We 1 (9-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 7, 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. 36 August 28 - September 3, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Following Katrina's brief, August 25 strike on southern Florida, the hurricane explosively strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico and turned toward Louisiana. On the morning of August 29, Katrina became one of the strongest hurricanes on record to make landfall in the United States. Katrina made landfall as a category 4 hurricane around 6:10 a.m. CDT near Buras, LA, with maximum sustained winds near 140 m.p.h. Based on Katrina's minimum barometric pressure at landfall (approximately 918 millibars, or 27.11 inches), only the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 (Florida Keys; 892 mb, or 26.35 inches) and 1969's Hurricane Camille (southern Mississippi; 909 mb, or 26.84 inches) were more intense. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew's pressure at landfall in southern Florida was 922 mb, or 27.23 inches. By late Monday, a long period of hurricane recovery commenced along and near the central Gulf Coast. Agriculturally, primary effects included lodging of sugarcane in southeastern Louisiana and damage to broiler houses and other farm infrastructure in the central Gulf Coast States. The Delta did not experience a direct strike, but summer crops such as soybeans, rice, and open-boll cotton were vulnerable to damage due to gusty winds and heavy rain. Katrina's remnants tracked across Mississippi and western Tennessee before turning northeastward across the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast. Heavy rain (locally 4 inches or more) caused minor flash flooding but replenished soil moisture reserves in preparation for soft red winter wheat planting. Meanwhile, humid, showery conditions persisted across Florida, where a slowly developing low-pressure system (later Tropical Storm Ophelia) near the southern Atlantic Coast helped to focus late-week rainfall. Late-week showers also dotted the Rio Grande Valley and the Southwest. Across the remainder of the nation, warm, mostly dry weather promoted summer crop maturation and fieldwork, including early-season harvest activities and winter wheat planting preparations. Katrina's maximum sustained winds peaked near 175 m.p.h. on August 28, less than 24 hours prior to landfall and while the storm was centered less than 200 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The hurricane's central barometric pressure fell to 902 millibars, or 26.64 inches), the fourth-lowest reading on record in the Western Hemisphere behind Hurricane Gilbert (888 millibars, or 26.22 inches, on September 13, 1988), the Labor Day hurricane (892 millibars, or 26.35 inches, on September 2, 1935), and Hurricane Allen (899 millibars, or 26.55 inches, on August 7, 1980). Katrina's large wind field and tremendous storm surge caused extensive damage along and near the central Gulf Coast. In fact, one of the Nation's greatest disasters unfolded in Katrina's wake, when storm-damaged levees unleashed flood waters on New Orleans, LA, submerging the majority of the city. Ironically, New Orleans had escaped a direct strike from Katrina, although the hurricane's western eyewall moved across the city on Monday morning. Some wind gusts recorded across southeastern Louisiana prior to instrumentation failure included 105 m.p.h. at the Belle Chasse Naval Air Station and 86 m.p.h. at New Orleans' Lakefront Airport. After crossing the sparsely populated Mississippi Delta, Katrina's eye crossed Lake Borgne and made its final landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border. Southern Mississippi communities and cities just