We 1 (5-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 10, 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. 19 May 1 - 7, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Cold weather persisted into early May across the Plains and Midwest, threatening jointing- to heading-stage winter wheat and emerging corn and sugarbeets. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal from the southern Plains eastward to the Mid-Atlantic States. Farther west, cooler-than-normal weather also lingered California. Early-week freezes were observed throughout Iowa and Nebraska, where corn was 5 and 3 percent emerged, respectively, on May 1, according to USDA/NASS. A larger percentage of corn was emerged in other states, including Missouri (45 percent), Illinois (30 percent), Kansas (23 percent), and Indiana (9 percent). In those states, however, widespread freezes primarily affected northern areas, while much of the emerged corn was farther south. Meanwhile, winter wheat was 12 percent headed in Kansas and 8 percent headed in Colorado, but had not yet begun to head farther north. As of May 1, 94 percent of the winter wheat was jointed in Kansas, along with 61 percent in Nebraska and 50 percent in Colorado. Elsewhere in the nation's mid-section, late-week rainfall maintained generally favorable conditions for winter wheat and spring-sown small grains on the northern High Plains, while scattered showers provided crops and pastures with local relief from short-term dryness on the southern Plains. In the Midwest, mostly dry weather promoted rapid summer crop planting, although cool, dry conditions in the lower Great Lakes region slowed corn emergence and winter wheat development. Meanwhile, dry weather also favored fieldwork, including corn, soybean, sorghum, rice, and peanut planting, across much of the South. The Atlantic Seaboard, however, received heavy rain and high winds, which spread from Florida at mid-week to the middle and northern Atlantic coastal region toward week's end. Farther west, cool, showery weather caused additional fieldwork and crop developmental delays in parts of California. Wet weather also persisted in the Northwest, slowing fieldwork but aiding small grains and providing some additional drought relief. From May 2-4, more than a dozen monthly record lows were set or tied across the Plains and Midwest. In Nebraska, monthly records were established on May 2 in locations such as Alliance (12 degrees F), Chadron (15 degrees F), and North Platte (18 degrees F). Records in Alliance and Chadron were originally set in May 1954. On May 3, additional monthly records included 10 degrees F in Williston, ND; 13 degrees F in Aberdeen, SD; 21 degrees F in Dubuque, IA; and 25 degrees F in Moline, IL. Elsewhere on May 3, Iowa lows of 22 degrees F in Waterloo and 24 degrees F in Ottumwa set or tied monthly records that were first achieved on May 4, 1907. By May 4, the core of the cold air spread across the eastern Corn Belt, where Fort Wayne, IN (27 degrees F), tied its May-record low. Elsewhere, light freezes and daily-record lows were reported on May 3 in locations as far south as Fayetteville, AR (31 degrees F), and Lexington, KY (32 degrees F). By May 7, however, the temperature in Aberdeen, SD, rebounded to 82 degrees F, just 4 days after its monthly record low. Early in the week, snow showers lingered in the Great Lakes States, while rain and wet snow overspread the southern Plains. Daily-record snowfall totals for May 1 included 1.2 inches in Marquette, MI, and a trace in LaCrosse, WI. A day later, a remarkable 4.7 inches of snow blanketed Amarillo, TX. It was Amarillo's first measurable snowfall in May since May 3, 1978. Amarillo's latest measurable snowfall on record occurred in 1917, when 9.1 inches fell on May 6-7. By mid-week, locally heavy showers developed in the southern Atlantic coastal region and overspread California and the Northwest. In Florida, Daytona Beach (3.38 inches) netted a daily-record total on May 4. A day later, daily records included 2.46 inches in Vero Beach, FL, 1.99 inches in Brunswick, GA, 1.02 inches in Fresno, CA, and 0.37 inch in Stanley, ID. By May 6, records were established in locations such as Wilmington, NC (2.17 inches), and Lewiston, ID (0.64 inch). On May 6, a wind gust to 79 m.p.h. was clocked in eastern North Carolina on Cedar Island, followed the next day by a gust to 60 m.p.h. in Nantucket, MA. At week's end, the latest in a series of Pacific storm systems arrived in the Northwest, generating widespread heavy precipitation. In Wyoming, Sheridan's 2.45-inch total on May 7 was its fifth-highest daily sum on record and greatest 1-day amount since 2.76 