We 1 (10-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 18, 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. 42 October 9 - 15, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. HIGHLIGHTS: For the second time in a week, heavy rainfall and flooding struck the Northeast. Weekly rainfall topped 4 inches from New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania into southern and central Maine, boosting month-to-date totals to 10 inches or more. Farther south, only light rain dampened the middle and southern Atlantic States, although persistent cloudiness slowed a return to fieldwork in the wake of the previous week's downpours. In contrast, mild, dry weather prevailed across much of the South and Midwest, allowing Delta summer crop harvesting to approach completion and promoting an acceleration of Midwestern corn and soybean harvesting. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10oF above normal in the Southeast. Farther west, early- to mid-week rainfall soaked southern Texas and parts of the central and southern High Plains. The precipitation slowed fieldwork but boosted soil moisture reserves for the High Plains' wheat and southern Texas' winter crops. Meanwhile, early-week snow blanketed parts of the central High Plains, including northeastern Colorado. Snow also fell across the central and southern Rockies, followed by a period of dry weather across much of the West. Mild, dry conditions favored fieldwork, including California's rice harvest, but Northwestern winter grains were in need of additional moisture to ensure proper autumn establishment. Toward week's end, showery weather returned to the Four Corners States and the Pacific Northwest. Heavy rain lingered early in the week across northern New England, where Bangor, ME (2.68 inches on October 9), collected a daily-record total. Meanwhile, locally heavy rain and snow overspread the Rockies and the Plains. Daily-record rainfall totals for October 9 included 0.83 inch in Williston, ND, and 0.52 inch in Miles City, MT. Farther south, Sidney, NE, measured daily-record rainfall totals (0.66 and 1.27 inches) on October 9 and 10. In Colorado, Denver also netted consecutive daily-record totals (0.62 and 0.99 inch on October 9 and 10, respectively), while the city's official snow observation site near the former Stapleton Airport received 9.6 inches of snow. Denver's high temperature reached 34oF on October 10, just 2 days after a high of 83oF. In the adjacent Colorado Rockies, several locations noted storm-total snowfall of at least 20 inches. Elsewhere, locally heavy showers lingered along the Atlantic Seaboard, resulting in daily-record totals in locations such as Cape Hatteras, NC (3.02 inches on October 10), and Atlantic City, NJ (1.34 inches on October 11). Heavy rain was also observed in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which were plagued by a broad area of unsettled weather that helped to spark the gradual Caribbean development of Hurricane Wilma. On October 10, rainfall totals reached 4.75 inches at King Airport on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 4.02 inches in San Juan, PR. A week later, on October 17, Wilma became the 21st Atlantic tropical storm of the year, tying the 1933 all-time record. A day later, Wilma became the season's 12th hurricane, tying a 1969 standard. At midweek, cool air briefly overspread the southern Plains and the Southwest, while widespread, heavy rain returned to the Northeast. Daily-record lows on October 11 included 23oF in Cedar City, UT, and 33oF in Amarillo, TX. Elsewhere in Texas, local downpours developed in the Rio Grande Valley, resulting in a daily-record total of 7.59 inches (on October 13) in Del Rio. It was also Del Rio's second-highest daily total in October, narrowly behind the 7.60-inch sum observed on October 4, 1969. Meanwhile, a few Northeastern locations, including New York's JFK Airport (3.06, 1.93, and 4.66 inches), received daily-record totals on 3 consecutive days from October 12-14. Daily-record totals also topped 4 inches in locations such as New York's Central Park (4.26 inches on October 12), Providence, RI (4.38 inches on October 15), and Hartford, CT (5.26 inches on October 14). Bangor, ME, ended the week as it had begun, with a daily-record rainfall (2.05 inches on October 