We 1 (9-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 27, 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. 39 September 18 - 24, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Shortly after passing between Cuba and the Florida Keys, Rita quickly became the third-most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin, based on barometric readings. Rita grazed southern Florida on September 20 with heavy showers and gusty winds, although gusts to hurricane force (74 m.p.h. or greater) were confined to the Florida Keys. On the night of September 21-22, however, Rita's central pressure fell to 26.49 inches of mercury (897 millibars), behind only Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 (26.22 inches, or 888 mb) and the Florida Keys' Labor Day hurricane of 1935 (26.35 inches, or 892 mb). Rita's peak sustained winds were estimated at 175 m.p.h. Despite weakening before making landfall early September 24 in Louisiana's Cameron Parish, Rita still struck with maximum sustained winds near 120 m.p.h. and a central pressure of 27.67 inches (937 mb). Major livestock areas along the middle Texas coast escaped a direct hurricane strike, but maturing sugarcane in south-central Louisiana was subjected to heavy rains and local wind gusts in excess of 50 m.p.h. Rita also produced drenching rainfall (as much as 4 to 8 inches) and gusty winds in the Delta, where rice, open-boll cotton and other unharvested summer crops were highly vulnerable to adverse conditions. Elsewhere, Rita brought renewed storm surge-related flooding to hurricane-ravaged southeastern Louisiana and triggered more than three dozen tornadoes across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Meanwhile, a late-season heat wave boosted weekly temperatures more than 10 degrees F above normal across the south-central U.S. and resulted in triple-digit readings (100 degrees F or higher) as far north as the central Plains. Cool conditions were confined to California, the Great Basin, and the Northwest, where temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal. Mostly dry weather promoted fieldwork, including summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting, across the Plains and the Northwest, although extremely dry conditions in the latter region hampered wheat emergence and caused some wheat producers to await rain before seeding. Farther east, locally heavy showers slowed Midwestern corn and soybean harvesting. Rain also slowed early-season winter wheat planting across the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes States, but provided much-needed moisture for small grain establishment. In contrast, dry conditions intensified from the interior Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic States and southern New England, favoring harvest activities but stressing pastures. On September 20, Rita achieved hurricane intensity shortly before passing about 50 miles south of Key West, FL. In southern Florida, Ft. Lauderdale netted a daily-record rainfall of 3.00 inches and clocked a peak southeasterly wind gust to 55 m.p.h. Farther south, Key West's peak gust was southeasterly at 76 m.p.h. Rita underwent explosive intensification from September 19-21, with the storm's central pressure falling 2.8 inches (95 mb)--from 29.32 inches (993 mb) to 26.52 inches (898 mb)--in 48 hours. As Rita neared the Gulf Coast on September 23, New Orleans, LA, clocked an easterly wind gust to 48 m.p.h. Closer to the point of landfall--which occurred at 2:30 a.m. CDT on September 24 between Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border and Johnsons Bayou, LA--Texas coastal winds reached 116 m.p.h. in Port Arthur and 101 m.p.h. at Sea Rim State Park. Selected rainfall totals associated with Rita included 10.48 inches in Center, TX; 9.32 inches in Baton Rouge, LA; and 6.81 inches in Greenville, MS. Winds gusted to 53 m.p.h. in Baton Rouge and 47 m.p.h. in Greenville. On September 24, Shreveport, LA, netted 5.52 inches of rain, reported a peak wind gust to 53 m.p.h., and