to the east of the landfall--such as Waveland, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula--were shredded by high winds and inundated by a devastating storm surge in excess of 20 feet. Along the Gulf Coast, wind gusts were clocked to at least 118 m.p.h. in Pascagoula and 102 m.p.h. on Dauphin Island, AL. Farther inland, Mississippi wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. or greater were reported at emergency operations centers as far north as Hattiesburg and Laurel. Elsewhere in Mississippi, Jackson reported its lowest atmospheric pressure on record (28.74 inches on August 29), breaking the record of 28.94 inches set during the passage of Hurricane Camille on August 17, 1969. Late Monday or early Tuesday, gusts topped 50 m.p.h. in locations such as Birmingham, AL (52 m.p.h.), and Memphis, TN (54 m.p.h.). Some daily-record rainfall totals associated with Katrina's remnants included 4.40 inches (on August 29) in Tupelo, MS; 3.08 inches (on August 30) in Louisville, KY; and 3.90 inches (on August 31) in Watertown, NY. Storm totals in excess of 4 inches were common as far north as Ohio, northern Pennsylvania, New York, and northern New England, with amounts of 10 inches or more reported in the central Gulf Coast region. Big Branch, LA, tallied an unofficial total of 14.82 inches. Elsewhere, rainfall highlights were rather limited, although Troutdale, OR (1.61 inches on August 29), noted its wettest August day on record (previously, 1.40 inches on August 26, 1977). Heavy showers developed at week's end in the upper Midwest, where Chanhassen, MN, netted 5.55 inches of rain in a 24-hour period on September 3-4. Early-week temperatures soared to daily-record levels in Western locations such as Imperial, CA (117 degrees F on August 29), and Havre, MT (102 degrees F on August 29). Hot weather also prevailed in southern Texas, where Corpus Christi collected a trio of daily-record highs (102, 102, and 104 degrees F) from August 28-30. Corpus Christi also set a monthly record high, edging the mark of 103 degrees F attained most recently on August 31, 2000. Elsewhere in southern Texas, McAllen posted a daily-record high of 106 degrees F on August 30. Farther west, hot weather returned to areas from the Plains westward late in the week, ending a brief cool spell. In Utah, daily-record lows on August 31 included 22 degrees F in Randolph and 35 degrees F in Cedar City. By September 3, however, daily-record highs were set in northern Plains locations such as Pierre, SD (104 degrees F), and Miles City, MT (102 degrees F). Cooler weather overspread much of Alaska, accompanied by widespread rain and snow showers. Alaskan weekly temperatures averaged as much as 4 degrees F below normal, aided by daily-record lows in locations such as Galena (26 degrees F on September 1) and Kodiak (35 degrees F on September 2). Flurries fell in Fairbanks on August 31, the first August snowfall there since 1969. During August, precipitation ranged from less than one-quarter inch at some interior locations to more than 20 inches in parts of southeastern Alaska. Fairbanks (0.24 inch, or 14 percent of normal) noted its driest August on record, while Yakutat netted 23.88 inches (180 percent). Meanwhile, warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, where locations such as Honolulu, Oahu (83.1 degrees F, or 2.8 degrees F above normal), and the Molokai Airport (78.9 degrees F, or 1.6 degrees F above normal) completed their warmest June-August periods on record, shattering summer marks established in 1994. Honolulu's heat persisted into September, resulting in a daily-record high (93 degrees F) on September 3. National Agricultural Summary August 29 - September 4, 2005 