inches fell on April 27, 1963. In Alaska, warm weather boosted weekly temperatures as much as 10 degrees F above normal, while significant precipitation was mostly confined to western parts of the State. Selected Alaskan daily-record highs included 66 degrees F (on May 1) in King Salmon and 70 degrees F (on May 7) in Fairbanks. Kodiak netted consecutive daily-record precipitation totals (2.10 and 1.53 inches on May 5 and 6, respectively), boosting its May 1-9 sum to 4.04 inches (224 percent of normal). Meanwhile, May 1-9 precipitation totaled 0.96 inch (533 percent of normal) in Bethel. Farther south, mostly dry weather and record warmth prevailed in Hawaii. On the Big Island, Hilo opened May with four consecutive daily records (85 degrees F each day). Hilo also notched a daily record (86 degrees F) on May 6. Meanwhile on Oahu, Honolulu posted five consecutive daily-record highs from May 4-8, including a high of 90 degrees F on May 5. Through May 9, month-to-date rainfall totaled just 0.01 inch (4 percent of normal) in Honolulu and 0.74 inch (27 percent) in Hilo. National Agricultural Summary May 2 - 8, 2005 Highlights: For the second consecutive week, below-normal temperatures prevailed across most of the Nation. Early in the week, temperatures fell below freezing as far south as the central Great Plains, threatening jointing and heading winter wheat. Only in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Southwest did temperatures average above normal. Conditions were mostly dry across the Corn Belt and northern and central Great Plains through most of the week, allowing fieldwork to rapidly advance. In the southern Great Plains, rainfall brought some relief to dry areas, but crop conditions continued to decline. Dry conditions prevailed across the Mississippi Delta and Southeast, promoting planting. Meanwhile, showers in the Pacific Northwest and northern and central Rocky Mountains continued to improve soil moisture. In California, dry conditions early in the week encouraged fieldwork, but rainfall in the latter half of the week slowed planting progress. Corn: Growers had seeded 79 percent of their acreage, 2 percentage points behind last year but 12 points ahead of normal. Twenty-three percent of the acreage had emerged, compared with 34 percent last year and 26 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was very active in the western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, where cool, dry conditions favored fieldwork. Producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota planted 35 percent or more of their acreage during the week. Nationwide, planting progress advanced by 27 points. Meanwhile, emergence had begun in all States but was hindered by cool weather across the major growing areas and advanced just 10 points nationwide. Soybeans: Planting advanced to 26 percent complete, 6 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Corn Belt growers were the most active, taking advantage of dry conditions. Illinois producers planted one-third of their acreage during the week, while Wisconsin growers seeded one-fourth of their crop. Planting progress was ahead of normal in most States, with only Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Ohio trailing the normal pace. Winter Wheat: Heading reached 44 percent complete, compared with 52 percent last year and 47 percent for the 5-year average. Heading was nearly complete in California, while Arkansas's and Oklahoma's crops were 93 and 92 percent headed, respectively. In the northern half of the Great Plains, where the lowest temperatures were recorded, heading had not yet begun. In Kansas, however, where heading was 12 percent complete at the beginning of the week, there were some reports of light to moderate freeze damage. Elsewhere in the Great Plains, the decline in crop condition was mostly due to soil moisture shortages. Cotton: Producers had sown 39 percent of their crop, 3 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Planting rapidly progressed in the Delta, advancing 33 points in Missouri and 25 points in Arkansas and Mississippi. Planting progress also accelerated in the Southeast as dry weather provided some relief from the soggy conditions that had prevailed in recent weeks. Planting slipped to nearly 2 weeks behind normal in Oklahoma, as growers waited for rain to moisten the soil enough for planting. Sorghum: Planting, at 21 percent complete, was 3 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Louisiana growers planted one-fifth of their acreage during the week, while planting advanced 16 points in Arkansas and 12 points in Missouri. Elsewhere, progress was limited to 9 points or less. In