15). Through October 15, monthly rainfall records were already established in several locations, including Philadelphia, PA (6.94 inches; previously, 6.66 inches in 1902); Allentown, PA (10.93 inches; previously, 7.64 inches in 1943); Worcester, MA (12.33 inches; previously, 10.98 inches in 1955); and Hartford, CT (13.12 inches; previously, 11.61 inches in 1955). In sharp contrast, many locations from the central Gulf Coast to the lower Great Lakes States continued to await their first measurable rainfall of the month. October 1-15 precipitation totaled a trace or less in Indianapolis, IN (1.23 inches below normal), Springfield, IL (1.24 inches below normal), St. Louis, MO (1.25 inches below normal), Paducah, KY (1.60 inches below normal), North Little Rock, AR (1.65 inches below normal), Vicksburg, MS (1.67 inches below normal), and Alexandria, LA (2.19 inches below normal). Scattered, generally light showers dotted Hawaii, although some heavier rain developed on windward portions of the Big Island toward week's end. On October 15-16, 24-hour Big Island totals included 1.72 inches in Pahoa and 1.15 inches in Glenwood. However, there was also enough dry, cool air across the Big Island to produce daily-record lows in Hilo on October 12 and 15 (64 and 63oF, respectively). Meanwhile in Alaska, near-normal temperatures accompanied generally light precipitation. Some heavier precipitation fell across climatologically wetter areas of southeastern Alaska, boosting the October 1-15 rainfall total in Juneau to 4.73 inches (112 percent of normal). National Agricultural Summary October 10 - 16, 2005 Highlights: Warm, dry weather in the Corn Belt, northern Great Plains, Mississippi Delta, and Southeast were favorable for maturation and harvest of summer crops. In the central and southern Great Plains, light to moderate rainfall limited fieldwork but promoted emergence of winter wheat. Precipitation in the central and southern Rocky Mountains improved pasture conditions. West of the Rockies, mostly dry conditions prevailed, limiting emergence of winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest. Heavy rainfall in the Northeast caused some flooding but was generally favorable for pastures in the region. Corn: Forty-nine percent of the acreage had been harvested, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. Harvest was most active in the Corn Belt, advancing 19 points in Illinois, 18 points in Wisconsin, and 16 points in Iowa. Progress was ahead of normal in the central Corn Belt and Ohio Valley but trailed behind the normal pace in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains. Soybeans: Growers had harvested 76 percent of their acreage, compared with 69 percent last year and 9 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest progressed rapidly in the Corn Belt, aided by mild, dry conditions. Producers in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin reaped nearly one-fourth of their crop during the week, while in Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri, slightly more than one-fifth of the crop was harvested. Progress was near or ahead of normal in all States, with harvest the farthest ahead in the Delta, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Winter Wheat: Planting was 78 percent complete, 1 point ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Encouraged by warm, sunny weather, producers in the Corn Belt planted their crop rapidly, with Illinois and Indiana growers planting over one-third of their acreage during the week. Planting neared completion in parts of the Great Plains, reaching 96 percent in Nebraska and South Dakota. Meanwhile, acreage emerged advanced to 50 percent, 5 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Emergence was well behind the normal pace in the Pacific Northwest, slowed by cool conditions in previous weeks and a below-normal planting pace. In the central Great Plains and Corn Belt, the crop emerged at a near-normal pace. Cotton: Ninety percent of the acreage had open bolls, 6 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind normal. In Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, bolls were open in all fields. Though progress was at or near the normal pace in most States, in Texas and Georgia, the two largest producing States, development