Highlights: Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana Gulf Coast Monday morning, bringing category 4 winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall. As the storm moved further inland, tropical-storm-force winds were felt as far north as Tennessee, and heavy rainfall extended into the Northeast. However, damage to crops was mainly limited to the northern Delta, while further north, in the eastern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, crops benefited from the additional moisture. Elsewhere across the Nation, conditions were mostly dry, with only scattered, light-to-moderate rainfall. Above-normal temperatures prevailed in most areas, though the Pacific Northwest and parts of the southern Great Plains and northwestern Corn Belt were notable exceptions. Corn: Ninety-six percent of the crop was at or beyond the dough stage, compared with 87 percent last year and 93 percent for the 5-year average. Doughing was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Colorado. Acreage in the dent stage advanced to 79 percent, 20 points ahead of last year and 10 points ahead of normal. Denting progressed rapidly in the northern Corn Belt, where Michigan's and Wisconsin's crop advanced 30 and 31 points, respectively. The crop was mature on 20 percent of the acreage, 4 points ahead of last year but 2 points behind normal. Maturation was most advanced in North Carolina, at 81 percent. However, across the Corn Belt, less than 30 percent of the crop was mature. Moderate to heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Katrina increased soil moisture levels in the Ohio Valley, improving crop condition. Soybeans: Fifteen percent of the crop was dropping leaves, 1 point ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Progress was most advanced in the Mississippi Delta, where half of Louisiana's crop and 65 percent of Mississippi's crop was dropping leaves. Progress in both States was well ahead of normal, as well as in neighboring Arkansas and Tennessee. However, in much of the Corn Belt and Great Plains, leaf-dropping lagged behind the normal pace, by as much as 22 points in Kansas. Condition of the crop declined in Mississippi due to winds and heavy rainfall from Katrina, while lighter rainfall further north improved crop condition in the Ohio Valley. Cotton: Bolls opening advanced to 30 percent, 4 points behind last year and 10 points behind normal. Progress was behind normal in all States, except Arkansas and Virginia, where the crop was most advanced. Progress was 2 weeks behind normal in Texas and a week or more behind normal in the rest of the Great Plains and in the Southwest. Crop conditions declined in Mississippi due to high winds from Hurricane Katrina, while dry conditions were responsible for declining conditions in the Southwest. Sorghum: Acreage heading or beyond, at 96 percent, was 5 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Heading progressed at or ahead of the normal pace in all States. Sixty-one percent of the crop was turning color or beyond, compared with 52 percent last year and 67 percent for the 5-year average. In the 2 largest-producing States, Kansas and Texas, coloring trailed 5 and 17 points behind normal, respectively. Maturation, at 23 percent, was 1 point behind last year and 12 points behind normal. In both Kansas and Texas, maturation was over 2 weeks behind the normal pace. Rice: Growers had harvested 24 percent of their acreage, compared with 27 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Harvest progressed rapidly in Louisiana and Texas, advancing 19 and 20 points, respectively, with both States ahead of the normal harvest pace. Elsewhere, however, the pace was much slower, advancing 6 points or less and lagging behind normal. Small