We 1 (10-05)a Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 25, 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. 43 October 16 - 22, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. HIGHLIGHTS: Prior to the October 24 passage of Hurricane Wilma across southern Florida, mild, relatively tranquil weather prevailed across the United States. Significant precipitation was focused from the Southwest to the Northeast along the path of a compact disturbance. Near- to below temperatures were confined to southern California and the Great Lakes region, while weekly readings averaged as much as 10oF above normal in the Northwest. Although Northwestern warmth promoted winter wheat emergence, more rain was needed to ensure proper autumn establishment. Farther south, harvest activities advanced with few delays in California's Central Valley, but locally heavy showers hampered fieldwork in the Southwest, including the lower Colorado Valley. Meanwhile on the Plains, midweek showers across central portions of the region interrupted an otherwise mild, dry regime. Summer crop harvesting advanced on the southern Plains, while conditions favored winter wheat emergence and establishment across the remainder of the Plains. Farther east, mid- to late-week showers slowed Midwestern fieldwork, following an extended period favorable for winter wheat planting and corn and soybean harvesting. Rainfall locally topped 2 inches across the southern Corn Belt. Elsewhere, late-week rain maintained soggy conditions and caused some renewed flooding in the Northeast, while warm, dry weather promoted rapid harvesting of remaining summer crops across the South. A few showers fell along the southern Atlantic Coast, with some locally heavy rain along Florida's east coast well in advance of Wilma's arrival. Heavy rain lingered early in the week across northern New England, where daily-record totals for October 16 included 1.90 inches in Houlton, ME, and 1.77 inches on Mt. Mansfield, VT. Meanwhile, a slow-moving storm system dropped heavy rain and caused local flash flooding in Southwest. In southern California, daily-record totals for October 17 included 2.50 inches in Sandberg, 2.15 inches in Palmdale, 1.70 inches in Thermal, and 1.34 inches in Palm Springs. Thermal's daily rainfall accounted for 48 percent of its normal annual total of 3.53 inches. In southern Nevada, Las Vegas' 0.94-inch rainfall on October 18 boosted its month-to-date sum to 1.42 inches, eclipsing its October 1992 record of 1.22 inches. Farther east, daily-record totals included 1.40 inches (on October 18) in St. George, UT, and 1.68 inches (on October 20) in Springfield, IL. Cooler air trailed the storm system, resulting in the first freeze of the autumn on October 20 in Wisconsin locations such as Green Bay (31oF) and LaCrosse (32oF). The average date of the season's first freeze is October 4 in Green Bay and October 10 in LaCrosse. Record warmth prevailed in advance of the disturbance emerging from the Southwest. In Florida, Tallahassee posted four consecutive daily-record highs (90, 91, 90, and 90oF) from October 18-21. Meanwhile, Joplin, MO (93oF on October 19), marked its latest 90-degree heat, breaking a record established with a high of 90oF on October 14, 1963. Other locations topping 90oF included Medicine Lodge, KS (94oF on October 17), and Tulsa, OK (91oF on October 18 and 19). In addition, dry weather persisted across most of the South, excluding the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Through October 22, month-to-date rainfall totaled less than one-tenth of an inch in locations such as New Orleans, LA (0.04 inch), and Tallahassee (0.08 inch). Meanwhile, the Mississippi cities of Jackson, Columbus, and McComb were among several Southern locations still awaiting their first drop of October rain. In contrast, heavy rain returned to the Northeast toward week's end. In Providence, RI, a daily-record rainfall (0.90 inch) on October 22 lifted its month-to-date sum to 13.18 inches, representing the highest October and monthly totals on record (previously, 11.89 inches in October 1962 and 12.74 inches in April 1983, respectively). Rain continued to break October records in the Northeast, where month-to-date totals climbed to 14.37 inches at New York's Central Park (previously, 13.31 inches in 1903); 13.83 inches in Hartford, CT (previously, 11.61 