We 1 (11-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 1, 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. 44 October 23 - 29, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Category 3 Hurricane Wilma cut a destructive swath across southern Florida on the morning of October 24, battering citrus, sugarcane, and specialty crops, including fall-season vegetables and nurseries. Less than 5 hours after making landfall just south of Marco in southwestern Florida, Wilma exited southern Florida's heavily populated east coast. Wilma's maximum sustained winds were estimated at 125 m.p.h. at landfall and 105 m.p.h. upon reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, the latest in a series of storms pounded the Northeast with high winds, heavy rain, and high-elevation snow. Rain padded October-record precipitation totals from Virginia to Maine, while early-season snow blanketed peaks in the central and northern Appalachians. Northeastern agricultural impacts due to saturated and muddy fields included significant harvest delays and livestock stress. In contrast, cool, mostly dry weather promoted autumn fieldwork but slowed winter wheat emergence across the Plains, Midwest, and South. Weekly temperatures averaged more than 10 degrees F below normal at some locations in the Gulf Coast States, where widespread frost and freezes were reported. In addition, soil moisture shortages remained a concern with respect to wheat establishment in several areas, including South Dakota, northern Texas, and the lower and middle Mississippi Valley. Elsewhere, mild, mostly dry weather favored cotton harvesting and other fieldwork in southern California and the Southwest, while scattered showers aided Northwestern winter grains. In addition, mild weather (temperatures 3 to 9 degrees F above normal) promoted Northwestern wheat emergence and establishment. On October 19, while centered about 325 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, Wilma became the strongest Atlantic Basin hurricane on record, based on a minimum central barometric pressure of 26.05 inches of mercury (882 millibars). Wilma's central pressure fell an astounding 2.54 inches (86 millibars) during the 12 hours ending at 5 a.m. EDT on October 19, and 2.89 inches (98 millibars) in the 24-hour period ending 8 a.m. on October 19. Wilma later moved over Cozumel Island (on October 21, with maximum sustained winds near 150 m.p.h.) and battered the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula before veering toward southern Florida. On October 24, Wilma made landfall at 6:30 a.m. EDT just south of Marco, FL, becoming the fourth major hurricane (category 3 or higher; maximum sustained winds greater than 110 m.p.h.) to strike the United States this year and breaking the annual record of three set in 1893 and 2004. Wilma's central pressure at landfall in Florida was estimated near 28.05 inches (950 millibars). Wilma's eye was as much as 75 miles wide while traversing southern Florida, clipping the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, crossing parts of five counties, and covering all of Palm Beach County. Winds were nearly equal on both sides of the eye, gusting in West Palm Beach to 101 m.p.h. from the southeast (at 9:14 a.m.) and 100 m.p.h. from the northwest (at 11:53 a.m.). Other peak wind gusts associated with Wilma included 123 m.p.h. at the offshore Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, 8 miles southeast of Key Biscayne and 144 feet above sea level; 112 m.p.h. at the south end of Lake Okeechobee; 105 m.p.h. in Opa Locka; 104 m.p.h. at the National Hurricane Center in Miami; and 99 m.p.h. in Ft. Lauderdale. Gusts to hurricane force were noted along Florida's east coast as far north as Titusville (76 m.p.h.). Due to Wilma's rapid motion, only a few rainfall totals in excess of 6 inches were observed. Daily-record totals across southern Florida for October 24 included 6.14 inches in Naples, 5.49 inches in Vero Beach, 4.70 inches in Orlando, and 4.69 inches in Ft. Myers. Wilma's interaction with a storm system to the north contributed to a daily-record sum (4.80 inches on October 24) in Cape Hatteras, NC, and consecutive daily-record totals (2.18 and 2.64 inches on October 23 and 24, respectively) in Daytona Beach, FL. The Northeastern storm brought an early-season snowfall from October 24-26. Daily-record totals for October 25 included 3.0 inches in Clarksburg, WV, and 3.4 inches in Caribou, ME. Clarksburg's total was not only a record for the date, but also edged the city's October 1925 monthly standard of 2.5 inches. At least 1 foot of snow blanketed several peaks in the central and northern Appalachians, while monthly snowfall atop New Hampshire's Mt. Washington