We 1 (5-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 3, 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. 18 April 24 - 30, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-7919. HIGHLIGHTS: A late-season cold snap threatened jointing- to heading-stage winter wheat, primarily from Nebraska southward into northern and western Oklahoma. Across southwestern Kansas and adjacent areas in Oklahoma, temperatures below 30 degrees F on April 30 may have damaged the more advanced portion of the wheat crop, which was beginning to head. Farther north, much of Nebraska and northern Kansas experienced three consecutive chilly mornings, the coldest of which (in most locations) was May 2. In Nebraska and northern Kansas, widespread temperatures in the 15 to 25 degrees F range may have damaged jointing winter wheat. Wheat just starting to joint can withstand temperatures below 20 degrees F, but mid-stage jointing wheat can be damaged by temperatures below 25 degrees F. From the Plains eastward, cold conditions ended a month-long spell of warm weather. Weekly temperatures generally averaged 6 to 14 degrees F below normal across the Plains and Midwest, slowing or halting winter grain growth and summer crop emergence. Chilly conditions (as much as 10 degrees F below normal) also slowed crop emergence and development across the South. In contrast, mild weather prevailed in the Northwest, promoting the growth of winter wheat and emergence and establishment of spring-sown small grains. Northwestern small grains continued to benefit from a short-term wet spell, which began in mid-March, despite underlying long-term drought and water-supply concerns. Farther south, cool, showery weather slowed fieldwork in California and the Intermountain West. Similarly, periods of showers and thunderstorms hampered fieldwork in the South, primarily from the Delta eastward. Farther north, several rounds of torrential rain swept across New England, causing widespread flooding. Rainfall was especially heavy in Maine, where many locations netted weekly totals in excess of 5 inches. Elsewhere, spring fieldwork advanced across much of the Nation's mid-section, although light to moderate showers affected the central Plains and the southern Corn Belt. However, only spotty showers dampened the southern Plains, further reducing topsoil moisture reserves for pastures, winter wheat, and emerging summer crops. The week began with a strong storm system centered over the eastern Great Lakes, dropping light to moderate rain on much of the Northeast, and unseasonably heavy snow on portions of eastern Michigan, northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and western New York. April 24 snowfall records included 4.3, 3.5, 3.1, 3.0, 1.4, and 1.2 inches at Flint, Alpena, and Detroit, MI, Columbus, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, and Buffalo, NY, respectively. Locally heavy storm totals included 21 inches at North Royalton, OH, 16 inches near Bad Axe, MI, and nearly a foot at Cleveland, OH, although much of the snow had melted by Tuesday as highs pushed into the lower 60s degrees F. Cold air also funneled southward into the eastern half of the Nation, with several daily record minimums established from South Dakota to Texas and into the mid-Atlantic. April 24 record lows were tied or set at Huron, SD (21 degrees F), Tulsa, OK (37 degrees F), Austin/Bergstrom, TX (41 degrees F), Fayetteville, AR (30 degrees F), Jackson, TN (35 degrees F), and Beckley, WV (27 degrees F). The chill continued throughout the daytime hours, with many locations setting record low maximums on Sunday. April 24 record low highs included 34 degrees F at Bluefield, WV, 45 degrees F at Roanoke, VA, and 61 degrees F at both Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA. The next morning (April 25), more record lows were broken, especially in the Southeast (31 degrees F at Charlotte, NC; 37 degrees F at Alma, GA; 39 degrees F at Gainesville, FL; 42 degrees F at Melbourne, FL; and 66 degrees F at Key West, FL). Heavy rains also fell on Maine as moist southeasterly flow off the Atlantic Ocean dumped a record 0.67 inches on Caribou on Monday. Unsettled weather also affected the West as