We 1 (8-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 23, 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. 34 August 14 - 20, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Widespread showers and thunderstorms affected areas from the Plains to the East Coast, generally aiding pastures and immature summer crops but causing local wind, hail, and flash flood damage. Some of the heaviest rain (locally 4 to 10 inches) fell early in the week from north-central Texas into east-central Oklahoma. However, drought-affected areas in southern Texas and from the Arklatex region eastward to the northern Delta received only light showers, accompanied by temperatures as much as 6 degrees F above normal. Meanwhile, humid, showery weather maintained soggy conditions and slowed fieldwork in the Southeast. Farther north and west, widespread showers dampened previously parched soils from Missouri and Illinois northeastward into the Great Lakes region, benefiting immature summer crops but falling too late to help dented corn. In addition, severe thunderstorms on August 18 spawned more than two dozen tornadoes across northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and the southern half of Wisconsin. Early-week thunderstorms hampered spring wheat harvesting on the northern Plains, especially in the Red River Valley. In contrast, small grain harvesting advanced with few delays in the Northwest, while cool, dry weather (weekly temperatures as much as 6 degrees F below normal) returned to the northern Plains later in the week. Elsewhere, monsoon showers subsided in the Four Corners region, although some rain lingered across the southern Rockies. Early in the week, hot weather in the South and East contrasted with cool conditions across the northern Rockies and northern Plains. Daily-record highs on August 14 included 98 degrees F in Newark, NJ, and 97 degrees F in Huntington, WV. A day later, records for August 15 included 98 degrees F in Corpus Christi, TX, and 97 degrees F in Orlando, FL. Orlando also tied record highs on August 16, 17, and 19 (95, 96, and 97 degrees F, respectively). In contrast, daily-record lows were established in Northwestern locations such as Boulder, MT (33 degrees F on August 14 and 15), and Sheridan, WY (39 degrees F on August 14). Toward week's end, very cool air briefly spilled into Maine, where Houlton (34 degrees F) and Caribou (37 degrees F) set record lows for August 19. Farther south, however, heat further intensified on August 20, resulting in the highest temperatures of the year in Alabama locations such as Montgomery (97 degrees F) and Birmingham (95 degrees F). Montgomery last attained 97 degrees F on August 5, 2004, when the high was 99 degrees F, while Birmingham last reached 95 degrees F on July 24, 2004. Locally heavy showers and thunderstorms fell early in the week from the Southwest into the Northeast. Daily-record totals for August 14 included 3.65 inches in Wichita Falls, TX, and 3.10 inches in New York's Central Park. From August 13-16, Wichita Falls' sum of 6.96 inches boosted its month-to-date rainfall to 7.34 inches. Wichita Falls' highest August rainfall on record was 7.61 inches in 1971. For the 96-hour period ending around dawn on August 16, unofficial rainfall totals reached 9.23 inches in Electra (Wichita County), TX, and 11.65 inches near Davis (Murray County), OK. At midweek, heavy showers erupted across the North Central United States, where daily-record totals for August 17 included 3.18 inches in Grand Forks, ND, and 1.87 inches in Sisseton, SD. Mid- to late-week thunderstorms also dotted the Midwest and