climbed to 79.1 inches, far exceeding the October normal (14.0 inches) and former record (39.8 inches in 2000). Elsewhere in New Hampshire, a daily-record rainfall of 2.07 inches (on October 25) helped to elevate Concord's October total to 14.57 inches (421 percent of normal). Previously, Concord's October precipitation record was 8.78 inches in 1962 and monthly standard was 10.97 inches in September 1888. Elsewhere, all-time monthly precipitation records in locations such as Allentown, PA (13.16 inches), and Providence, RI (15.38 inches), contrasted with the driest month on record at several Southern sites, including Jackson, MS (not a single drop of rain). In the wake of Wilma and the Northeastern storm, chilly weather settled across areas east of the Rockies. On October 23, daily-record lows in Nebraska included 11 degrees F in Alliance and 13 degrees F in Chadron. A day later, record lows for October 24 dipped to 28 degrees F in Greenwood, MS, and 30 degrees F in Childress, TX. Greenwood also noted six consecutive freezes from October 24-29 and collected daily-record lows on October 26 and 27 (29 and 31 degrees F, respectively). In Texas, Austin-Bergstrom's minimum of 32 degrees F on October 25 represented its earliest freeze on record (previously, 26 degrees F on November 3, 1951) and lowest October temperature (previously, 33 degrees F on October 30, 1980). The Southern chill came very suddenly. For example, Huntville, AL, reported its first freeze of the autumn on October 26 (31 degrees F), 10 days earlier than normal, while Madison, WI, experienced its first freeze on October 22 (30 degrees F), 21 days later than normal. Cold weather was also tardy arriving in parts of the Great Basin, where Reno, NV (30 degrees F on October 30), had its fourth-latest autumn freeze. Reno's latest first freezes occurred on November 3, 1992, and October 31, 1933 and 2003. Elsewhere in the West, daily-record highs included 76 degrees F (on October 24) in Pocatello, ID, and 75 degrees F (on October 25) in Tooele, UT. Toward week's end, however, cooler, showery weather overspread the Intermountain West and the Northwest. In Utah, daily-record totals for October 28 included 1.43 inches in Fillmore and 1.40 inches in Alta, where several inches of snow accumulated. Weekly temperatures averaged within 5 degrees F of normal across much of the Alaskan mainland, with cooler conditions to the south and west. Mostly dry weather prevailed on the mainland through week's end, although Anchorage measured its first 1-inch snowfall of the season on October 30. Meanwhile in southeastern Alaska, Annette Island's October rainfall climbed to 16.20 inches (117 percent of normal). Meanwhile in Hawaii, locally heavy showers accompanied near- to below-normal temperatures. On the Big Island, Hilo collected weekly rainfall totaling 6.51 inches and noted a daily-record low of 64 degrees F on October 27. Some of the heaviest 24-hour totals included 4.34 inches (on October 24-25) at Oahu's Wilson Tunnel and 3.97 inches (on October 27-28) in Laupahoehoe, on the Big Island. National Agricultural Summary October 24 - 30, 2005 Highlights: Hurricane Wilma, the record-fourth major hurricane to strike the United States this year, made landfall Monday morning along the Florida Gulf Coast, cutting across the peninsula. Winds in excess of 100 miles per hour caused significant damage to sugarcane, citrus, vegetable, and nursery crops, while heavy rainfall severely limited fieldwork. However, elsewhere in the Southeast, as well as in the Mississippi Delta, dry conditions were favorable for cotton harvest. Similarly dry weather in the central and western Corn Belt and across the Great Plains encouraged corn and soybean harvest. In the northern and central Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, light to moderate precipitation and above-normal temperatures were favorable for winter wheat emergence. Conditions were mostly dry in the Southwest, while showers in the Ohio River Valley and Northeast hampered fieldwork. Temperatures were below normal across most of the Corn Belt, which experienced the first widespread freeze of the season. Below-normal temperatures also prevailed in the Southeast, southern Great Plains, and Atlantic Coast States. Though temperatures dropped below 20 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the northern Great Plains, average temperatures were above normal in the region as well as in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Corn: Harvest advanced to 80 percent complete, compared with 64 percent last year and 74 percent for the 5-year average. Encouraged by warm, dry conditions, harvest advanced rapidly in the northern Great Plains and neighboring areas of the Corn