a vigorous Pacific storm dumped unseasonably heavy precipitation on parts of the Great Basin and Southwest. April 24 record rainfall occurred in Arizona (1.20 inches at Flagstaff, 0.98 inch at Sedona, 0.54 inch at Safford, and 0.31 inch at Winslow) and Nevada (1.31 inches at Ely). By Monday evening, this system tracked eastward into the central Plains, producing light showers to the south-central Rockies and Plains. In contrast, high pressure over the Pacific Northwest meant warm, dry weather in interior Washington (a record 82 degrees F and 83 degrees F at Wenatchee and Omak on April 25). During midweek, the Pacific and Great Lakes storm merged, generating a cold front that swept eastward toward the Atlantic Coast. The system produced widely scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the eastern half of the Nation. Totals were generally light, except in Florida and Maine. April 27 record rains fell on Florida at Ft. Myers (2.04 inches), Sarasota (2.01 inches), Vero Beach (1.48 inches), and Daytona Beach (0.90 inch), while Maine measured record rains at Millinocket (3.49 inches), Bangor (2.35 inches), and Caribou (1.67 inches) on April 28. Farther west, a stalled front over the Rockies and entrenched cold air produced enhanced, upsloping snows in Wyoming and Montana on Wednesday and Thursday. Record daily totals of 4.5 and 5.3 inches blanketed Casper, WY, on April 27 and 28, while Cheyenne, WY (5.5 inches), and Scottsbluff, NE (5.4 inches), shattered April 28 standards. In northern Montana, Arctic air plunged April 28 readings to 12 degrees F and 16 degrees F at Butte and Havre, respectively. The snow cover and cold air combined to produce record low highs on Thursday (23 degrees F at Rawlins, 25 degrees F at Cheyenne, and 28 degrees F at Laramie), and record minimums on April 29 (6 degrees F at Laramie, WY, 9 degrees F at Rawlins, WY, and 10 degrees F at Drummond, MT) Heavy rains also drenched Utah on Thursday, including April 28 record amounts of 1.87, 1.17, and 0.70 inches at Logan, Brigham City, and Salt Lake City, while a new Pacific storm dumped record rains on southern California (1.12 inches at Long Beach, 1.02 inches at downtown Los Angeles, 0.92 inch at Oxnard, and 0.88 inch at Camarillo). By week's end, the cold front pushed off the New England Coast, but not before soaking Maine with additional heavy rain. Caribou set another daily record amount on April 29 with 0.77 inch. Meanwhile, the disturbance in the central Rockies tracked into the Delta and then the mid-Atlantic, generating showers and thunderstorms from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley, and then throughout the Atlantic Coast States by Saturday. The rains were occasionally heavy and established new April 30 rainfall totals at Jackson, KY (1.59 inches), London, KY (1.56 inches), Washington/Dulles, VA (0.72 inch), Washington/National, DC (1.16 inches), and Islip, NY (1.12 inches). Fittingly, a record 3.13 inches of rain soaked Pensacola, FL, ending the month of April with an amazing 24.44 inches of rain, an all-time record monthly total (old standard was 21.43 inches in August 1935). In the Nation's mid-section, unseasonably cold air persisted, with record lows of 31 degrees F at Kansas City, MO, and 32 degrees F at Chanute, KS, on Saturday. High pressure parked over the Gulf of Alaska produced mostly dry weather and record warmth in Alaska, especially southeastern sections, where weekly temperatures generally ranged from 6 to 12 degrees F above normal. Anchorage closed the month with six consecutive daily-record highs (64, 66, 66, 70, 72, and 70 degrees F) from April 24-30. In addition, Anchorage set a monthly record high, previously established with a reading of 65 degrees F on April 30, 1976. Numerous other Alaskan stations broke daily record maximums, and a few sites established new all-time April highs, including Valdez (67 degrees F on April 27) and Kodiak (69 degrees F on April 28). Mostly dry weather also prevailed in Hawaii, where near-normal temperatures were observed. An exception was the Big Island where 1 to 2 inches of rain dampened western and southern portions, while sunny skies and light southerly winds at Hilo sent the thermometer