Grains: The spring wheat harvest advanced to 90 percent complete, 28 points ahead of last year and 9 points ahead of normal. Idaho growers reaped 23 percent of their acreage during the week, pulling to within 2 points of the normal pace. Elsewhere, progress was at or ahead of normal. Barley producers had harvested 90 percent of their acreage, compared with 75 percent last year and 85 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest was nearly complete in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington and was ahead of normal in all States, except Idaho. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 62 50 61 84 IL : 99 97 99 98 IN : 98 94 99 96 IA : 97 91 89 93 KS : 99 97 97 99 KY : 100 99 100 99 MI : 95 86 65 66 MN : 98 90 68 90 MO : 100 97 99 99 NE : 97 95 94 97 NC : 100 99 100 99 ND : 93 87 53 89 OH : 96 91 95 92 PA : 88 81 89 82 SD : 96 86 83 91 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 99 99 99 WI : 89 69 54 72 : 18 Sts: 96 91 87 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 34 20 24 48 IL : 88 74 85 80 IN : 78 61 80 73 IA : 82 58 59 73 KS : 86 68 80 87 KY : 88 85 90 93 MI : 76 46 23 27 MN : 78 57 18 57 MO : 94 88 90 90 NE : 84 69 61 76 NC : 93 89 98 93 ND : 53 28 11 58 OH : 68 48 66 54 PA : 62 44 67 52 SD : 72 49 32 57 TN : 99 96 100 99 TX : 92 89 92 94 WI : 57 26 13 30 : 18 Sts: 79 61 59 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 6 2 2 10 IL : 28 10 25 25 IN : 19 8 25 20 IA : 15 5 8 20 KS : 42 25 34 51 KY : 57 50 59 64 MI : 19 3 0 2 MN : 5 1 0 6 MO : 68 53 57 58 NE : 7 3 3 15 NC : 81 65 89 76 ND : 4 0 0 9 OH : 5 1 5 5 PA : 23 11 23 14 SD : 6 2 3 11 TN : 67 43 70 75 TX : 72 68 75 78 WI : 7 1 0 1 : 18 Sts: 20 11 16 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 32 22 25 19 IL : 15 4 15 11 IN : 15 4 27 21 IA : 12 2 7 8 KS : 9 2 14 31 KY : 11 6 9 9 LA : 50 45 50 39 MI : 8 1 0 4 MN : 8 1 2 10 MS : 65 53 71 54 MO : 7 2 9 9 NE : 5 1 6 12 NC : 5 2 4 5 ND : 8 1 1 12 OH : 12 7 19 15 SD : 30 11 27 32 TN : 37 19 16 15 WI : 13 0 3 1 : 18 Sts: 15 6 14 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 28 13 27 43 AZ : 50 40 69 73 AR : 61 42 27 44 CA : 23 17 49 39 GA : 20 9 48 44 KS : 3 2 18 10 LA : 60 35 46 67 MS : 55 29 54 63 MO : 25 14 29 38 NC : 25 9 53 30 OK : 10 2 38 30 SC : 27 15 32 28 TN : 29 12 24 42 TX : 21 18 22 34 VA : 72 60 66 33 : 15 Sts: 30 19 34 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 84 61 80 86 MN : 94 76 39 82 MT : 84 71 67 76 ND : 89 73 51 77 SD : 100 100 100 100 WA : 96 84 97 96 : 6 Sts : 90 76 62 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 75 55 75 84 MN : 99 98 63 90 MT : 84 70 78 81 ND : 97 88 71 86 WA : 97 90 96 96 : 5 Sts : 90 78 75 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 83% of last year's barley acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 96 91 87 86 IL : 99 99 99 98 KS : 97 91 90 94 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 98 99 99 NE : 100 98 97 97 NM : 94 89 71 75 OK : 88 81 85 87 SD : 100 100 99 99 TX : 94 90 91 92 : 11 Sts: 96 92 91 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 95 97 CO : 32 26 27 31 IL : 89 71 83 75 KS : 60 43 44 65 LA : 99 97 100 99 MO : 83 72 82 78 NE : 74 47 35 56 NM : 30 10 14 26 OK : 56 48 44 57 SD : 61 34 66 67 TX : 60 57 65 77 : 11 Sts: 61 48 52 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 76 63 79 84 CO : 4 2 5 6 IL : 40 13 33 17 KS : 5 4 8 22 LA : 91 85 98 96 MO : 36 11 24 32 NE : 1 0 2 9 NM : 4 3 2 1 OK : 20 12 27 32 SD : 4 1 3 8 TX : 54 52 55 66 : 11 Sts: 23 20 24 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 4, :Aug 28,:Sep 4, : 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 8 2 10 13 CA : 2 1 7 3 LA : 82 63 86 81 MS : 5 2 26 19 MO : 2 2 4 3 TX : 91 71 82 86 : 6 Sts : 24 16 27 