Belt. North Dakota growers harvested nearly one-third of their acreage during the week, while Minnesota producers harvested one-fourth of their crop. Progress was ahead of normal in most States but trailed behind in some areas of the Great Plains. Soybeans: Ninety-two percent of the acreage had been harvested, 9 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of normal. Harvest progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States and was nearly complete in the western Corn Belt, northern Great Plains, and Mississippi Delta. Winter Wheat: Planting advanced to 92 percent complete, compared with 88 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Planting was complete in Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota and was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States except California, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. Meanwhile, emergence, at 76 percent, was 1 point ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. The crop emerged rapidly in the Ohio Valley, despite cool, wet conditions, advancing 23 points in Indiana and Ohio. Progress continued to trail behind normal in the Pacific Northwest but was ahead of normal in most other areas. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls reached 96 percent, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind the 5-year average. In most States, all fields had open bolls, and in all States except Texas, at least 96 percent of the acreage had open bolls. Harvest advanced to 53 percent complete, compared with 49 percent last year and 55 percent for the normal. Alabama growers progressed the most, harvesting over one-fourth of their crop during the week. Harvest was nearly complete in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, at 95 percent or more, well ahead of the normal pace. However, in the southern Great Plains and California, just over one-third of the acreage had been picked, over a week behind normal. Sorghum: Ninety-five percent of the crop was at or beyond maturity, 3 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except New Mexico, where the crop was 1 week behind normal. Meanwhile, harvest advanced to 71 percent complete, 12 points ahead of last year but 3 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest progressed rapidly in Colorado and Nebraska, advancing 21 and 23 points, respectively. Progress was well behind normal in the southern Great Plains, trailing the normal harvest pace by over 2 weeks in Texas and over 3 weeks in Oklahoma. Other Crops: The Nation's peanut crop was 78 percent harvested, compared with 77 percent last year and 81 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest progressed well in the southern Great Plains, advancing 19 points in Oklahoma and 17 points in Texas. Producers in both States were ahead of their normal harvest pace. Along the Atlantic Coast, however, progress continued to trail behind normal. Sugarbeet growers had harvested 88 percent of their acreage, 1 point behind last year and the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in Minnesota and 99 percent complete in North Dakota, at or ahead of the normal pace. However, Idaho and Michigan producers, with 67 and 63 percent of their acreage harvested, respectively, were behind the 5-year average. The sunflower harvest advanced to 69 percent complete, 43 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of normal. Colorado and North Dakota growers harvested nearly one-fourth of their acreage during the week. Harvest was 68 percent complete in Kansas, 4 points behind normal. However, progress was at or ahead of the normal pace elsewhere. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 74 56 26 47 CA : 18 13 24 27 CO : 100 100 100 100 ID : 98 93 98 98 IL : 98 92 77 87 IN : 94 86 81 86 KS : 96 91 92 93 MI : 100 96 97 96 MO : 84 68 47 69 MT : 100 98 100 98 NE : 100 98 99 100 NC : 33 20 35 36 OH : 95 85 89 91 OK : 96 90 92 87 OR : 84 55 93 87 SD : 100 100 100 99 TX : 84 76 83 83 WA : 97 95 99 99 : 18 Sts: 92 86 88 88 -------------------------------------- 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 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 37 20 17 29 CA : 5 2 10 12 CO : 97 91 100 94 ID : 62 47 63 67 IL : 84 62 62 64 IN : 74 51 59 64 KS : 84 74 78 79 MI : 84 71 73 72 MO : 56 39 35 49 MT : 84 69 89 77 NE : 96 90 96 97 NC : 12 5 14 19 OH : 77 54 73 72 OK : 83 72 81 74 OR : 38 21 74 55 SD : 88 85 89 82 TX : 61 48 68 63 WA : 72 68 91 92 : 18 Sts: 76 65 75 73 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 98 CO : 100 90 88 97 IL : 99 98 100 99 KS : 97 90 93 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 99 99 NE : 100 99 98 100 NM : 70 42 42 78 OK : 93 89 74 89 