trailed slightly behind normal, while California's crop trailed the normal pace by over 2 weeks. Growers had harvested 36 percent of their acreage, compared with 34 percent last year and 38 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest was most active in the Delta, advancing 23 points in Arkansas, 22 points in Mississippi, and 28 points in Missouri. Progress was ahead of normal in the Delta and in Virginia but lagged behind normal elsewhere, trailing the normal pace by 2 weeks in Oklahoma and Texas. Sorghum: Acreage mature or beyond advanced to 82 percent, 3 points ahead of last year but 4 points behind normal. In the two largest-producing States, Kansas and Texas, development trailed 5 and 4 points behind normal, respectively, while new Mexico's crop was over 2 weeks behind the normal pace. Harvest, at 50 percent complete, was 6 points ahead of last year but 11 points behind the 5-year average. Progress was over a week behind normal in Colorado and Kansas, over 2 weeks behind in Oklahoma, and 3 weeks behind in Texas. Rice: Growers had harvested 93 percent of their acreage, compared with 95 percent last year and 92 percent for the normal. Harvest neared completion in Louisiana and Mississippi, at 99 and 97 percent, respectively. Arkansas producers, with 94 percent of their crop harvested, were 1 point behind normal, but progress was at or ahead of the normal pace elsewhere. Other Crops: The Nation's peanut crop was 48 percent harvested, 11 points behind last year and 12 points behind normal. Harvest progress was a few days behind normal in all States, except Alabama, where harvest was over a week behind the 5-year average. Sugarbeet growers had harvested 57 percent of their acreage, compared with 63 percent last year and 67 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest progressed rapidly in the Red River Valley, advancing 38 points in Minnesota and 46 points in North Dakota. However, harvest remained behind normal in all States. The sunflower harvest advanced to 28 percent complete, 14 points ahead of last year but 8 points behind normal. South Dakota growers harvested nearly one-fourth of their crop during the week, while harvest advanced just 10 to 12 points elsewhere. Progress was behind normal in all States. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 23 18 28 36 IL : 77 58 73 64 IN : 46 31 58 43 IA : 36 20 28 40 KS : 78 71 72 84 KY : 88 80 87 86 MI : 37 26 18 19 MN : 25 8 13 36 MO : 84 77 77 82 NE : 43 28 29 43 NC : 92 91 97 89 ND : 13 6 4 28 OH : 25 14 36 25 PA : 59 57 52 42 SD : 32 21 13 33 TN : 94 88 97 95 TX : 91 86 89 93 WI : 38 20 12 20 : 18 Sts: 49 36 43 48 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 62 50 59 46 IL : 84 63 77 73 IN : 71 52 81 65 IA : 90 78 90 81 KS : 59 43 60 60 KY : 50 30 44 38 LA : 91 82 72 71 MI : 82 67 50 47 MN : 85 61 57 78 MS : 95 91 96 80 MO : 52 30 46 48 NE : 89 75 78 75 NC : 8 7 10 9 ND : 87 73 75 84 OH : 66 54 69 64 SD : 84 59 71 75 TN : 58 44 43 33 WI : 72 48 53 54 : 18 Sts: 76 60 69 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 93 CO : 75 60 58 80 IL : 97 95 99 97 KS : 80 70 79 85 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 95 94 95 NE : 96 92 87 95 NM : 24 20 18 54 OK : 83 74 61 83 SD : 97 90 92 96 TX : 82 79 80 86 : 11 Sts: 82 75 79 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 92 98 98 CO : 19 15 16 32 IL : 73 63 69 60 KS : 40 31 33 54 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 73 64 59 70 NE : 42 23 28 49 NM : 8 4 2 13 OK : 39 29 44 59 SD : 64 41 37 58 TX : 66 65 62 74 : 11 Sts: 50 43 44 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 96 95 97 96 AZ : 100 96 100 100 AR : 100 98 99 98 CA : 83 65 98 98 GA : 91 86 96 93 KS : 83 68 56 70 LA : 100 100 98 99 MS : 99 98 99 99 MO : 99 93 100 97 NC : 100 96 100 95 OK : 95 94 90 93 SC : 90 83 93 88 TN : 100 99 99 98 TX : 82 72 67 84 VA : 100 98 98 89 : 15 Sts: 90 83 84 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 34 19 39 41 AZ : 26 19 26 29 AR : 73 50 48 50 CA : 10 4 32 25 GA : 23 14 31 31 KS : 0 0 0 8 LA : 89 73 53 71 MS : 74 52 71 63 MO : 67 39 45 52 NC : 20 18 38 24 OK : 9 7 22 29 SC : 26 16 32 27 TN : 44 30 39 49 TX : 26 25 22 33 VA : 30 21 26 25 : 15 Sts: 36 28 34 38 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 94 87 96 95 CA : 80 63 89 77 LA : 99 98 100 99 