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 9 29 43 16 IL : 25 32 29 14 0 IN : 6 15 37 36 6 IA : 3 8 21 46 22 KS : 4 14 34 43 5 KY : 4 8 30 47 11 MI : 3 8 26 45 18 MN : 2 6 21 52 19 MO : 23 20 24 27 6 NE : 5 9 23 45 18 NC : 1 11 25 38 25 ND : 2 5 22 46 25 OH : 6 14 36 36 8 PA : 4 11 29 42 14 SD : 6 14 28 43 9 TN : 2 9 31 46 12 TX : 12 16 31 30 11 WI : 10 16 22 43 9 : 18 Sts : 9 14 26 39 12 : Prev Wk : 8 14 26 39 13 Prev Yr : 3 7 21 49 20 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 20 35 30 5 IL : 12 21 40 26 1 IN : 3 11 34 43 9 IA : 2 6 21 50 21 KS : 2 11 36 45 6 KY : 1 10 29 49 11 LA : 2 16 30 44 8 MI : 4 7 30 42 17 MN : 2 6 22 50 20 MS : 7 13 25 49 6 MO : 13 20 35 27 5 NE : 4 11 29 43 13 NC : 4 17 25 41 13 ND : 1 6 20 49 24 OH : 3 10 32 45 10 SD : 3 17 27 41 12 TN : 4 9 30 46 11 WI : 8 15 27 40 10 : 18 Sts : 5 12 29 42 12 : Prev Wk : 5 12 30 41 12 Prev Yr : 3 9 26 47 15 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 7 16 63 13 AZ : 0 6 25 65 4 AR : 1 4 22 52 21 CA : 0 0 20 56 24 GA : 1 3 23 58 15 KS : 1 4 27 59 9 LA : 1 12 23 51 13 MS : 11 16 22 45 6 MO : 8 12 21 54 5 NC : 6 18 30 40 6 OK : 8 9 25 53 5 SC : 0 4 16 73 7 TN : 0 3 25 54 18 TX : 6 10 23 45 16 VA : 0 5 20 65 10 : 15 Sts : 4 9 23 50 14 : Prev Wk : 3 7 25 51 14 Prev Yr : 3 5 22 48 22 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 20 40 30 5 CO : 4 23 41 31 1 IL : 3 17 23 49 8 KS : 3 13 41 37 6 LA : 1 10 31 48 10 MO : 13 22 40 23 2 NE : 3 10 30 44 13 NM : 0 15 43 41 1 OK : 0 4 28 44 24 SD : 7 12 38 42 1 TX : 7 9 33 42 9 : 11 Sts : 4 12 37 39 8 : Prev Wk : 4 12 37 40 7 Prev Yr : 2 9 25 48 16 -------------------------------------- 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 Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 7 31 43 17 CA : 1 3 71 21 4 LA : 0 0 34 48 18 MS : 5 12 15 63 5 MO : 0 1 17 58 24 TX : 0 1 31 51 17 : 6 Sts : 1 5 37 43 14 : Prev Wk : 1 4 34 46 15 Prev Yr : 0 2 25 47 26 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 1 18 53 28 FL : 0 1 29 50 20 GA : 1 6 22 53 18 NC : 5 10 16 64 5 OK : 0 1 29 61 9 TX : 1 2 21 52 24 VA : 0 5 8 80 7 : 8 Sts : 1 4 21 55 19 : Prev Wk : 1 4 20 56 19 Prev Yr : 2 4 29 48 17 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 4, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 0 1 20 56 23 :: NJ : 0 45 50 5 0 AZ : 21 23 34 17 5 :: NM : 4 16 31 45 4 AR : 31 37 24 8 0 :: NY : 21 29 39 11 0 CA : 35 50 14 1 0 :: NC : 3 7 26 60 4 CO : 10 25 39 23 3 :: ND : 2 7 29 53 9 CT : 32 33 30 5 0 :: OH : 13 19 36 29 3 DE : 1 2 42 53 2 :: OK : 5 15 37 37 6 FL : 0 5 40 50 5 :: OR : 7 25 45 23 0 GA : 0 2 19 68 11 :: PA : 32 30 21 14 3 ID : 1 13 38 38 10 :: RI : 50 50 0 0 0 IL : 29 27 29 14 1 :: SC : 0 2 27 58 13 IN : 8 23 45 23 1 :: SD : 10 18 27 40 5 IA : 16 24 32 25 3 :: TN : 4 15 42 36 3 KS : 7 17 40 34 2 :: TX : 10 25 35 26 4 KY : 13 26 34 26 1 :: UT : 0 4 19 63 14 LA : 11 37 38 10 4 :: VT : 10 14 38 33 5 ME : 2 10 15 70 3 :: VA : 4 20 34 35 7 MD : 2 10 37 43 8 :: WA : 10 25 33 32 0 MA : 1 7 63 29 0 :: WV : 13 11 38 34 4 MI : 11 26 32 27 4 :: WI : 10 32 35 20 3 MN : 5 14 34 41 6 :: WY : 3 12 38 42 5 MS : 15 26 36 20 3 :: : MO : 27 32 26 14 1 :: 48 Sts : 12 22 32 30 4 MT : 6 19 39 32 4 :: : NE : 13 17 31 36 3 :: Prev Wk: 11 20 34 31 4 NV : 0 0 12 54 34 :: Prev Yr: 9 14 27 40 10 NH : 2 3 22 71 2 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. These estimates are preliminary and subject to corrections or updates in the "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" National Summary that is released after 12:00 pm ET on the second business day of the week. These estimates are then subject to revision the following week. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.usda.gov/nass/. 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