measured its second-lowest barometric pressure on record (29.05 inches, or 983.7 mb), behind only the winter storm-related reading of 29.04 inches, or 983.4 mb, established on February 27, 1902. Farther north, locally heavy showers peppered the eastern Plains, the Midwest, and the Intermountain West. Daily-record totals for September 21 included 1.21 inches in Grand Junction, CO, and 1.01 inches in Idaho Falls, ID. Two days later, records for September 23 on the east-central Plains included 5.61 inches in Topeka, KS, and 2.32 inches in Kansas City, MO. Topeka also noted single-day rainfall records for September (previously, 4.59 inches on September 14, 1930) and any month (previously, 5.23 inches on March 15, 1919). Elsewhere, unusually heavy showers briefly overspread southern California on September 20, when daily-record totals were established in locations such as Lancaster (0.80 inch), Palmdale (0.64 inch), and downtown Los Angeles (0.29 inch). Late-season heat affected much of the Nation, resulting in more than 150 daily-record highs. In Florida, Panama City (100 degrees F on September 19) noted its hottest September day on record, edging the standard of 98 degrees F set on September 2, 1989. Elsewhere in Florida, Tallahassee's maximum of 99 degrees F on September 19 was its highest reading of the year and highest September temperature since September 21, 1997, when it was also 99 degrees F. Farther north, Rochester, MN, posted a high of 91 degrees F on September 21, marking its latest 90-degree heat since October 3, 1997. Elsewhere, daily-record highs were set or tied in locations such as Little Rock, AR (98, 100, 102, 100, and 98 degrees F from September 18-22); Lincoln, NE (103 and 93 degrees F on September 21 and 24, respectively); and McAllen, TX (100, 105, and 105 degrees F from September 22-24). Elsewhere in southern Texas, Brownsville (104 degrees F) posted a monthly record high on September 24. In contrast, scattered daily-record lows in the West Coast States included 53 degrees F (on September 22) in downtown Oakland, CA, and 36 degrees F (on September 23) in Astoria, OR. In western Montana, Wisdom collected a daily-record snowfall (1 inch) on September 24. Despite mild weather (weekly temperatures as much as 7 degrees F above normal), Alaska's stormy September continued. Fairbanks netted a daily-record rainfall of 0.45 inch on September 24, boosting its month-to-date total to 1.27 inches (135 percent of normal). Similarly, McGrath's 1.40-inch total on September 22 lifted its month-to-date sum to 4.13 inches (210 percent of normal). Elsewhere in Alaska, month-to-date precipitation climbed to 5.97 inches (308 percent of normal) in Bethel, breaking its September 1954 record of 5.21 inches. High winds accompanied the wet weather in western Alaska, where Nome reported a wind gust to 57 m.p.h. on September 23. Meanwhile in Hawaii, much more tranquil weather prevailed, following the previous week's heavy rainfall. Nevertheless, Hilo's weekly rainfall of 1.06 inches pushed its September 1-24 total to 16.33 inches (220 percent of normal). Hilo also posted a daily record-tying high of 89 degrees F on September 24. National Agricultural Summary September 19 - 25, 2005 Highlights: Hurricane Rita came ashore as a Category 3 storm on Saturday near the Texas-Louisiana border. High winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes damaged open-boll cotton as far east as Mississippi, but much of the rice crop in the storm-affected area had already been harvested. Moderate rainfall across most of the Corn Belt favored winter wheat emergence but caused minor fieldwork delays. In the Southeast, dry weather continued to deplete soil moisture and stress cotton and peanuts. Crop conditions generally improved in the Great Plains despite dry weather. Further west, conditions were mostly dry, though moderate precipitation fell in parts of the northern and central Rocky Mountains. Above-normal temperatures prevailed across most of the Nation, exceeding the normal by over 6 degrees