We 1 (9-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 20, 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. 38 September 11 - 17, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Hurricane Ophelia lingered near the southern Atlantic Coast before grazing North Carolina on September 14-15. Although the center of Ophelia's eye remained offshore, passing about 15 miles south of Cape Lookout, the Category 1 storm's northern eyewall (maximum sustained winds as high as 85 m.p.h.) spent 2 days battering North Carolina's coast from Cape Hatteras southward. Significant agricultural effects were confined to North Carolina's southeastern counties, where heavy rain (locally in excess of 4 inches) and tropical storm-force wind gusts (39 to 73 m.p.h.) may have lodged unharvested summer crops and reduced the quality of open-boll cotton. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms slowed fieldwork across the southern half of the Plains and the Midwest. Rain maintained abundant moisture reserves for newly planted winter wheat from Kansas southward and replenished topsoil moisture reserves in the drought-affected central Corn Belt. In contrast, some winter wheat producers across the increasingly dry Northwest continued to await rain before planting. After midweek, scattered showers reversed a recent drying trend across parts of the Northeast and the interior South. However, hot weather intensified toward week's end across the Southeastern and Gulf Coast States. Elsewhere, a late-season warm spell boosted weekly temperatures up to 10 degrees F above normal in the Northeast and provided above-normal readings across the eastern two-thirds of the Nation. Conversely, temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal in California and the Great Basin. Ophelia spent much of its life cycle as a strong tropical storm or a minimal (Category 1) hurricane. On September 14, Ophelia passed about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington, NC, where the peak wind gust was 68 m.p.h. and storm-total rainfall reached 8.23 inches. Rainfall topped 10 inches in Brunswick County (NC) locations such as Oak Island (17.50 inches) and Sunny Point (10.74 inches). Selected peak wind gusts in coastal North Carolina included 99 m.p.h. on Oak Island, 90 m.p.h. at Cape Lookout, 84 m.p.h. on Bald Head Island, 83 m.p.h. at Cape Hatteras, and 79 m.p.h. at Wrightsville Beach. Offshore waves were measured to at least 22 feet on the morning of September 15 at Diamond Shoals, approximately 15 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Later, on the morning of September 17, the former hurricane passed about 60 miles southeast of Nantucket Island, MA. Storm-total rainfall at selected Massachusetts airports included 5.06 inches at Hyannis, 3.58 inches at Chatham, and 2.86 inches at Nantucket. Strong thunderstorms accompanied early- to mid-week rainfall across the Plains and the Midwest. On September 13, there were more than 200 reports of severe thunderstorms (hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter or wind gusts to 58 m.p.h. or greater) from north-central Texas to northern Lower Michigan. Daily-record rainfall totals included 2.43 inches (on September 11) in Childress, TX, and 2.61 inches (on September 13) in LaCrosse, WI. After midweek, locally heavy rain reached the East, where daily-record amounts totaled 2.28 inches (on September 15) in Jackson, TN, 2.66 inches (on September 15) in Providence, RI, and 3.08 inches (on September 16) in Rochester, NY. It was Rochester's second-highest daily total on record in September, behind only 3.47 inches on September 14, 1979. Elsewhere in the East, Huntsville, AL, netted 0.36 inch of rain on September 15, barely averting its first September 1-15 period without measurable precipitation since 1964. Similarly, Atlanta, GA, received 0.01 inch on September 16, ending at 16 days (August 31 - September 