inches in 1955); 12.94 inches in Worcester, MA (previously, 10.98 inches in 1955); 12.07 inches in Allentown, PA (previously, 7.64 inches in 1943); and 7.85 inches in Philadelphia, PA (previously, 6.66 inches in 1902). Across mainland Alaska, mild weather boosted weekly temperatures 6 to 12oF above normal. McGrath tallied daily-record highs of 48 and 49oF on October 19 and 20, respectively. However, heavy precipitation was also observed in parts of southern and western Alaska, where Nome collected a daily-record total of 0.62 inch on October 17. In southwestern Alaska, Bethel noted measurable precipitation on each day from October 16-22, totaling 2.69 inches, and received 6.3 inches of snow on October 21-22. Meanwhile in Hawaii, cool weather accompanied occasional showers. On Oahu, Honolulu's temperatures averaged nearly 4oF below normal from October 19-22, while rainfall totaled 0.98 inch. Rainfall became locally heavy at week's end, when 24-hour totals on October 22-23 reached 5.75 inches on Kauai's Mt. Waialeale, 3.80 inches at Oahu's Manoa Lyon Arboretum, and 3.52 inches at West Wailuaiki, Maui. National Agricultural Summary October 17 - 23, 2005 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures across most of the Nation were favorable for summer crop maturation and winter wheat emergence. Only in the Great Lakes region and southern California did temperatures average below normal. Dry weather across the Southeast, Mississippi Delta, and southern Great Plains were favorable for harvesting summer crops, especially cotton. Moderate rainfall across the Ohio Valley, southern Corn Belt, and central Great Plains hampered fieldwork somewhat, but mostly dry conditions across the northern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains favored corn and soybean harvest and winter wheat planting. Additional rainfall in the Northeast maintained excessive soil moisture in the region. Further west, a low pressure system brought welcome precipitation to the Southwest and central Rocky Mountains, while the northern and southern Rockies remained mostly dry. Light to moderate rain fell in coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest, but dry conditions prevailed in the crop-producing areas further inland. Corn: Growers had harvested 65 percent of their acreage, 12 percentage points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Harvest progressed rapidly in the western Corn Belt and neighboring areas of the Great Plains, advancing 25 points in Iowa, 23 points in Minnesota, and 20 points in South Dakota under mostly dry conditions. Meanwhile, harvest neared completion in the Southeast, at 97 percent in North Carolina and Tennessee, while producers in Kentucky and Texas producers had reaped 93 percent of their crop. Harvest progress was 25 points ahead of normal in Michigan but 22 points behind normal in Colorado. Soybeans: Harvest advanced to 87 percent complete, compared with 78 percent last year and 79 percent for the 5-year average. Ohio Valley growers were most active, with Indiana and Kentucky growers harvesting 16 percent of their acreage during the week. Harvest neared completion in the lower Delta and Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, with Michigan and Tennessee producers exceeding their normal harvest pace by 26 and 30 points, respectively. Winter Wheat: Eighty-six percent of the crop had been sown, 2 points ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Arkansas growers planted nearly one-fourth of their acreage during the week, but as a region, the Corn Belt showed the most progress, with nearly one-fifth of Illinois', Indiana's, and Missouri's acreage being seeded. Progress was behind normal in the Pacific Northwest but generally ahead of normal elsewhere. Meanwhile, acreage emerged reached 65 percent, 1 point behind last year but 2 points ahead of normal. The crop emerged rapidly in the Corn Belt under warm conditions, advancing 40 points in Illinois, 30 points in Indiana, and 20 points or more in Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. The crop was most advanced in Colorado and Nebraska, at 91 percent and 90 percent emerged, respectively. As with planting progress, emergence trailed behind normal in the Pacific Northwest but was mostly ahead of normal in other areas. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls advanced to 94 percent, 6 points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Nearly all fields had open bolls across the Southeast, except in Georgia, where just 92 percent of fields had open bolls, 4 points behind normal. California's crop advanced 12 points but remained behind normal. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in most other States. Harvest advanced to 44 percent complete, 3 points ahead of last year but 3 points behind normal. Growers in the Delta were most active, advancing 22 points in Tennessee, 17 points in Missouri, and 15 points in Arkansas and Mississippi. Harvest progress was well ahead of normal in the Delta but trailed behind normal across the Southeast and was over 2 weeks behind normal in the Great Plains. Sorghum: Eighty-nine percent of the crop was at or beyond maturity, compared with 88 percent last year and 91 percent for the 5-year average. In the two largest producing States, Kansas and Texas, maturation was 1 and 5 points behind normal, respectively. In New Mexico, progress trailed the normal pace by nearly 2 weeks. Meanwhile, growers had harvested 61 percent of their acreage, 10 points ahead of last year but 7 points behind normal. Harvest was well behind normal in the southern Great Plains, trailing the normal pace by nearly 3 weeks in Oklahoma and over 3 weeks in Texas. Rice: Harvest advanced to 97 percent complete, the same as last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in Texas and Louisiana and nearly complete elsewhere in the Delta. In California, 92 percent of the acreage had been harvested, 7 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States. Other Crops: Peanut growers had harvested 65 percent of their acreage, compared with 68 percent last year and 71 percent for the normal. Harvest progressed rapidly in Oklahoma, advancing 28 points and overtaking the normal pace. In all other States, however, progress remained behind normal, despite advancing 27 points in Alabama and 21 points in North Carolina and Virginia. Georgia and Florida growers trailed their normal harvest pace by 10 points. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 79 percent complete, 1 point ahead of last year but 1 point behind normal. Harvest was nearly complete in the Red River Valley, while just half of Idaho's crop and one-third of Michigan's had been harvested. Progress was 6 points behind normal in Michigan but near the normal pace elsewhere. The Nation's sunflower crop was 47 percent harvested, compared with 20 percent last year and 53 percent for the 4-year average. Growers in the Dakotas harvested 22 percent of their acreage during the week, while Colorado and Kansas producers reaped just 11 percent of their crop. Progress was 5 points ahead of normal in Colorado but behind the normal pace in all other States. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 32 23 36 54 IL : 89 77 80 77 IN : 62 46 70 56 IA : 61 36 45 58 KS : 85 78 80 90 KY : 93 88 91 90 MI : 56 37 32 31 MN : 48 25 26 55 MO : 88 84 81 87 NE : 60 43 43 57 NC : 97 92 99 93 ND : 29 13 8 47 OH : 42 25 47 37 PA : 67 59 55 48 SD : 52 32 20 47 TN : 97 94 99 98 TX : 93 91 92 96 WI : 44 38 24 34 : 18 Sts: 65 49 53 62 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 75 62 63 57 IL : 93 84 81 83 IN : 87 71 86 78 IA : 97 90 94 92 KS : 72 59 71 72 KY : 66 50 52 52 LA : 98 91 81 80 MI : 91 82 63 65 MN : 95 85 86 91 MS : 97 95 97 86 MO : 67 52 56 62 NE : 95 89 89 88 NC : 15 8 12 14 ND : 96 87 81 92 OH : 79 66 73 75 SD : 94 84 88 90 TN : 73 58 45 43 WI : 81 72 66 71 : 18 Sts: 87 76 78 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 94 98 97 CA : 92 80 90 85 LA : 100 99 100 99 MS : 99 97 99 97 MO : 97 92 93 89 TX : 100 100 100 100 : 6 Sts : 97 93 97 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 75 48 74 78 FL : *85 68 89 90 GA : 68 54 71 78 NC : 66 45 89 75 OK : 72 44 59 65 TX : 34 21 33 36 VA : 84 63 85 85 : 7 Sts : 65 48 68 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 96% of last year's peanut acreage. * Updated from "Crop Progress", October 24, 2005 Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 56 32 16 32 CA : 13 10 18 19 CO : 100 96 100 99 ID : 93 82 93 94 IL : 92 73 60 72 IN : 86 68 75 73 KS : 91 83 87 90 MI : 96 90 92 88 MO : 68 49 37 57 MT : 98 93 99 96 NE : 98 96 98 99 NC : 20 6 23 26 OH : 85 73 81 83 OK : 90 81 88 84 OR : 55 48 84 73 SD : 100 96 97 96 TX : 76 68 80 78 WA : 95 87 98 98 : 18 Sts: 86 78 84 84 -------------------------------------- 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 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 20 7 8 15 CA : 2 1 6 8 CO : 91 83 98 90 ID : 47 33 52 55 IL : 62 22 35 43 IN : 51 21 41 42 KS : 74 55 68 67 MI : 71 47 54 54 MO : 39 19 21 34 MT : 69 57 81 70 NE : 90 84 91 93 NC : 5 2 9 14 OH : 54 25 52 52 OK : 72 64 75 66 OR : 21 16 56 41 SD : 85 69 77 74 TX : 48 38 60 54 WA : 68 48 85 87 : 18 Sts: 65 50 66 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 50 22 59 49 MI : 34 12 32 40 MN : 97 75 93 96 ND : 98 81 95 99 : 4 Sts : 79 57 78 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 50 39 40 45 KS : 52 41 31 61 ND : 39 17 11 48 SD : 61 39 27 62 : 4 Sts : 47 28 20 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 87% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 97 96 98 98 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 100 100 99 CA : 95 83 99 100 GA : 92 91 97 96 KS : 89 83 63 80 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 99 100 100 MO : 100 99 100 98 NC : 100 100 100 97 OK : 97 95 94 96 SC : 95 90 96 93 TN : 100 100 100 99 TX : 90 82 74 89 VA : 100 100 100 93 : 15 Sts: 94 90 88 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 36 34 41 49 AZ : 33 26 28 39 AR : 88 73 55 62 CA : 23 10 56 47 GA : 33 23 42 42 KS : 3 0 0 15 LA : 98 89 72 80 MS : 89 74 77 73 MO : 84 67 48 61 NC : 35 20 51 36 OK : 17 9 32 38 SC : 36 26 43 37 TN : 66 44 42 58 TX : 27 26 25 38 VA : 40 30 38 37 : 15 Sts: 44 36 41 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 95 CO : 90 75 79 92 IL : 98 97 100 99 KS : 90 80 89 91 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 98 97 98 NE : 99 96 94 98 NM : 42 24 30 70 OK : 89 83 70 87 SD : 100 97 96 99 TX : 85 82 88 90 : 11 Sts: 89 82 88 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 23,:Oct 16,:Oct 23,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 100 99 CO : 29 19 24 45 IL : 79 73 78 72 KS : 56 40 42 63 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 81 73 63 77 NE : 59 42 41 62 NM : 12 8 5 23 OK : 44 39 53 66 SD : 86 64 52 71 TX : 68 66 65 76 : 11 Sts: 61 50 51 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Oct 23, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 19 35 30 6 CA : 0 0 65 35 0 CO : 0 3 20 50 27 ID : 0 4 16 78 2 IL : 0 0 21 66 13 IN : 1 3 28 59 9 KS : 1 4 32 53 10 MI : 1 2 17 71 9 MO : 0 1 41 56 2 MT : 1 1 36 49 13 NE : 2 5 32 58 3 NC : 0 11 15 73 1 OH : 1 2 20 63 14 OK : 3 6 35 51 5 OR : 0 25 30 44 1 SD : 1 12 40 41 6 TX : 12 16 39 25 8 WA : 3 3 43 36 15 : 18 Sts : 3 7 33 48 9 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 2 22 56 20 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 23, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 7 25 58 8 AZ : 0 6 44 42 8 AR : 2 6 25 50 17 CA : 0 0 23 60 17 GA : 2 6 34 49 9 KS : 0 2 37 44 17 LA : 7 14 35 41 3 MS : 9 17 36 36 2 MO : 4 12 23 55 6 NC : 1 4 48 39 8 OK : 0 8 22 54 16 SC : 0 5 34 60 1 TN : 0 3 19 61 17 TX : 6 12 24 46 12 VA : 0 12 27 56 5 : 15 Sts : 4 9 28 48 11 : Prev Wk : 4 11 27 47 11 Prev Yr : 3 8 23 47 19 -------------------------------------- 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 23, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 4 16 36 40 4 :: NJ : 0 5 60 35 0 AZ : 18 36 31 12 3 :: NM : 6 16 31 33 14 AR : 28 30 33 9 0 :: NY : 4 24 43 28 1 CA : 62 22 16 0 0 :: NC : 6 10 43 28 13 CO : 9 22 41 24 4 :: ND : 4 14 33 44 5 CT : 27 18 29 26 0 :: OH : 5 15 34 41 5 DE : 7 20 23 50 0 :: OK : 7 16 33 40 4 FL : 0 10 30 50 10 :: OR : 8 21 51 20 0 GA : 4 17 47 31 1 :: PA : 12 33 34 19 2 ID : 2 9 47 34 8 :: RI : 0 0 50 50 0 IL : 15 20 38 26 1 :: SC : 1 16 55 24 4 IN : 5 17 43 32 3 :: SD : 8 15 30 41 6 IA : 19 23 31 24 3 :: TN : 15 20 40 23 2 KS : 8 15 40 35 2 :: TX : 22 33 31 12 2 KY : 15 35 32 16 2 :: UT : 1 2 17 60 20 LA : 34 32 30 4 0 :: VT : 6 23 45 24 2 ME : 9 9 31 23 28 :: VA : 14 26 42 18 0 MD : 2 17 41 37 3 :: WA : 6 20 24 49 1 MA : 0 19 33 48 0 :: WV : 14 20 42 23 1 MI : 9 24 44 18 5 :: WI : 8 13 39 34 6 MN : 2 8 28 53 9 :: WY : 2 13 31 49 5 MS : 34 39 19 8 0 :: : MO : 18 23 38 20 1 :: 48 Sts : 15 21 34 26 4 MT : 9 17 35 31 8 :: : NE : 13 21 33 29 4 :: Prev Wk: 14 21 34 27 4 NV : 3 4 33 50 10 :: Prev Yr: 9 15 32 38 6 NH : 3 7 43 44 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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