Southeast, contributing to daily-record totals in locations such as St. Joseph, MO (3.78 inches on August 18); Nashville, TN (3.22 inches on August 17); Florence, SC (3.21 inches on August 18); and Rockford, IL (2.23 inches on August 18). Rockford's precipitation totaled 7.82 inches (41 percent of normal) during the 5-month period from March to July, but 4.81 inches fell during the first 20 days of August. In Wisconsin, the August 18 severe weather outbreak yielded a preliminary count of 26 tornadoes, breaking the State's single-day record of 24 tornadoes set on May 8, 1988. Elsewhere, the Nation's year-to-date wildfire acreage climbed to 6.7 million acres by August 21, nearly 180 percent of the 10-year average. Despite the recent shift of wildfire activity into the Northwest, most (more than 87 percent) of the Nation's year-to-date acreage burned in the Southwest (0.7 million acres), the Great Basin (1.9 million acres), and Alaska (3.2 million acres). Warm weather continued across Alaska for much of the week, followed by cooler conditions and widespread precipitation. Despite smoky air from the nearby, 45,000-acre Grayling Creek fire, Nome opened the week with three consecutive daily-record highs (81, 80, and 68 degrees F from August 14-16). Elsewhere in Alaska on August 14, daily-record highs were established in locations such as McGrath (81 degrees F) and Kotzebue (73 degrees F). By August 19, however, freezes were reported at interior Alaskan locations such as the Eagle Airport (23 degrees F), North Pole (27 degrees F), and Bettles (31 degrees F). However, mostly dry weather persisted across interior Alaska, where Fairbanks' August 1-21 total of 0.07 inch was just 6 percent of normal. Meanwhile, showery weather arrived across southern and western Alaska, where daily-record rainfall totals for August 21 were broken in Valdez (1.60 inches) and on St. Paul Island (0.96 inch). McGrath netted 0.53 inch on August 21, boosting its month-to-date sum to 0.62 inch (34 percent of normal). Farther south, locally heavy, late-week showers in Hawaii interrupted otherwise tranquil weather. On August 19, Hilo (on the Big Island) received a daily-record total of 1.72 inches, helping to lift its August 1-21 rainfall to 7.04 inches (105 percent of normal). On Maui, West Wailuaiki netted a 24-hour total of 3.77 inches on August 19-20. Following the rain, enough cool air arrived to produce a daily-record low (61 degrees F on August 21) in Kahului, Maui. Earlier, a long-running streak of at or above-normal daily average temperatures had ended in Lihue, Kauai (103 consecutive days from May 1 - August 11). An even longer such streak of warmth continued, however, in Honolulu, Oahu, where the last cooler-than-normal day was March 26. Through August 21, Honolulu's warm spell reached 148 consecutive days. National Agricultural Summary August 15 - 21, 2005 Highlights: Near-normal temperatures and moderate rainfall in the Corn Belt increased soil moisture levels, improving the condition of soybeans. However, much of the corn crop was beyond the critical dough stage. In the northern and central Great Plains, mostly dry weather favored small grain harvest and summer crop development. Dry weather remained a concern in the Mississippi Delta, where crop conditions declined. However, soil moisture remained adequate to locally excessive in the Southeast. Mostly dry conditions prevailed along the West Coast and across the Northern Rocky Mountains, encouraging small grain harvest. Corn: Eighty percent of the crop was at or beyond the dough stage, compared with 68 percent last year and 72 percent for the 5-year