MS : 97 93 98 93 MO : 92 83 86 83 TX : 100 100 100 100 : 6 Sts : 93 86 95 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 48 44 71 70 FL : 68 47 78 80 GA : 54 42 60 65 NC : 45 29 76 55 OK : 44 28 40 50 TX : 21 15 29 28 VA : 63 48 71 71 : 7 Sts : 48 37 59 60 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 32 12 10 19 CA : 10 4 10 13 CO : 96 94 100 98 ID : 82 68 86 87 IL : 73 39 49 55 IN : 68 34 63 54 KS : 83 75 79 82 MI : 90 71 81 73 MO : 49 29 26 43 MT : 93 91 97 91 NE : 96 92 95 97 NC : 6 3 18 21 OH : 73 48 72 69 OK : 81 71 81 76 OR : 48 29 77 61 SD : 96 92 93 91 TX : 68 59 71 71 WA : 87 79 94 95 : 18 Sts: 78 68 77 77 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 2 3 6 CA : 1 0 3 5 CO : 83 77 92 82 ID : 33 23 36 40 IL : 22 7 18 21 IN : 21 5 19 20 KS : 55 39 55 55 MI : 47 27 36 33 MO : 19 7 11 20 MT : 57 51 72 57 NE : 84 70 83 85 NC : 2 0 6 9 OH : 25 5 31 27 OK : 64 48 65 55 OR : 16 6 29 28 SD : 69 50 66 63 TX : 38 29 48 45 WA : 48 44 81 79 : 18 Sts: 50 38 55 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 22 15 29 30 MI : 12 11 8 18 MN : 75 37 85 85 ND : 81 35 86 92 : 4 Sts : 57 29 63 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 16,:Oct 9, :Oct 16,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 39 27 31 32 KS : 41 30 22 48 ND : 17 7 7 29 SD : 39 15 19 47 : 4 Sts : 28 13 14 36 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 87% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 16, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 6 23 52 16 IL : 21 27 31 18 3 IN : 5 10 31 44 10 IA : 2 4 17 45 32 KS : 4 11 32 48 5 KY : 4 13 26 39 18 MI : 2 7 24 45 22 MN : 2 4 20 50 24 MO : 22 21 26 26 5 NE : 4 8 21 44 23 NC : 2 10 27 41 20 ND : 1 6 23 49 21 OH : 3 13 36 39 9 PA : 4 8 23 46 19 SD : 5 10 24 46 15 TN : 2 9 31 46 12 TX : 12 16 31 30 11 WI : 3 9 23 40 25 : 18 Sts : 7 11 25 40 17 : Prev Wk : 7 12 25 41 15 Prev Yr : 2 5 18 49 26 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 16, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 7 21 66 4 AZ : 0 5 41 45 9 AR : 2 6 25 50 17 CA : 0 0 20 65 15 GA : 2 11 34 46 7 KS : 0 4 27 55 14 LA : 7 14 35 41 3 MS : 9 17 36 36 2 MO : 4 12 23 55 6 NC : 2 21 44 29 4 OK : 0 9 21 58 12 SC : 0 5 35 59 1 TN : 0 3 19 61 17 TX : 5 12 23 46 14 VA : 0 14 31 46 9 : 15 Sts : 4 11 27 47 11 : Prev Wk : 5 10 25 48 12 Prev Yr : 3 8 21 47 21 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 16, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 16 38 35 7 CO : 1 17 47 32 3 IL : 2 15 26 55 2 KS : 4 10 36 42 8 LA : 1 10 31 48 10 MO : 11 20 44 23 2 NE : 4 8 26 48 14 NM : 0 14 40 43 3 OK : 0 5 39 51 5 SD : 9 12 32 45 2 TX : 7 9 33 42 9 : 11 Sts : 5 10 35 42 8 : Prev Wk : 4 10 37 41 8 Prev Yr : 2 8 28 46 16 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 16, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 5 41 52 2 FL : 0 5 40 45 10 GA : 2 13 40 41 4 NC : 7 5 49 36 3 OK : 0 2 22 67 9 TX : 1 2 21 54 22 VA : 0 7 49 44 0 : 8 Sts : 2 8 37 46 7 : Prev Wk : 2 9 35 45 9 Prev Yr : 3 9 29 50 9 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2004 planted acres. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 16, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 8 36 51 4 :: NJ : 0 5 70 15 10 AZ : 18 35 31 13 3 :: NM : 3 15 33 42 7 AR : 23 32 37 8 0 :: NY : 4 22 40 30 4 CA : 65 21 14 0 0 :: NC : 6 12 35 35 12 CO : 7 21 41 27 4 :: ND : 3 15 36 42 4 CT : 27 18 22 26 7 :: OH : 5 13 33 42 7 DE : 10 27 40 23 0 :: OK : 7 15 32 40 6 FL : 0 10 30 50 10 :: OR : 14 27 46 13 0 GA : 5 16 48 30 1 :: PA : 22 28 33 15 2 ID : 1 13 42 35 9 :: RI : 0 0 50 50 0 IL : 19 21 36 23 1 :: SC : 1 17 59 19 4 IN : 5 19 44 29 3 :: SD : 8 14 33 39 6 IA : 22 26 28 22 2 :: TN : 11 17 37 33 2 KS : 6 15 43 34 2 :: TX : 17 33 34 14 2 KY : 16 30 30 21 3 :: UT : 1 4 20 62 13 LA : 20 35 36 8 1 :: VT : 0 22 60 13 5 ME : 9 6 36 21 28 :: VA : 14 28 42 16 0 MD : 6 22 38 33 1 :: WA : 6 21 25 48 0 MA : 0 19 33 48 0 :: WV : 12 26 42 18 2 MI : 12 18 41 26 3 :: WI : 6 17 34 35 8 MN : 3 10 28 54 5 :: WY : 5 17 31 43 4 MS : 13 25 19 17 26 :: : MO : 16 23 39 21 1 :: 48 Sts : 14 21 34 27 4 MT : 9 19 42 27 3 :: : NE : 11 21 33 32 3 :: Prev Wk: 15 21 34 26 4 NV : 3 3 23 60 11 :: Prev Yr: 10 16 31 37 6 NH : 3 18 31 45 3 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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