Fahrenheit across the central and southern Great Plains, Mississippi Delta, Southeast, and most of the Corn Belt. Only along the Pacific Coast and northern Rocky Mountains were temperatures below normal. Corn: Maturation advanced to 76 percent, compared with 56 percent last year and 71 percent for the 5-year average. With above-normal temperatures, the crop developed rapidly in the northern Great Plains, advancing 29 percentage points in North Dakota and 31 points in South Dakota. Maturation was well ahead of normal in the Ohio Valley and northern Corn Belt, particularly in Michigan, where progress led the normal pace by 41 points. Growers had harvested 18 percent of their acreage, 3 points ahead of last year but the same as normal. Harvest was most advanced in North Carolina and Texas, at 76 and 73 percent complete, respectively. Progress was generally ahead of normal in the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley but behind normal in the Great Plains. Soybeans: Acreage dropping leaves or beyond, at 83 percent, was 14 points ahead of last year and 11 points ahead of normal. Leaf dropping progressed well in the Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Corn Belt, advancing 20 points or more in most States. Progress was ahead of normal across most of the Nation, with Michigan and Tennessee leading the normal pace by 37 and 32 points, respectively. Only in Kansas and Kentucky was leaf dropping behind the normal pace. Harvest advanced to 19 percent complete, 2 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was most advanced and well ahead of normal in the Delta, at 73 percent complete in Louisiana and 78 percent in Mississippi. Winter Wheat: Producers had sown 39 percent of their crop, 1 point behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Growers in Colorado and Montana had planted over 70 percent of their acreage, with Nebraska growers close behind at 69 percent planted. Progress was slightly ahead of normal across the Corn Belt and central and northern Great Plains. Twelve percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 15 percent last year and 14 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence was well underway in Nebraska and Colorado, at 34 and 30 percent, respectively, but had not yet begun in Arkansas, California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls, at 68 percent, was 1 point behind last year and 7 points behind normal. With warm weather across most growing areas, progress gained momentum but continued to trail a week or more behind normal in Arizona, Georgia, and Texas and over 2 weeks behind in California. Harvest advanced to 15 percent complete, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind the 5-year average. Louisiana growers, faced with the prospect of damage from Hurricane Rita, harvested 19 percent of their acreage during the week, reaching 39 percent complete, 10 points ahead of normal. However, progress trailed the normal pace in most States and had not yet begun in Kansas and Oklahoma. Crop condition declined sharply in Louisiana and Mississippi due to damaging winds and rain from Rita. Sorghum: Acreage turning color or beyond reached 89 percent, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind normal. Fifty-three percent of the crop was mature, compared with 50 percent last year and 64 percent for the 5-year average. In the two largest producing States, Kansas and Texas, maturation was 18 and 12 points behind normal, respectively. Harvest advanced to 30 percent complete, 2 points ahead of last year but 10 points behind normal. Kansas and Texas growers were over 2 weeks behind their normal harvest pace. Rice: Growers had reaped 60 percent of their crop, 13 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was nearly complete in Texas, at 98 percent, but was behind normal in all other States. In anticipation of damaging wind and rains from Hurricane Rita, Arkansas and Mississippi growers harvested 23 and 32 percent of their acreage during the week, respectively. Winds from Rita caused lodging in Mississippi, worsening crop condition. Other Crops: Peanut producers had harvested 14 percent of their acreage, 1 point behind last year and 5 points behind normal. Harvest advanced 15 points in Florida but was limited to 10 points or less elsewhere, with all States trailing the normal harvest pace. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 6 percent complete, 1 point ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Harvest continued to progress slowly, but at a normal pace, while temperatures remained too high for piling. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 2 4 2 CA : 2 1 4 4 CO : 72 52 79 69 ID : 35 22 34 33 IL : 5 3 4 4 IN : 6 3 6 5 KS : 30 16 28 28 MI : 19 9 25 21 MO : 8 4 5 5 MT : 71 47 63 46 NE : 69 51 65 68 NC : 2 1 8 6 OH : 7 2 4 3 OK : 41 22 45 39 OR : 12 7 2 11 SD : 65 44 48 51 TX : 41 32 57 44 WA : 52 40 54 61 : 18 Sts: 39 25 40 36 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 0 0 CA : 0 NA 0 0 CO : 30 NA 35 28 ID : 5 NA 8 7 IL : 1 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 9 NA 9 10 MI : 1 NA 3 2 MO : 2 NA 1 0 MT : 10 NA 12 8 NE : 34 NA 35 33 NC : 0 NA 2 1 OH : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 13 NA 15 16 OR : 2 NA 0 1 SD : 13 NA 15 16 TX : 11 NA 24 18 WA : 25 NA 32 36 : 18 Sts: 12 NA 15 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 76 71 81 83 AZ : 89 75 94 98 AR : 95 88 87 89 CA : 46 37 84 80 GA : 71 54 82 78 KS : 39 21 34 37 LA : 98 97 87 93 MS : 94 89 91 94 MO : 85 67 78 77 NC : 86 76 89 74 OK : 67 41 76 69 SC : 66 54 70 63 TN : 90 74 72 83 TX : 51 39 50 65 VA : 93 84 85 60 : 15 Sts: 68 56 69 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 1 6 9 AZ : 11 4 9 12 AR : 15 5 7 12 CA : 1 0 2 1 GA : 3 1 7 9 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 39 20 9 29 MS : 19 8 19 25 MO : 9 1 5 13 NC : 1 0 5 3 OK : 0 0 3 4 SC : 2 0 4 7 TN : 9 2 5 13 TX : 23 21 18 23 VA : 5 0 6 4 : 15 Sts: 15 11 12 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 45 30 24 55 IL : 91 74 87 84 IN : 74 59 79 72 IA : 81 59 56 78 KS : 89 76 91 93 KY : 95 90 91 94 MI : 77 52 25 36 MN : 56 34 13 60 MO : 96 87 93 93 NE : 72 45 48 71 NC : 100 97 100 97 ND : 55 26 5 55 OH : 65 34 52 42 PA : 73 51 58 43 SD : 74 43 28 61 TN : 97 92 98 98 TX : 90 83 96 96 WI : 57 46 11 34 : 18 Sts: 76 57 56 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 1 2 6 IL : 30 13 25 21 IN : 13 7 16 13 IA : 7 3 5 9 KS : 43 30 35 52 KY : 48 31 53 53 MI : 8 6 1 3 MN : 2 1 0 3 MO : 56 44 48 53 NE : 10 4 7 14 NC : 76 60 76 66 ND : 1 0 0 2 OH : 5 1 4 4 PA : 25 14 22 15 SD : 8 2 1 6 TN : 61 40 75 74 TX : 73 69 72 77 WI : 5 4 0 1 : 18 Sts: 18 11 15 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 64 41 70 67 CA : 20 5 47 31 LA : 92 88 99 95 MS : 60 28 84 70 MO : 26 16 54 43 TX : 98 96 99 98 : 6 Sts : 60 43 73 66 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 22 12 16 25 FL : 25 10 29 33 GA : 14 5 14 19 NC : 6 1 14 8 OK : 6 2 5 7 TX : 4 2 8 12 VA : 9 0 28 17 : 7 Sts : 14 5 15 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 59 52 55 48 IL : 86 69 76 73 IN : 86 71 87 79 IA : 90 70 81 76 KS : 68 45 76 77 KY : 58 36 70 61 LA : 83 77 75 71 MI : 91 79 36 54 MN : 85 62 53 81 MS : 94 89 96 86 MO : 64 38 57 53 NE : 92 62 79 77 NC : 46 25 22 23 ND : 83 59 49 81 OH : 92 73 74 76 SD : 95 86 79 88 TN : 80 64 53 48 WI : 85 76 43 56 : 18 Sts: 83 64 69 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 32 26 32 19 IL : 19 8 26 16 IN : 13 6 31 14 IA : 27 7 14 13 KS : 8 2 19 21 KY : 6 0 10 7 LA : 73 62 54 44 MI : 19 8 4 5 MN : 16 2 0 16 MS : 78 67 82 58 MO : 5 0 10 8 NE : 19 4 15 12 NC : 0 0 2 0 ND : 17 2 1 15 OH : 12 5 20 10 SD : 15 3 1 11 TN : 20 14 14 8 WI : 11 4 0 3 : 18 Sts: 19 8 17 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 6 1 6 6 MI : 3 1 1 1 MN : 8 4 6 8 ND : 6 3 4 7 : 4 Sts : 6 3 5 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 71 61 60 73 IL : 94 93 99 95 KS : 92 85 87 92 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 93 97 96 NE : 99 95 91 94 NM : 52 45 59 70 OK : 88 