to a record 85 degrees F on April 30. National Agricultural Summary April 25 - May 1, 2005 Highlights: In a reversal from previous weeks, below-normal temperatures prevailed across most of the Nation, slowing winter wheat heading and emergence of summer crops. Over the weekend, temperatures dropped below freezing as far south as the central Corn Belt. However, freeze damage to jointing winter wheat was not widely reported. Only in the Pacific Northwest, New England, and the southern tip of Texas were temperatures at or above normal. Conditions were mostly dry across the Corn Belt and Great Plains, encouraging fieldwork. Planting was particularly active in the western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, where some growers had been hindered by wet conditions during the previous 2 weeks. Showers continued to hamper fieldwork in the Southeast, where cotton planting remained behind the normal pace. In contrast, fieldwork, especially cotton and rice planting, was active in the Mississippi Delta, where somewhat drier conditions prevailed. Light to moderate precipitation fell across the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and Southwest, providing beneficial moisture for crops and pastures but slowing fieldwork. Corn: Fifty-two percent of the crop had been planted, compared with 59 percent last year and 45 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence, at 13 percent complete, was 3 percentage points behind last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Planting progressed rapidly in the western Corn Belt, advancing 37 points in Iowa and Minnesota. Meanwhile, Nebraska growers planted one-fourth of their acreage during the week. Planting progress was ahead of normal in the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, but slightly behind normal across much of the Great Plains. Emergence was most advanced in Texas, at 65 percent complete, while Missouri's, North Carolina's, and Tennessee's crops were 45 to 48 percent emerged. Soybeans: Growers had planted 8 percent of their acreage, 3 points behind last year and 1 point behind normal. Seeding was most advanced in the Delta, at 63 percent complete in Mississippi, 37 percent in Louisiana, and 25 percent in Arkansas, ahead of normal in all three States. Planting had begun in all States, except North Dakota. However, progress trailed behind the normal pace across most of the Corn Belt and Great Plains, where most growers focused on planting corn. Winter Wheat: Heading advanced to 30 percent complete, compared with 36 percent last year and 31 percent for the 5-year average. California's crop edged closer to being completely headed, at 98 percent, while heading in Arkansas and Oklahoma reached 81 and 80 percent, respectively. Arkansas's crop advanced the most, with 32 percent of the acreage entering the heading stage. Heading had not yet begun in the northern Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and northern Corn Belt. Though temperatures fell below freezing in Kansas, where the crop was well into the jointing phase but only 12 percent headed, reports of freeze damage were not widespread. Cotton: Twenty-seven percent of the acreage had been seeded, 3 points behind last year and 1 point behind normal. Growers in the Delta progressed rapidly under drier conditions, planting 22 to 23 percent of their acreage during the week. Planting progress in the Southeast remained behind normal as showers continued to hinder fieldwork. Meanwhile, progress slowed in the southern Great Plains as producers waited for warmer soil temperatures. Sorghum: Producers had sown 18 percent of their acreage, compared with 19 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Planting advanced 11 points in the Delta, but was limited to 7 points or less elsewhere. Texas growers had planted 48 percent of their crop, the same as the 5-year average, while Kansas growers, at 3 percent, were 2 points behind normal. Planting had not yet begun in Nebraska and New Mexico. Rice: Planting reached 65 percent complete, 4 points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Emergence advanced to 36 percent complete, compared with 49 percent last year and 41 percent for the