15) its longest dry spell since a 28-day streak without measurable rain in October-November 2001. On September 15, Atlanta (91 degrees F) also posted its first September day with a high of 90 degrees F or greater since September 12, 2002. Meanwhile, daily-record warmth, most extensive across the Great Lakes and Northeastern States for much of the week, shifted into the South toward week's end. Alpena, MI, opened their week with a record high (90 degrees F) for September 11. In Pennsylvania, Scranton collected daily-record highs on September 12, 13, and 15 (90, 92, and 91 degrees F, respectively). In Minneapolis, MN, the September 1-17 average temperature of 69.1 degrees F posed a threat to the Twin Cities' warmest September on record (68.8 degrees F), which was established in 1897. Farther south, Panama City, FL (95 degrees F), posted a record high for September 16, followed the next day by daily records in locations such as Lubbock, TX (98 degrees F), Alexandria, LA (98 degrees F), and Florence, SC (96 degrees F). In contrast, several daily-record lows were set in the West, including 24 degrees F (on September 11) in Winnemucca, NV, and 34 degrees F (on September 15) in Cedar City, UT. Heavy rain in Hawaii helped to ease dry conditions but caused local flooding. On Kauai, 24-hour totals on September 14-15 reached 11.43 inches in Wainiha and 10.97 inches on Mt. Waialeale. Meanwhile on the Big Island, Hilo collected 11.42 inches of rain in a 3-day period, including daily-record totals on September 14 and 15 (2.74 and 5.93 inches, respectively). Farther north, mild, showery weather prevailed in Alaska, where mainland temperatures averaged as much as 6 degrees F above normal. In southwestern Alaska, Cold Bay netted a daily-record total (0.82 inch) on September 14. Through September 17, month-to-date totals were more than twice normal in Alaskan locations such as Anchorage (3.74 inches) and Bethel (3.77 inches). National Agricultural Summary September 12 - 18, 2005 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures prevailed from the Great Plains eastward, exceeding 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the northern Corn Belt. Corn and soybeans matured rapidly in the Corn Belt, while moderate rainfall supported crop conditions. In the northern and central Great Plains, warm conditions were favorable for corn and soybean maturation and winter wheat planting, but dry weather caused crop conditions to deteriorate slightly. Cotton and peanut conditions declined in the Mississippi Delta and Southeast as hot, dry weather further decreased soil moisture levels. Hurricane Ophelia lingered just off the North Carolina coast for much of the week, bringing heavy rainfall to coastal areas, but elsewhere along the middle and southern Atlantic Coast, conditions were mostly dry. From the Rocky Mountains westward, below-normal temperatures and dry conditions favored winter wheat planting. Corn: Ninety-six percent of the crop was in the dent stage or beyond, 12 percentage points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of the 5-year average. The crop progressed most rapidly in Colorado, advancing 20 points to 70 percent. In all other States, over 90 percent of the crop was dented or beyond. Maturation, at 57 percent, was 17 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. The crop progressed rapidly to maturity across the Corn Belt, where above-normal temperatures were favorable for development. In Iowa and Wisconsin, one-fourth of the crop reached maturity during the week, while in most other States, 20 percent or more of the crop entered this stage. Meanwhile, harvest advanced to 11 percent complete, 2 points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Growers had begun reaping their crop in all States, except North Dakota. Harvest was most advanced in Texas, at 69 percent, and North Carolina, at 60 percent. However, among Corn Belt States, only in Illinois was harvest over 7 percent complete. Soybeans: Acreage dropping leaves advanced to 64 percent, compared with 49 percent last year and 53 percent for the 5-year average. The crop dropped leaves rapidly in the Corn Belt and Great Plains under warm conditions. In Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, leaf-dropping advanced 37 points, while Iowa's, Minnesota's, and Ohio's crops advanced by over 30 points. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except Kansas, Kentucky, and North Dakota. Meanwhile, growers had harvested 8 percent of their acreage, the same as last year but 2 points ahead of normal. Harvest was underway in all States, except Kentucky, Missouri, and North Carolina and was ahead of normal in most areas. Mississippi and Louisiana growers led the way with 67 and 62 percent of their acreage harvested, respectively, both well ahead of the normal pace. Winter Wheat: Planting reached 25 percent complete, 2 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Planting had begun in all States and was ahead of the normal pace everywhere except in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Washington. Colorado and Nebraska growers had seeded over half their acreage, while in Montana, South Dakota, and Washington, planting was 40 percent complete or more. Planting was just getting underway in the Corn Belt, ranging from 2 percent complete in Ohio to 9 percent in Michigan. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls advanced to 56 percent, the same as last year but 8 points behind normal. Development lagged behind normal everywhere except in the Delta and the northern half of the Southeast. Bolls opening trailed the normal pace by over a week in Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas and by over 2 weeks in California. Meanwhile, growers had harvested 11 percent of their acreage, compared with 9 percent last year and 12 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty percent of Louisiana's crop and 21 percent of Texas' crop had been stripped, with both States leading the normal harvest pace. Elsewhere, however, harvest was less than 10 percent complete and was at or behind the normal pace. Sorghum: Eighty-two percent of the crop had turned color, 7 points ahead of last year but 2 points behind normal. All of the acreage in the Delta had begun turning color, while just 45 percent of New Mexico's crop had reached the stage, 1 week behind normal. Texas's crop also trailed the normal coloring pace by over a week. Maturation of the crop advanced to 42 percent, compared with 37 percent last year and 53 percent for the 5-year average. All of Louisiana's crop and 95 percent of Arkansas' crop had reached maturity, while in Kansas and Texas, the two largest-producing States, maturation trailed the normal pace by 16 and 12 points, respectively. Growers had harvested 26 percent of their acreage, 2 points ahead of last year but 8 points behind normal. Harvest had begun in all States, except New Mexico, but was behind the normal pace in most areas. Only in Illinois and Louisiana was harvest progress ahead of normal. Rice: Harvest advanced to 43 percent complete, 14 points behind last year and 9 points behind normal. Texas growers had harvested 96 percent of their acreage, the same as the 5-year average. However, in all remaining States, progress was behind the normal pace. In Mississippi and California, progress was over a week behind normal. Other Crops: The Nation's peanut harvest was 5 percent complete, compared with 8 percent last year and 10 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest progressed at the normal pace in Alabama and Oklahoma but was behind normal elsewhere. Crop condition declined sharply in most of the Southeast due to hot, dry weather. Sugarbeet growers had harvested 3 percent of their acreage, 1 point ahead of last year but the same as normal. Harvest was slightly ahead of normal in Michigan but slightly behind normal elsewhere. Early harvest progress is limited by factory capacity until temperatures are low enough to pile the beets while they await processing. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 52 41 43 36 IL : 69 40 58 51 IN : 71 45 75 62 IA : 70 37 59 56 KS : 45 25 56 62 KY : 36 17 35 38 LA : 77 63 65 63 MI : 79 42 14 32 MN : 62 31 26 58 MS : 89 79 90 77 MO : 38 17 38 35 NE : 62 25 52 53 NC : 25 12 14 15 ND : 59 35 24 61 OH : 73 37 55 57 SD : 86 62 57 72 TN : 64 49 37 35 WI : 76 39 25 35 : 18 Sts: 64 37 49 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 26 NA 25 12 IL : 8 NA 10 5 IN : 6 NA 13 5 IA : 7 NA 3 3 KS : 2 NA 5 11 KY : 0 NA 1 1 LA : 62 NA 46 34 MI : 8 NA 0 1 MN : 2 NA 0 5 MS : 67 NA 72 49 MO : 0 NA 4 3 NE : 4 NA 5 5 NC : 0 NA 0 0 ND : 2 NA 0 5 OH : 5 NA 5 3 SD : 3 NA 0 2 TN : 14 NA 8 4 WI : 4 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 8 NA 8 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 1 1 1 CA : 1 0 3 1 CO : 52 20 58 45 ID : 22 11 17 18 IL : 3 0 1 1 IN : 3 2 3 3 KS : 16 4 19 14 MI : 9 5 8 9 MO : 4 1 3 1 MT : 47 17 41 24 NE : 51 21 45 45 NC : 1 0 4 3 OH : 2 0 0 1 OK : 22 12 32 25 OR : 7 4 2 5 SD : 44 29 36 30 TX : 32 19 33 27 WA : 40 24 45 52 : 18 Sts: 25 12 27 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 1 NA 2 2 MI : 1 NA 0 0 MN : 4 NA 3 5 ND : 3 NA 3 4 : 4 Sts : 3 NA 2 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 70 50 73 83 IL : 97 95 97 96 IN : 95 87 95 93 IA : 98 88 90 94 KS : 98 92 98 98 KY : 99 95 98 99 MI : 96 85 53 69 MN : 96 91 62 89 MO : 99 98 98 98 NE : 97 94 88 94 NC : 100 96 100 99 ND : 91 79 51 86 OH : 96 83 89 85 PA : 91 77 86 76 SD : 96 92 72 90 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 97 95 99 99 WI : 91 74 41 68 : 18 Sts: 96 89 84 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 30 15 16 34 IL : 74 54 68 66 IN : 59 38 62 52 IA : 59 34 35 60 KS : 76 53 73 82 KY : 90 76 81 87 MI : 52 28 9 19 MN : 34 12 1 36 MO : 87 76 83 86 NE : 45 24 29 52 NC : 97 88 97 94 ND : 26 9 3 35 OH : 34 14 29 26 PA : 51 34 52 33 SD : 43 21 17 39 TN : 92 84 94 95 TX : 83 77 83 90 WI : 46 21 4 18 : 18 Sts: 57 36 40 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 0 1 2 IL : 13 6 9 10 IN : 7 2 7 7 IA : 3 1 2 5 KS : 30 14 21 38 KY : 31 15 36 38 MI : 6 0 0 1 MN : 1 0 0 1 MO : 44 29 29 39 NE : 4 2 4 8 NC : 60 41 65 51 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 1 0 1 1 PA : 14 7 19 10 SD : 2 0 0 2 TN : 40 22 56 59 TX : 69 65 65 69 WI : 4 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 11 6 9 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 71 52 61 71 AZ : 75 65 89 93 AR : 88 84 68 77 CA : 37 30 78 68 GA : 54 35 75 71 KS : 21 11 32 29 LA : 97 90 78 87 MS : 89 75 83 89 MO : 67 42 61 63 NC : 76 64 82 59 OK : 41 24 71 58 SC : 54 38 59 50 TN : 74 55 52 71 TX : 39 25 34 53 VA : 84 75 81 51 : 15 Sts: 56 43 56 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 0 2 4 AZ : 4 1 3 8 AR : 5 1 2 5 CA : 0 0 0 0 GA : 1 0 4 6 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 20 15 5 16 MS : 8 2 6 13 MO : 1 0 2 5 NC : 0 0 1 1 OK : 0 0 0 2 SC : 0 0 1 3 TN : 2 0 2 6 TX : 21 20 17 20 VA : 0 0 3 2 : 15 Sts: 11 9 9 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 41 23 50 48 CA : 5 3 28 17 LA : 88 84 96 91 MS : 28 16 71 55 MO : 16 8 26 23 TX : 96 95 98 96 : 6 Sts : 43 33 57 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 12 0 5 12 FL : 10 2 24 20 GA : 5 1 7 10 NC : 1 1 3 3 OK : 2 0 2 2 TX : 2 1 4 5 VA : 0 0 14 7 : 7 Sts : 5 1 8 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 99 CO : 61 48 50 61 IL : 93 90 99 90 KS : 85 77 76 86 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 93 90 94 93 NE : 95 90 80 86 NM : 45 40 53 62 OK : 73 68 66 75 SD : 93 83 82 90 TX : 78 66 74 84 : 11 Sts: 82 74 75 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 87 94 95 CO : 28 15 13 22 IL : 70 58 77 54 