73 77 82 SD : 97 93 92 96 TX : 86 78 86 89 : 11 Sts: 89 82 86 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 95 99 99 CO : 35 28 17 32 IL : 86 70 85 72 KS : 42 30 40 60 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 81 69 71 75 NE : 65 29 36 60 NM : 11 9 6 14 OK : 48 32 43 56 SD : 61 41 35 51 TX : 66 61 72 78 : 11 Sts: 53 42 50 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Sep 25,:Sep 18,:Sep 25,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 82 76 89 87 CO : 4 1 3 4 IL : 25 20 16 14 KS : 13 9 11 28 LA : 99 99 100 96 MO : 41 25 33 38 NE : 5 1 3 16 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 22 18 29 35 SD : 12 3 4 11 TX : 59 57 58 67 : 11 Sts: 30 26 28 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 10 23 42 22 IL : 21 27 31 18 3 IN : 5 14 37 39 5 IA : 3 7 20 49 21 KS : 3 11 34 47 5 KY : 4 13 26 39 18 MI : 2 7 26 46 19 MN : 3 5 23 46 23 MO : 22 21 26 26 5 NE : 5 8 22 45 20 NC : 2 10 27 41 20 ND : 2 6 23 49 20 OH : 5 14 35 38 8 PA : 6 12 31 39 12 SD : 6 13 24 44 13 TN : 2 9 31 46 12 TX : 12 16 31 30 11 WI : 5 13 29 38 15 : 18 Sts : 8 13 27 38 14 : Prev Wk : 8 13 27 39 13 Prev Yr : 3 6 20 48 23 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 19 34 30 7 IL : 11 18 38 29 4 IN : 4 10 33 45 8 IA : 2 6 18 51 23 KS : 1 9 37 47 6 KY : 1 10 25 45 19 LA : 7 14 41 35 3 MI : 5 10 34 37 14 MN : 2 4 23 49 22 MS : 4 9 23 52 12 MO : 11 21 35 27 6 NE : 4 10 29 42 15 NC : 6 20 33 37 4 ND : 2 6 19 53 20 OH : 3 11 32 44 10 SD : 5 12 25 45 13 TN : 3 8 29 48 12 WI : 4 14 30 37 15 : 18 Sts : 5 11 29 42 13 : Prev Wk : 5 12 30 40 13 Prev Yr : 3 7 24 48 18 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 8 25 55 8 AZ : 2 7 33 52 6 AR : 0 2 22 51 25 CA : 0 0 20 50 30 GA : 3 7 34 46 10 KS : 3 6 28 51 12 LA : 10 23 47 18 2 MS : 12 18 36 32 2 MO : 4 14 23 54 5 NC : 5 16 29 47 3 OK : 7 8 22 57 6 SC : 0 4 25 68 3 TN : 0 3 22 58 17 TX : 6 11 25 45 13 VA : 0 10 30 55 5 : 15 Sts : 5 10 27 46 12 : Prev Wk : 4 10 24 48 14 Prev Yr : 2 6 21 48 23 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 16 38 35 7 CO : 3 20 41 34 2 IL : 2 15 26 55 2 KS : 3 11 40 40 6 LA : 1 10 31 48 10 MO : 11 20 44 22 3 NE : 4 10 26 46 14 NM : 0 15 43 41 1 OK : 0 4 31 41 24 SD : 11 12 37 39 1 TX : 7 9 33 42 9 : 11 Sts : 5 11 36 40 8 : Prev Wk : 5 11 36 41 7 Prev Yr : 3 9 27 46 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 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 6 30 41 22 CA : 0 0 55 40 5 LA : 0 0 34 48 18 MS : 7 11 32 47 3 MO : 0 1 17 56 26 TX : 0 1 31 51 17 : 6 Sts : 1 4 35 43 17 : Prev Wk : 1 4 32 46 17 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 9 34 47 7 FL : 0 1 35 40 24 GA : 3 10 38 43 6 NC : 6 11 29 49 5 OK : 0 3 24 65 8 TX : 0 1 26 49 24 VA : 1 2 33 59 5 : 8 Sts : 2 7 34 46 11 : Prev Wk : 1 6 30 52 11 Prev Yr : 2 6 27 52 13 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 25, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 6 14 37 39 4 :: NJ : 0 50 50 0 0 AZ : 18 30 33 16 3 :: NM : 0 16 38 42 4 AR : 31 30 32 7 0 :: NY : 10 32 29 25 4 CA : 60 26 14 0 0 :: NC : 13 27 36 24 0 CO : 10 26 39 23 2 :: ND : 4 14 33 46 3 CT : 42 29 22 7 0 :: OH : 8 19 40 30 3 DE : 23 14 50 13 0 :: OK : 7 12 32 44 5 FL : 0 20 35 40 5 :: OR : 12 25 37 26 0 GA : 6 24 43 26 1 :: PA : 31 47 17 5 0 ID : 1 16 40 33 10 :: RI : 50 50 0 0 0 IL : 20 26 36 17 1 :: SC : 9 26 40 22 3 IN : 9 20 47 22 2 :: SD : 10 17 32 37 4 IA : 19 28 31 21 1 :: TN : 6 18 42 33 1 KS : 5 17 40 35 3 :: TX : 16 32 34 16 2 KY : 14 25 34 23 4 :: UT : 0 3 17 63 17 LA : 25 51 19 5 0 :: VT : 0 18 58 16 8 ME : 0 8 15 76 1 :: VA : 26 32 30 12 0 MD : 10 27 43 19 1 :: WA : 13 26 31 30 0 MA : 0 15 62 23 0 :: WV : 8 28 46 16 2 MI : 12 32 39 16 1 :: WI : 10 29 37 22 2 MN : 4 10 27 51 8 :: WY : 5 16 30 45 4 MS : 16 32 25 21 6 :: : MO : 18 25 38 18 1 :: 48 Sts : 14 24 33 26 3 MT : 10 22 39 26 3 :: : NE : 8 22 36 31 3 :: Prev Wk: 14 23 33 27 3 NV : 0 4 11 40 45 :: Prev Yr: 10 16 29 37 8 NH : 2 7 29 45 17 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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