normal. Seeding was most active in the interior Delta, advancing 36 points in Missouri and 25 points in Arkansas and Mississippi. Progress trailed behind the normal pace in California and Louisiana, but was ahead of normal elsewhere. Emergence was behind normal in all States, except Mississippi, where it advanced 31 points to 48 percent complete, 15 points ahead of normal. Small Grains: Spring wheat growers had planted 61 percent of their acreage, 5 points behind last year but 14 points ahead of normal. Emergence, at 20 percent, was 10 points behind last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting progressed well in the Red River Valley, advancing 30 points in Minnesota and 24 points in North Dakota, where mostly dry conditions were favorable for planting. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, with the Dakotas nearly 20 points ahead. Emergence was most advanced in Washington, at 64 percent complete, and South Dakota, at 60 percent. Barley planting advanced to 52 percent complete, compared with 62 percent last year and 44 percent for the 5-year average. Fourteen percent of the crop had emerged, 14 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Planting rapidly advanced in Idaho, progressing 27 points, but remained behind normal. North Dakota growers seeded 22 percent of their acreage during the week and were 20 points ahead of their normal pace. Emergence trailed behind normal in all States, except North Dakota. Oat planting, at 79 percent complete, was 2 points behind last year but 10 points ahead of normal. Emergence advanced to 51 percent complete, compared with 52 percent last year and 46 percent for the 5-year average. Minnesota and North Dakota growers progressed well, planting 25 and 21 percent of their acreage, respectively. Planting was nearly complete in Iowa and was ahead of normal in all States, except Minnesota. Meanwhile, emergence was behind normal in the Ohio Valley and Minnesota but ahead of normal elsewhere. Other Crops: Peanut producers had planted 5 percent of their acreage, 2 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Planting was most advanced in Oklahoma, at 16 percent complete, 4 points ahead of normal. However, only 8 percent or less of the crop was planted elsewhere, and progress was behind the normal pace in all areas, except the southern Great Plains. Sugarbeet planting was 80 percent complete, 9 points behind last year but 15 points ahead of normal. Growers in the Red River Valley rapidly progressed under dry conditions, planting 43 percent of their acreage during the week. Meanwhile, planting neared completion in Idaho and Michigan. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 20 15 18 22 IL : 82 64 79 58 IN : 51 36 66 41 IA : 54 17 69 50 KS : 57 41 61 61 KY : 70 60 77 65 MI : 36 25 38 18 MN : 41 4 64 47 MO : 73 62 85 74 NE : 34 9 48 38 NC : 82 67 88 81 ND : 22 11 44 25 OH : 58 54 49 31 PA : 32 15 19 17 SD : 24 7 29 21 TN : 77 63 86 82 TX : 79 72 79 78 WI : 26 8 14 17 : 18 Sts: 52 30 59 45 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 NA 1 1 IL : 30 NA 36 19 IN : 9 NA 18 8 IA : 5 NA 8 4 KS : 23 NA 19 22 KY : 33 NA 48 40 MI : 1 NA 2 1 MN : 0 NA 3 6 MO : 45 NA 58 45 NE : 3 NA 6 5 NC : 46 NA 66 52 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 3 NA 4 3 PA : 4 NA 2 2 SD : 0 NA 1 1 TN : 48 NA 66 59 TX : 65 NA 65 65 WI : 1 NA 0 1 : 18 Sts: 13 NA 16 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 25 NA 24 19 IL : 6 NA 6 7 IN : 11 NA 21 14 IA : 3 NA 8 6 KS : 6 NA 3 7 KY : 7 NA 7 7 LA : 37 NA 42 32 MI : 8 NA 11 5 MN : 1 NA 10 7 MS : 63 NA 76 53 MO : 6 NA 9 10 NE : 4 NA 4 5 NC : 2 NA 3 2 ND : 0 NA 4 2 OH : 17 NA 21 14 SD : 1 NA 2 2 TN : 6 NA 4 4 WI : 4 NA 3 1 : 18 Sts: 8 NA 11 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 81 49 85 84 CA : 98 97 96 97 CO : 8 6 4 2 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 6 1 11 12 IN : 4 1 10 9 KS : 12 3 25 17 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 19 6 26 29 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 53 28 67 70 OH : 0 0 3 1 OK : 80 57 88 74 OR : 3 0 2 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 60 32 66 58 WA : 7 4 4 2 : 18 Sts: 30 18 36 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 