : 0 0 5 44 51 CO : 1 11 25 40 23 ID : 0 0 5 76 19 IL : 1 9 23 51 16 IN : 1 4 23 57 15 KS : 1 3 22 56 18 MI : 2 4 25 63 6 MO : 2 7 32 51 8 MT : 1 4 26 46 23 NE : 1 3 29 49 18 NC : 0 3 25 60 12 OH : 1 3 16 56 24 OK : 2 8 34 45 11 OR : 1 10 27 57 5 SD : 0 2 17 57 24 TX : 1 8 27 44 20 WA : 2 4 17 65 12 : 18 Sts : 1 6 25 51 17 : Prev Wk : 1 5 25 53 16 Prev Yr : 8 14 30 39 9 -------------------------------------- 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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