the two largest producing States, Kansas and Texas, planting advanced only 2 points and 1 point, respectively. Rice: Seventy-nine percent of the crop had been planted, compared with 80 percent last year and 78 percent for the normal. Emergence advanced to 50 percent complete, 13 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. In Texas, planting neared completion, at 97 percent. Missouri growers planted 31 percent of their acreage during the week and were well ahead of their normal planting pace. Planting gained momentum in California, where 22 percent of the crop was seeded during the week, but was still 11 points behind normal. The crop emerged steadily, with the most rapid progress in Mississippi, at 23 points, while California's crop was just beginning to emerge. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting, at 80 percent complete, was 2 points behind last year but 18 points ahead of normal. Emergence advanced to 38 percent complete, compared with 47 percent last year and 32 percent for the 5-year average. Producers in all States had sown at least three-fourths of their acreage, with planting nearly complete in South Dakota and Washington. Minnesota growers rapidly planted their crop, advancing 36 points. Emergence advanced 18 points nationwide despite cool weather in most growing areas. Barley growers had planted 74 percent of their acreage, 5 points behind last year but 14 points ahead of normal. Emergence, at 28 percent complete, was 15 points behind last year and 3 points behind normal. Planting was most active in Minnesota, where growers planted 42 percent of their acreage during the week. Minnesota and North Dakota producers were well ahead of their 5-year average planting pace. Emergence progressed more slowly, advancing only 14 points nationwide. However, above-normal temperatures in the Pacific Northwest promoted emergence in that area. Oat planting advanced to 91 percent complete, compared with 90 percent last year and 81 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty-six percent of the crop had emerged, 2 points behind last year but 7 points ahead of normal. Planting reached completion in Iowa and neared completion in Nebraska and South Dakota. Planting progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States. Emergence progressed well in the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains despite below-normal temperatures. Only Pennsylvania trailed its 5-year average pace for emergence. Other Crops: Peanut planting advanced to 11 percent complete, 10 points behind last year and 13 points behind normal. Despite dry conditions in most growing areas, planting progressed slowly. Progress was behind normal in all States, except Oklahoma, and trailed the 5-year average pace by over 1 week in Alabama, Florida, and Virginia. Sugarbeet growers had planted 98 percent of their acreage, compared with 96 percent last year and 79 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was complete in Idaho and Michigan and nearly complete in the Red River Valley. Progress was ahead of normal in all States. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 33 20 43 45 IL : 94 82 93 78 IN : 76 51 85 62 IA : 90 54 91 75 KS : 80 57 81 80 KY : 85 70 87 74 MI : 62 36 57 42 MN : 78 41 87 68 MO : 90 73 94 83 NE : 74 34 80 65 NC : 92 82 95 90 ND : 64 22 69 46 OH : 70 58 61 58 PA : 52 32 49 40 SD : 59 24 66 46 TN : 89 77 94 89 TX : 84 79 92 89 WI : 59 26 50 42 : 18 Sts: 79 52 81 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 3 7 7 IL : 52 30 63 42 IN : 24 9 41 26 IA : 14 5 32 22 KS : 36 23 34 41 KY : 56 33 65 58 MI : 3 1 9 6 MN : 1 0 13 13 MO : 62 45 76 60 NE : 10 3 26 19 NC : 65 46 82 72 ND : 2 0 6 6 OH : 11 3 20 16 PA : 8 4 11 9 SD : 2 0 7 5 TN : 64 48 84 77 TX : 68 65 72 72 WI : 3 1 3 6 : 18 Sts: 23 13 34 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 25 36 28 IL : 39 6 29 25 IN : 33 11 44 32 IA : 26 3 45 27 KS : 18 6 14 18 KY : 16 7 14 14 LA : 47 37 52 44 MI : 25 8 21 15 MN : 17 1 42 27 MS : 79 63 87 69 MO : 21 6 26 20 NE : 15 4 22 16 NC : 9 2 12 9 ND : 15 0 24 10 OH : 27 17 27 30 SD : 9 1 13 9 TN : 13 6 11 9 WI : 29 4 12 11 : 18 Sts: 26 8 32 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 81 95 95 CA : 99 98 98 98 CO : 12 8 20 10 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 40 6 57 48 IN : 12 4 26 28 KS : 35 12 58 47 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 48 19 63 59 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 3 2 NC : 78 53 86 87 OH : 1 0 3 3 OK : 92 80 96 91 OR : 8 3 10 6 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 76 60 80 75 WA : 14 7 7 4 : 18 Sts: 44 30 52 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 