40 30 40 46 AZ : 70 56 63 66 AR : 29 7 20 24 CA : 60 43 94 83 GA : 9 4 17 21 KS : 2 1 0 0 LA : 54 31 55 49 MS : 40 18 50 39 MO : 42 13 23 33 NC : 17 4 33 19 OK : 1 0 7 8 SC : 12 5 18 15 TN : 8 3 4 15 TX : 22 21 23 20 : 14 Sts: 27 18 30 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 61 50 48 66 CO : 5 1 1 1 IL : 9 7 12 7 KS : 3 2 2 5 LA : 58 47 61 50 MO : 12 7 19 20 NE : 0 0 2 1 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 12 5 12 12 SD : 1 0 0 0 TX : 48 47 53 48 : 11 Sts: 18 17 19 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 8 NA 4 11 FL : 5 NA 14 14 GA : 3 NA 9 8 NC : 1 NA 2 5 OK : 16 NA 14 12 TX : 7 NA 4 7 VA : 6 NA 6 11 : 7 Sts : 5 NA 7 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States planted 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 98 90 100 93 MI : 99 98 99 74 MN : 67 24 85 57 ND : 77 34 80 51 : 4 Sts : 80 49 89 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 76 51 76 75 CA : 7 2 23 19 LA : 80 71 87 88 MS : 81 56 73 59 MO : 57 21 73 47 TX : 93 78 89 92 : 6 Sts : 65 46 69 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 35 11 51 42 CA : 0 0 5 3 LA : 64 51 79 75 MS : 48 17 52 33 MO : 15 2 42 18 TX : 78 65 84 82 : 6 Sts : 36 19 49 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 82 66 81 77 MN : 44 14 68 43 MT : 58 38 68 47 ND : 53 29 53 34 SD : 95 86 96 75 WA : 99 93 99 90 : 6 Sts : 61 40 66 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 45 NA 54 48 MN : 11 NA 24 12 MT : 10 NA 26 12 ND : 12 NA 19 10 SD : 60 NA 63 39 WA : 64 NA 85 65 : 6 Sts : 20 NA 30 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 64 37 68 69 MN : 34 13 51 36 MT : 54 43 82 51 ND : 44 22 42 24 WA : 76 72 99 84 : 5 Sts : 52 34 62 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 30 NA 25 35 MN : 8 NA 16 9 MT : 10 NA 43 18 ND : 6 NA 11 5 WA : 45 NA 87 55 : 5 Sts : 14 NA 28 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 99 92 99 95 MN : 55 30 81 56 NE : 94 91 95 91 ND : 49 28 50 29 OH : 86 81 60 72 PA : 86 78 70 64 SD : 87 75 90 68 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 68 51 71 57 : 9 Sts : 79 67 81 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 1, :Apr 24,:May 1, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 82 60 73 63 MN : 19 9 37 22 NE : 70 57 64 64 ND : 10 1 11 6 OH : 36 20 25 41 PA : 27 19 32 32 SD : 46 29 46 32 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 27 11 31 21 : 9 Sts : 51 40 52 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending May 1, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 9 43 42 6 CA : 0 0 9 46 45 CO : 1 8 26 42 23 ID : 0 0 5 73 22 IL : 1 10 23 54 12 IN : 1 4 23 56 16 KS : 1 5 26 51 17 MI : 3 2 31 55 9 MO : 2 7 33 51 7 MT : 1 5 29 44 21 NE : 1 5 27 51 16 NC : 0 4 24 66 6 OH : 1 3 19 56 21 OK : 3 13 36 40 8 OR : 2 10 33 51 4 SD : 1 2 17 63 17 TX : 2 11 33 36 18 WA : 2 2 12 71 13 : 18 Sts : 2 7 28 48 15 : Prev Wk : 1 6 25 51 17 Prev Yr : 8 14 30 40 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. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 1, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 4 16 65 14 :: NJ : 0 0 58 31 11 AZ : 2 11 26 35 26 :: NM : 2 9 32 54 3 AR : 0 3 34 54 9 :: NY : 4 12 19 54 11 CA : 0 0 10 65 25 :: NC : 0 2 30 59 9 CO : 1 18 40 35 6 :: ND : 8 23 46 22 1 CT : 0 15 20 56 9 :: OH : 1 6 26 53 14 DE : 0 0 5 95 0 :: OK : 3 14 37 39 7 FL : 0 5 25 60 10 :: OR : 4 10 25 58 3 GA : 0 5 27 60 8 :: PA : 2 6 34 42 16 ID : 0 2 24 60 14 :: RI : 0 0 0 98 2 IL : 0 2 22 65 11 :: SC : 0 1 26 59 14 IN : 0 2 27 61 10 :: SD : 14 20 33 29 4 IA : 0 5 21 61 13 :: TN : 0 3 17 67 13 KS : 2 8 34 50 6 :: TX : 3 13 38 36 10 KY : 0 2 25 57 16 :: UT : 1 4 17 64 14 LA : 2 11 40 43 4 :: VT : 2 35 40 21 2 ME : 41 9 10 34 6 :: VA : 1 4 30 53 12 MD : 0 13 16 44 27 :: WA : 7 21 23 48 1 MA : 0 0 0 98 2 :: WV : 0 9 31 56 4 MI : 0 10 47 32 11 :: WI : 2 12 34 48 4 MN : 3 10 29 52 6 :: WY : 22 30 29 15 4 MS : 1 6 30 50 13 :: : MO : 0 4 32 58 6 :: 48 Sts : 3 10 30 47 10 MT : 16 28 41 13 2 :: : NE : 1 9 31 52 7 :: Prev Wk: NA NA NA NA NA NV : 0 0 12 59 29 :: Prev Yr: 6 13 31 41 9 NH : 0 15 33 51 1 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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