KS : 30 20 24 46 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 69 55 53 62 NE : 29 6 14 39 NM : 9 5 5 6 OK : 32 26 39 48 SD : 41 15 26 32 TX : 61 56 60 73 : 11 Sts: 42 32 37 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 18,:Sep 11,:Sep 18,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 76 52 78 78 CO : 1 0 0 1 IL : 20 6 3 5 KS : 9 4 6 21 LA : 99 85 99 91 MO : 25 13 18 25 NE : 1 0 1 10 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 18 12 20 28 SD : 3 0 3 5 TX : 57 55 56 64 : 11 Sts: 26 22 24 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 10 25 44 18 IL : 21 27 31 18 3 IN : 6 14 37 38 5 IA : 3 8 21 47 21 KS : 4 14 42 37 3 KY : 4 13 26 39 18 MI : 1 6 23 51 19 MN : 2 4 19 51 24 MO : 22 21 26 26 5 NE : 5 9 23 44 19 NC : 2 10 27 41 20 ND : 2 6 23 49 20 OH : 6 15 36 36 7 PA : 3 9 32 47 9 SD : 6 13 25 41 15 TN : 2 9 31 46 12 TX : 12 16 31 30 11 WI : 6 17 33 32 12 : 18 Sts : 8 13 27 39 13 : Prev Wk : 8 14 27 37 14 Prev Yr : 3 7 20 47 23 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 21 35 29 5 IL : 11 18 38 29 4 IN : 4 11 33 44 8 IA : 2 6 21 50 21 KS : 2 11 41 40 6 KY : 2 10 24 44 20 LA : 7 14 41 35 3 MI : 3 9 29 43 16 MN : 2 4 23 46 25 MS : 4 9 23 52 12 MO : 13 21 36 25 5 NE : 4 12 30 42 12 NC : 5 22 30 38 5 ND : 2 6 22 49 21 OH : 3 11 32 43 11 SD : 4 12 27 42 15 TN : 4 8 29 47 12 WI : 5 12 30 42 11 : 18 Sts : 5 12 30 40 13 : Prev Wk : 5 12 29 41 13 Prev Yr : 3 8 25 47 17 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 6 19 66 8 AZ : 0 5 28 60 7 AR : 1 4 22 52 21 CA : 0 0 15 50 35 GA : 2 7 31 50 10 KS : 1 4 41 45 9 LA : 6 17 37 35 5 MS : 6 14 30 37 13 MO : 6 13 25 51 5 NC : 2 18 37 42 1 OK : 7 8 22 58 5 SC : 0 6 31 61 2 TN : 0 3 20 59 18 TX : 6 12 21 46 15 VA : 6 11 22 57 4 : 15 Sts : 4 10 24 48 14 : Prev Wk : 3 9 23 50 15 Prev Yr : 4 7 23 46 20 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 20 39 31 5 CO : 4 21 41 33 1 IL : 2 15 26 55 2 KS : 3 12 40 40 5 LA : 1 10 31 48 10 MO : 11 21 47 19 2 NE : 4 9 26 47 14 NM : 0 12 44 43 1 OK : 0 4 29 43 24 SD : 10 10 36 42 2 TX : 7 9 33 42 9 : 11 Sts : 5 11 36 41 7 : Prev Wk : 5 11 37 40 7 Prev Yr : 2 9 27 47 15 -------------------------------------- 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 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 7 29 44 19 CA : 0 0 51 42 7 LA : 0 0 34 48 18 MS : 4 13 10 55 18 MO : 0 2 18 55 25 TX : 0 1 31 51 17 : 6 Sts : 1 4 32 46 17 : Prev Wk : 1 4 34 46 15 Prev Yr : 0 2 25 47 26 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 5 26 59 10 FL : 0 5 33 53 9 GA : 2 9 34 46 9 NC : 0 5 39 54 2 OK : 0 3 26 61 10 TX : 0 3 20 53 24 VA : 0 9 23 68 0 : 8 Sts : 1 6 30 52 11 : Prev Wk : 1 5 24 55 15 Prev Yr : 3 7 27 47 16 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 18, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 9 25 58 6 :: NJ : 0 50 50 0 0 AZ : 20 25 33 18 4 :: NM : 4 17 34 42 3 AR : 38 35 22 5 0 :: NY : 8 31 37 21 3 CA : 51 35 14 0 0 :: NC : 10 21 37 27 5 CO : 11 26 37 23 3 :: ND : 1 11 36 46 6 CT : 38 33 23 6 0 :: OH : 12 18 38 29 3 DE : 7 17 57 19 0 :: OK : 7 14 30 43 6 FL : 0 15 35 45 5 :: OR : 6 30 43 20 1 GA : 3 18 39 37 3 :: PA : 37 34 19 9 1 ID : 1 15 41 33 10 :: RI : 50 50 0 0 0 IL : 28 28 30 14 0 :: SC : 5 19 36 40 0 IN : 9 23 45 22 1 :: SD : 8 18 36 33 5 IA : 17 27 31 23 2 :: TN : 6 18 42 32 2 KS : 6 15 42 35 2 :: TX : 13 27 37 21 2 KY : 10 20 41 26 3 :: UT : 0 1 20 60 19 LA : 27 40 26 6 1 :: VT : 0 33 43 19 5 ME : 2 9 16 71 2 :: VA : 18 31 34 17 0 MD : 8 20 42 30 0 :: WA : 11 27 32 30 0 MA : 1 12 64 23 0 :: WV : 12 11 50 26 1 MI : 16 32 34 18 0 :: WI : 19 22 34 22 3 MN : 5 9 31 47 8 :: WY : 5 17 31 43 4 MS : 14 30 40 15 1 :: : MO : 22 30 33 14 1 :: 48 Sts : 14 23 33 27 3 MT : 7 20 42 29 2 :: : NE : 8 19 35 35 3 :: Prev Wk: 13 23 32 28 4 NV : 0 0 10 52 38 :: Prev Yr: 10 15 29 37 9 NH : 2 5 32 59 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. 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