57 40 58 63 AZ : 87 70 71 77 AR : 54 29 42 50 CA : 88 60 98 92 GA : 19 9 31 37 KS : 3 2 0 1 LA : 74 54 74 72 MS : 65 40 75 69 MO : 75 42 54 62 NC : 40 17 40 39 OK : 3 1 30 24 SC : 34 12 35 31 TN : 27 8 19 35 TX : 24 22 29 27 : 14 Sts: 39 27 42 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 61 66 78 CO : 10 5 4 5 IL : 14 9 20 14 KS : 5 3 8 11 LA : 78 58 78 67 MO : 24 12 30 32 NE : 6 0 6 4 NM : 0 0 0 1 OK : 21 12 20 18 SD : 4 1 6 4 TX : 49 48 55 51 : 11 Sts: 21 18 24 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 8 9 26 FL : 12 5 19 26 GA : 9 3 19 20 NC : 19 1 15 23 OK : 27 16 36 27 TX : 11 7 38 29 VA : 10 6 22 33 : 7 Sts : 11 5 21 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States planted 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 100 98 100 98 MI : 100 99 100 90 MN : 97 67 98 74 ND : 97 77 87 68 : 4 Sts : 98 80 96 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 76 86 85 CA : 29 7 42 40 LA : 92 80 92 93 MS : 93 81 90 80 MO : 88 57 82 70 TX : 97 93 97 97 : 6 Sts : 79 65 80 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 51 35 69 63 CA : 1 0 14 9 LA : 80 64 86 83 MS : 71 48 76 57 MO : 32 15 55 35 TX : 90 78 91 90 : 6 Sts : 50 36 63 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 86 82 94 89 MN : 80 44 87 62 MT : 75 58 81 64 ND : 76 53 75 50 SD : 98 95 100 87 WA : 99 99 100 96 : 6 Sts : 80 61 82 62 -------------------------------------- 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 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 57 45 69 65 MN : 20 11 43 26 MT : 25 10 41 25 ND : 32 12 36 22 SD : 82 60 81 61 WA : 80 64 90 78 : 6 Sts : 38 20 47 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 74 64 89 84 MN : 76 34 77 56 MT : 74 54 89 67 ND : 71 44 66 40 WA : 91 76 100 93 : 5 Sts : 74 52 79 60 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 38 30 47 52 MN : 15 8 28 21 MT : 23 10 57 33 ND : 23 6 27 14 WA : 64 45 92 74 : 5 Sts : 28 14 43 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 99 100 99 MN : 81 55 90 73 NE : 99 94 99 95 ND : 76 49 71 48 OH : 94 86 81 88 PA : 94 86 81 81 SD : 96 87 96 82 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 87 68 89 75 : 9 Sts : 91 79 90 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:May 8, :May 1, :May 8, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 96 82 91 82 MN : 42 19 59 39 NE : 89 70 80 79 ND : 34 10 33 17 OH : 63 36 52 62 PA : 43 27 46 51 SD : 67 46 68 53 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 43 27 55 41 : 9 Sts : 66 51 68 59 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending May 8, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 9 41 44 6 CA : 0 4 7 41 48 CO : 1 9 26 41 23 ID : 0 0 4 75 21 IL : 1 9 30 50 10 IN : 1 4 22 58 15 KS : 1 7 28 51 13 MI : 3 4 24 61 8 MO : 2 7 37 47 7 MT : 1 5 27 58 9 NE : 1 4 34 48 13 NC : 0 0 24 67 9 OH : 1 3 18 55 23 OK : 3 15 39 37 6 OR : 1 7 34 51 7 SD : 1 7 22 53 17 TX : 3 14 34 37 12 WA : 2 4 21 63 10 : 18 Sts : 2 9 30 47 12 : Prev Wk : 2 7 28 48 15 Prev Yr : 8 16 31 37 8 -------------------------------------- Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 8, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 0 4 30 58 8 MN : 0 5 20 71 4 NE : 0 6 30 57 7 ND : 0 2 42 53 3 OH : 0 0 26 50 24 PA : 0 5 23 64 8 SD : 0 5 42 49 4 TX : 6 17 45 26 6 WI : 1 7 26 57 9 : 8 Sts : 2 8 35 49 6 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA 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 2004 planted acres. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 8, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 3 19 65 12 :: NJ : 0 0 78 22 0 AZ : 2 18 38 23 19 :: NM : 3 11 37 49 0 AR : 1 4 34 53 8 :: NY : 1 1 18 66 14 CA : 0 0 8 52 40 :: NC : 0 4 20 61 15 CO : 1 15 39 39 6 :: ND : 7 19 40 32 2 CT : 0 3 31 51 15 :: OH : 1 5 24 52 18 DE : 0 3 20 77 0 :: OK : 3 17 38 35 7 FL : 0 5 15 70 10 :: OR : 3 7 26 60 4 GA : 0 3 29 59 9 :: PA : 2 5 33 45 15 ID : 0 0 21 65 14 :: RI : 0 0 0 80 20 IL : 0 4 24 58 14 :: SC : 0 2 29 57 12 IN : 0 2 25 61 12 :: SD : 14 22 34 27 3 IA : 0 6 18 63 13 :: TN : 0 4 18 64 14 KS : 1 9 37 50 3 :: TX : 4 17 39 32 8 KY : 0 2 18 63 17 :: UT : 1 2 15 66 16 LA : 5 14 46 34 1 :: VT : 0 20 60 20 0 ME : 26 15 21 29 9 :: VA : 0 4 26 60 10 MD : 0 11 21 44 24 :: WA : 9 23 23 44 1 MA : 0 0 15 70 15 :: WV : 0 11 34 53 2 MI : 0 12 38 41 9 :: WI : 2 15 41 38 4 MN : 1 9 39 46 5 :: WY : 15 28 36 17 4 MS : 0 9 37 41 13 :: : MO : 0 8 34 54 4 :: 48 Sts : 3 11 31 45 10 MT : 10 19 45 23 3 :: : NE : 3 12 35 45 5 :: Prev Wk: 3 10 30 47 10 NV : 0 0 16 64 20 :: Prev Yr: 6 13 31 41 9 NH : 0 5 37 49 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. 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