average. Denting, at 40 percent, was 6 percentage points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. The crop was mature on 6 percent of the acreage, the same as last year and the 5-year average. Despite cool weather, doughing progressed rapidly in the northern Great Plains, advancing 29 points in North Dakota and 33 points in South Dakota. Michigan's crop, 80 percent of which was in the dough stage, was 50 points ahead of normal. Denting progressed most rapidly in Nebraska, advancing 27 points. In Texas, nearly two-thirds of the crop was mature, while maturation was limited to less than 40 percent elsewhere and had not yet begun in the northern Great Plains and northern Corn Belt. Soybeans: Pods were setting on 94 percent of the acreage, 4 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. Pod setting was complete in Mississippi and Ohio and nearly complete across much of the Corn Belt. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except Kansas and South Dakota. Cotton: Boll setting advanced to 91 percent, compared with 94 percent last year and 95 percent for the 5-year average. Bolls opening, at 14 percent, was 3 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. Bolls were setting in virtually all fields in the Delta, while Oklahoma's crop progressed the most, with 20 percent of the acreage entering the stage. Bolls opening progressed well in the Delta, advancing 13 points in Arkansas and Louisiana and 16 points in Mississippi. Boll setting had not yet begun in Kansas and Oklahoma and was behind normal in all States, except Arkansas. Sorghum: Heading reached 86 percent, 6 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the average. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Oklahoma. Acreage turning color advanced to 39 percent, 6 points ahead of last year but 4 points behind normal. Coloring was most advanced in the Delta, at 94 and 95 percent in Arkansas and Louisiana, respectively. Eighteen percent of the crop was mature, compared with 17 percent last year and 21 percent for the 5-year average. Nearly three-fourths of Louisiana's crop and over half of Texas's crop was mature, while maturation had not yet begun in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota. Rice: Heading advanced to 90 percent, the same as last year but 1 point behind normal. Texas's crop was completely headed, while heading was near completion in most of the Delta States, with the exception of Arkansas, at 93 percent. Growers had harvested 13 percent of their acreage, compared with 15 percent last year and 16 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest was over halfway complete in Louisiana and Texas but was just getting underway in Arkansas and had not begun elsewhere. Small Grains: Fifty-nine percent of the spring wheat crop had been harvested, 21 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Harvest progressed rapidly in most areas under mostly dry conditions. Producers in Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington reaped 20 percent or more of their crop during the week. Barley growers had harvested 65 percent of their acreage, compared with 45 percent last year and 57 percent for the 5-year average. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Idaho. The oat harvest advanced to 93 percent complete, 15 points ahead of last year and 7 points ahead of normal. Harvest was complete in Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas and nearly complete everywhere else, except in Minnesota and North Dakota. Progress trailed behind the normal pace only in South Dakota. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 35 25 24 45 IL : 92 83 94 88 IN : 87 76 88 80 IA : 76 63 59 66 KS : 94 85 92 91 KY : 90 68 90 88 MI : 80 57 35 30 MN : 69 42 23 49 MO : 95 92 92 92 NE : 87 74 81 85 NC : 95 89 98 94 ND : 64 35 25 69 OH : 76 66 81 72 PA : 66 42 75 61 SD : 68 35 56 67 TN : 99 97 99 98 TX : 99 91 93 96 WI : 58 36 31 40 : 18 Sts: 80 65 68 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 10 5 7 12 IL : 59 41 64 50 IN : 43 22 49 38 IA : 33 12 18 27 KS : 61 42 60 61 KY : 63 47 72 68 MI : 23 3 2 4 MN : 21 5 4 14 MO : 80 68 76 71 NE : 50 23 28 42 NC : 82 56 92 78 ND : 7 2 2 22 OH : 20 9 31 21 PA : 21 7 35 23 SD : 20 4 10 21 TN : 93 79 96 88 TX : 80 70 83 86 WI : 11 2 0 5 : 18 Sts: 40 23 34 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 4 NA 5 7 IN : 2 NA 6 3 IA : 2 NA 0 1 KS : 18 NA 12 17 KY : 25 NA 21 22 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 33 NA 26 23 NE : 1 NA 0 3 NC : 39 NA 67 40 ND : 0 NA 0 1 OH : 0 NA 2 1 PA : 2 NA 4 3 SD : 0 NA 0 3 TN : 27 NA 33 34 TX : 66 NA 67 64 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 6 NA 6 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 87 91 84 IL : 96 90 93 91 IN : 96 90 94 87 IA : 97 94 97 96 KS : 84 75 83 85 KY : 75 61 76 71 LA : 97 93 99 95 MI : 98 88 79 84 MN : 99 98 87 94 MS : 100 99 100 98 MO : 86 75 79 76 NE : 98 95 94 94 NC : 65 52 63 53 ND : 99 98 94 98 OH : 100 99 92 88 SD : 88 78 90 92 TN : 97 93 88 81 WI : 92 84 75 77 : 18 Sts: 94 89 90 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 89 80 99 98 AZ : 95 90 100 100 AR : 100 99 100 100 CA : 91 85 100 98 GA : 98 95 100 99 KS : 68 58 81 76 LA : 100 99 100 100 MS : 100 99 100 99 MO : 100 99 95 98 NC : 96 94 100 98 OK : 95 75 92 91 SC : 86 67 96 89 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 85 77 88 91 : 14 Sts: 91 86 94 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 1 11 15 AZ : 30 21 41 47 AR : 18 5 4 12 CA : 13 7 28 18 GA : 4 1 15 18 KS : 0 0 1 1 LA : 19 6 29 38 MS : 18 2 20 31 MO : 8 3 8 10 NC : 1 0 9 9 OK : 0 0 8 7 SC : 10 3 14 11 TN : 5 3 8 11 TX : 18 16 18 21 : 14 Sts: 14 9 17 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 100 99 CO : 81 71 66 64 IL : 96 94 95 92 KS : 86 80 77 82 LA : 100 99 100 100 MO : 96 92 94 92 NE : 95 86 88 87 NM : 74 59 43 53 OK : 69 67 74 74 SD : 99 82 87 89 TX : 85 80 82 84 : 11 Sts: 86 80 80 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 94 82 90 91 CO : 13 6 4 6 IL : 51 46 55 45 KS : 31 20 22 34 LA : 95 87 98 96 MO : 53 40 40 48 NE : 28 6 14 23 NM : 1 0 6 10 OK : 36 23 35 39 SD : 24 12 26 34 TX : 56 53 55 65 : 11 Sts: 39 30 33 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 38 NA 55 36 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 1 NA 1 0 KS : 3 NA 1 6 LA : 74 NA 88 82 MO : 4 NA 3 8 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 8 NA 6 10 SD : 0 NA 0 1 TX : 51 NA 50 55 : 11 Sts: 18 NA 17 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 84 88 93 CA : 66 50 83 77 LA : 99 95 97 98 MS : 97 96 100 95 MO : 95 88 84 85 TX : 100 97 100 100 : 6 Sts : 90 82 90 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 1 2 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 55 29 64 66 MS : 0 0 3 3 MO : 0 0 0 0 TX : 52 34 60 66 : 6 Sts : 13 7 15 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 36 13 51 49 MN : 54 43 27 58 MT : 50 33 28 45 ND : 56 35 29 50 SD : 96 90 87 95 WA : 73 53 79 72 : 6 Sts : 59 42 38 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 34 17 52 51 MN : 96 73 29 69 MT : 53 37 40 53 ND : 81 65 41 59 WA : 74 60 80 67 : 5 Sts : 65 49 45 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Aug 21,:Aug 14,:Aug 21,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MN : 90 82 61 82 NE : 100 100 98 99 ND : 76 48 45 61 OH : 100 99 90 95 PA : 95 83 79 76 SD : 97 90 93 98 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 98 90 74 84 : 9 Sts : 93 84 78 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 73% of last year's oat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 8 25 43 21 IL : 26 33 29 12 0 IN : 6 17 36 36 5 IA : 3 8 21 46 22 KS : 4 12 33 46 5 KY : 6 12 31 37 14 MI : 1 5 23 50 21 MN : 3 5 23 49 20 MO : 23 22 24 25 6 NE : 4 9 24 44 19 NC : 2 9 26 47 16 ND : 2 7 22 50 19 OH : 7 14 35 35 9 PA : 4 13 29 44 10 SD : 7 10 27 44 12 TN : 2 8 30 50 10 TX : 14 18 33 28 7 WI : 9 19 25 34 13 : 18 Sts : 9 14 27 37 13 : Prev Wk : 9 14 26 38 13 Prev Yr : 2 7 20 48 23 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 21 36 27 5 IL : 12 23 40 23 2 IN : 4 12 32 45 7 IA : 2 6 22 50 20 KS : 2 11 38 44 5 KY : 5 10 25 43 17 LA : 3 14 33 41 9 MI : 3 5 24 49 19 MN : 2 5 30 45 18 MS : 3 7 23 55 12 MO : 15 25 35 21 4 NE : 4 13 30 42 11 NC : 0 10 27 53 10 ND : 2 6 23 50 19 OH : 4 11 30 42 13 SD : 3 9 30 47 11 TN : 4 12 30 45 9 WI : 5 15 31 37 12 : 18 Sts : 5 12 31 41 11 : Prev Wk : 6 13 30 39 12 Prev Yr : 2 7 24 50 17 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 4 15 63 16 AZ : 0 3 39 46 12 AR : 1 4 21 50 24 CA : 0 0 5 70 25 GA : 1 3 21 60 15 KS : 1 8 37 45 9 LA : 3 18 32 41 6 MS : 1 7 25 54 13 MO : 9 12 25 49 5 NC : 1 5 37 52 5 OK : 11 14 25 49 1 SC : 0 2 15 76 7 TN : 0 5 25 52 18 TX : 5 12 30 42 11 : 14 Sts : 3 8 26 50 13 : Prev Wk : 3 8 25 51 13 Prev Yr : 2 6 22 47 23 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 19 41 31 5 CO : 4 23 40 31 2 IL : 8 23 37 30 2 KS : 4 16 43 34 3 LA : 1 11 40 40 8 MO : 14 25 42 17 2 NE : 5 14 37 36 8 NM : 0 25 39 35 1 OK : 0 6 30 49 15 SD : 16 11 30 42 1 TX : 8 12 35 38 7 : 11 Sts : 6 15 38 36 5 : Prev Wk : 6 14 39 36 5 Prev Yr : 1 6 25 50 18 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2004 planted acres. Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 5 32 44 17 CA : 0 0 50 50 0 LA : 0 0 34 48 18 MS : 0 2 13 70 15 MO : 0 2 18 54 26 TX : 0 5 24 56 15 : 6 Sts : 1 3 33 49 14 : Prev Wk : 1 3 34 46 16 Prev Yr : 0 2 27 49 22 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 3 13 58 26 FL : 0 1 25 54 20 GA : 0 5 18 59 18 NC : 0 2 22 71 5 OK : 0 2 29 57 12 TX : 0 2 25 48 25 VA : 0 6 23 60 11 : 8 Sts : 0 3 20 58 19 : Prev Wk : 1 4 19 59 17 Prev Yr : 1 5 25 53 16 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 21, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 2 16 56 25 :: NJ : 0 25 55 20 0 AZ : 20 33 30 13 4 :: NM : 5 19 49 25 2 AR : 30 38 23 9 0 :: NY : 16 38 28 16 2 CA : 10 45 35 10 0 :: NC : 1 7 22 58 12 CO : 12 27 33 24 4 :: ND : 1 8 28 56 7 CT : 22 45 33 0 0 :: OH : 15 22 34 26 3 DE : 0 0 8 87 5 :: OK : 5 19 40 34 2 FL : 0 10 30 50 10 :: OR : 2 11 38 42 7 GA : 0 2 20 65 13 :: PA : 38 26 21 13 2 ID : 1 11 35 42 11 :: RI : 45 50 5 0 0 IL : 32 34 26 8 0 :: SC : 0 2 29 61 8 IN : 15 29 38 17 1 :: SD : 9 14 29 43 5 IA : 11 25 36 25 3 :: TN : 4 19 40 34 3 KS : 8 17 43 31 1 :: TX : 9 21 37 30 3 KY : 22 29 36 13 0 :: UT : 0 2 21 61 16 LA : 8 22 44 24 2 :: VT : 2 15 37 36 10 ME : 1 9 24 57 9 :: VA : 5 15 36 36 8 MD : 3 8 38 38 13 :: WA : 7 27 31 34 0 MA : 0 9 49 42 0 :: WV : 4 14 41 40 1 MI : 5 24 34 31 6 :: WI : 14 20 37 26 3 MN : 5 17 34 38 6 :: WY : 4 12 33 45 6 MS : 8 24 37 28 3 :: : MO : 41 36 17 5 1 :: 48 Sts : 11 21 33 31 4 MT : 5 14 41 35 5 :: : NE : 7 20 33 38 2 :: Prev Wk: 13 21 32 30 4 NV : 0 0 10 65 25 :: Prev Yr: 8 14 27 40 11 NH : 3 1 22 73 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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