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 92 85 92 92 : 11 Sts: 95 89 92 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 99 100 100 CO : 50 29 38 58 IL : 89 79 82 83 KS : 70 56 51 71 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 85 81 69 84 NE : 82 59 58 76 NM : 15 12 10 30 OK : 48 44 59 70 SD : 94 86 69 83 TX : 73 68 69 79 : 11 Sts: 71 61 59 74 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 43 32 41 69 IL : 94 89 85 86 IN : 80 62 79 69 IA : 80 61 60 74 KS : 92 85 84 94 KY : 99 93 95 94 MI : 75 56 49 46 MN : 73 48 43 72 MO : 93 88 84 91 NE : 79 60 57 71 NC : 100 97 100 95 ND : 61 29 12 64 OH : 54 42 59 53 PA : 75 67 62 57 SD : 75 52 31 62 TN : 99 97 99 99 TX : 95 93 94 97 WI : 57 44 39 50 : 18 Sts: 80 65 64 74 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 75 67 68 IL : 97 93 85 90 IN : 93 87 90 87 IA : 99 97 99 97 KS : 84 72 74 81 KY : 81 66 56 66 LA : 99 98 91 88 MI : 93 91 69 77 MN : 98 95 93 95 MS : 99 97 99 91 MO : 82 67 61 73 NE : 98 95 95 94 NC : 20 15 15 20 ND : 99 96 82 95 OH : 85 79 79 85 SD : 98 94 94 95 TN : 83 73 48 55 WI : 90 81 76 83 : 18 Sts: 92 87 83 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 67 50 81 73 MI : 63 34 63 67 MN : 100 97 97 98 ND : 99 98 97 99 : 4 Sts : 88 79 89 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 73 50 53 62 KS : 68 52 45 72 ND : 63 39 14 63 SD : 78 61 34 73 : 4 Sts : 69 47 26 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 87% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 98 97 99 99 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 100 100 99 CA : 97 95 99 100 GA : 96 92 98 97 KS : 97 89 79 89 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 99 NC : 100 100 100 99 OK : 99 97 95 97 SC : 98 95 99 96 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 92 90 85 94 VA : 100 100 100 97 : 15 Sts: 96 94 93 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 62 36 52 59 AZ : 45 33 47 51 AR : 95 88 64 74 CA : 36 23 73 66 GA : 43 33 55 52 KS : 5 3 0 23 LA : 99 98 87 87 MS : 96 89 84 81 MO : 91 84 56 71 NC : 53 35 62 47 OK : 34 17 42 46 SC : 45 36 52 47 TN : 82 66 50 67 TX : 34 27 30 43 VA : 52 40 49 48 : 15 Sts: 53 44 49 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2000- State:Oct 30,:Oct 23,:Oct 30,: 2004 : 2005 : 2005 : 2004 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 87 75 85 86 FL : 95 85 94 95 GA : 80 68 83 88 NC : 83 66 94 87 OK : 91 72 74 77 TX : 51 34 38 45 VA : 92 84 96 94 : 7 Sts : 78 65 77 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 96% of last year's peanut acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Oct 30, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 20 39 33 1 CA : 0 0 55 45 0 CO : 0 3 20 48 29 ID : 0 2 15 81 2 IL : 0 0 18 78 4 IN : 0 3 22 64 11 KS : 1 3 24 64 8 MI : 1 3 29 57 10 MO : 0 6 52 40 2 MT : 0 1 26 59 14 NE : 2 6 27 62 3 NC : 0 10 13 76 1 OH : 0 1 21 63 15 OK : 2 7 35 51 5 OR : 5 17 50 27 1 SD : 1 8 40 40 11 TX : 12 14 35 30 9 WA : 2 2 40 48 8 : 18 Sts : 3 6 30 53 8 : Prev Wk : 3 7 33 48 9 Prev Yr : 0 2 20 57 21 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 30, 2005 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 7 30 55 6 AZ : 0 7 48 38 7 AR : 2 6 25 50 17 CA : 0 0 18 64 18 GA : 2 5 25 54 14 KS : 0 2 23 60 15 LA : 7 14 35 41 3 MS : 9 17 36 36 2 MO : 4 12 23 55 6 NC : 0 5 45 45 5 OK : 0 8 21 56 15 SC : 0 6 36 57 1 TN : 0 3 19 61 17 TX : 7 9 21 45 18 VA : 0 9 32 44 15 : 15 Sts : 5 8 26 47 14 : Prev Wk : 4 9 28 48 11 Prev Yr : 3 7 22 47 21 -------------------------------------- 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 30, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 8 13 38 38 3 :: NJ : 0 5 55 30 10 AZ : 19 41 26 11 3 :: NM : 6 21 45 27 1 AR : 32 31 30 7 0 :: NY : 5 34 42 17 2 CA : 60 24 16 0 0 :: NC : 10 10 44 17 19 CO : 2 15 50 29 4 :: ND : 4 16 39 35 6 CT : 25 18 31 26 0 :: OH : 3 7 30 51 9 DE : 3 10 37 50 0 :: OK : 7 13 36 39 5 FL : 5 15 20 60 0 :: OR : 14 25 42 19 0 GA : 6 23 47 23 1 :: PA : 11 20 43 23 3 ID : 2 7 49 34 8 :: RI : 0 0 50 50 0 IL : 15 20 38 26 1 :: SC : 1 18 55 23 3 IN : 4 17 41 36 2 :: SD : 8 15 34 37 6 IA : 20 22 34 23 1 :: TN : 19 24 37 20 0 KS : 7 16 39 36 2 :: TX : 27 32 28 11 2 KY : 13 31 42 13 1 :: UT : 0 3 16 60 21 LA : 35 41 22 2 0 :: VT : 7 20 35 35 3 ME : 10 10 35 20 25 :: VA : 8 27 40 25 0 MD : 2 13 35 43 7 :: WA : 4 20 24 49 3 MA : 0 15 25 60 0 :: WV : 8 17 40 34 1 MI : 16 35 38 10 1 :: WI : 7 21 38 30 4 MN : 3 9 28 55 5 :: WY : 3 17 33 43 4 MS : 49 36 11 4 0 :: : MO : 18 23 36 21 2 :: 48 Sts : 16 21 34 26 3 MT : 7 15 36 34 8 :: : NE : 10 19 34 32 5 :: Prev Wk: 15 21 34 26 4 NV : 2 2 42 47 7 :: Prev Yr: 8 14 32 39 7 NH : 5 10 50 25 10 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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