We 1 (4-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 11, 2006, 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 93, No. 15 April 2 - 8, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Chilly conditions persisted in California, further slowing fieldwork and threatening the quality of weather-sensitive crops such as fruits and vegetables. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal in several California locations, but ranged from 3 to 9 degrees F above normal across the Plains and much of the South. Much of California also experienced another week of wet weather, keeping soils cool and saturated. Farther inland, heavy snow maintained favorable spring and summer runoff prospects from the Sierra Nevada to the northern Rockies, while drought retained its grip on Arizona and New Mexico. Meanwhile, harsh conditions returned to the drought stricken southern High Plains in the form of warm, windy, dry weather and occasional blowing dust. Soil moisture shortages remained a concern as far north as the central High Plains, but soaking rain and wet snow fell again across much of Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. However, mostly dry weather prevailed in the Red River Valley, allowing the spring flood crest to proceed northward without complications along the North Dakota-Minnesota border. Severe thunderstorms struck again from April 6-8, starting on the eastern Plains and progressing eastward to the middle and southern Atlantic States. Approximately 90 tornadoes were reported during the three-day outbreak, boosting the nation's year-to-date count to more than 450. For the second time in less than a week, Tennessee endured some of the deadliest, most damaging thunderstorms, with at least 11 fatalities reported on April 7. Elsewhere, Midwestern rain and warmth promoted winter wheat development but slowed planting preparations, while late-week showers aided emerging summer crops in the Southeast. In contrast, pastures and dryland summer crops were in need of rain across the western half of the Gulf Coast region. Early in the week, locally heavy showers soaked the Midwest, while record warmth prevailed across the South. Daily-record rainfall totals for April 2 included 1.29 inches in Mason City, IA, and 1.06 inches in Minneapolis, MN. Meanwhile, record highs for April 2 climbed to 91 degrees F in Austin (Bergstrom), TX, and 90 degrees F in Charleston, SC. Elsewhere, Mobile, AL, notched daily-record highs on April 3 and 5 (87 degrees F both days), while highs topped 90 degrees F in Texas locations such as Lubbock (92 degrees F on April 5) and San Antonio (99 degrees F on April 7). Toward week's end, however, much cooler air arrived on the Plains. By April 8, lows fell to 20 degrees F in Burlington, CO, 22 degrees F in Goodland, KS, and 26 degrees F in Dalhart, TX. Prior to the arrival of cooler weather, the southern High Plains endured another wind and dust storm. On April 6 in western Texas, wind gusts ranging from 50 to 75 m.p.h. reduced visibilities to as little as one-half mile in blowing dust. Specific Texas gusts included 74 m.p.h. in Dalhart and 70 m.p.h. near McLean. Farther north and west, a sprawling storm system left a trail of broken precipitation records. Redding, CA, received measurable rain on each of the first 8 days in April, after setting a record with 23 days of measurable rain in March. Meanwhile in southern California, Los Angeles (LAX) noted consecutive daily-record amounts (0.86 and 0.29 inch) on April 4-5, and snowfall totaled 2 to 3 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains at elevations above 8,000 feet. Farther inland, more than 2 feet of snow blanketed parts of Utah's Wasatch Range in a 24-hour period on April 5-6. Meanwhile, Winnemucca, NV, experienced its wettest April day on the 5th, when 1.21 inches fell (previously, 0.77 inch on April 20, 1957). In Montana, Butte narrowly missed its April daily record (1.09 inches on April 5; previously, 1.10 inches on April 22, 1899, and April 27, 1911), while Missoula reported its wettest day for any month (1.87 inches on April 6; previously, 1.83 inches on May 25, 1980). In Minnesota, Minneapolis collected its second daily record of the week (1.06 and 2.58 inches on April 2 and 6, respectively). The latter sum also represented Minneapolis' wettest April day on record (previously, 2.22 inches on April 27, 1975). Heavy rain also fell elsewhere in the Midwest, where Sioux Falls, SD, tallied consecutive daily records (1.60 and 1.79 inches on April 6 and 7, respectively). On April 6-7, blizzard conditions briefly engulfed parts of the High Plains and adjacent Black Hills, where 10.0 inches of snow fell in Custer, SD. Along the Red River, water levels climbed nearly 20 feet above flood stage due to melting snow and late-March rainfall. In Fargo, ND, the Red River crested about 19.2 feet above flood stage on April 5, the fifth-highest level there behind April high-water marks in 1897 (22.1 feet), 1997 (21.6 feet), 1882 (19.8 feet), and 1969 (19.3 feet). Similarly, it was the fifth-highest crest (about 19.9 feet above flood stage on April 6) in East Grand Forks, MN, behind 1997 (26.4 feet), 1897 (22.2 feet), 1979 (20.8 feet), and 1882 (20.0 feet). Meanwhile, the Nation's preliminary year-to-date count of tornadoes (466 through April 9) and tornado-related fatalities (48) remained exceptionally high compared to the 1982-2005 annual averages of 1077 tornadoes and 55 deaths. In the East, two rounds of precipitation provided some relief from a spring dry spell. On April 4, Burlington, VT, netted a daily-record precipitation total of 1.18 inches, including 1.0 inch of snow. Farther south, just enough snow (0.1 inch on April 5) fell in New York's Central Park to complete its fourth consecutive season with 40 inches of snow for the first time during the 137-year period of record. New York City's 4-year (2002-03 to 2005-06) snowfall of 172.9 inches ranked second all-time to a 173.3-inch total from 1872-73 to 1875-76. In Tampa, FL, April 7 was the last of 40 consecutive days (starting February 27) without measurable rain, its longest such streak since March-May 1981 and sixth-longest dry spell on record. Tampa netted 1.03 inches of rain on April 8-9. Elsewhere at week's end, wet weather returned to the Northwest, where daily-record totals for April 8 were established in locations such as Mt. Shasta, CA (0.88 inch), and Moses Lake, WA (0.76 inch). Hawaiian weather returned to a semblance of normalcy, following more than a month of continuously wet conditions. A few heavy showers lingered early in the week, when 24-hour rainfall totals for April 2-3 included 5.57 inches on Kauai's Mt. Waialeale and 3.61 inches in Glenwood, on the Big Island. Meanwhile, cool weather (as much as 5 degrees F below normal) across the Alaskan mainland contrasted with mild conditions across the State's southern tier. In southeastern Alaska, daily-record highs for April 8 included 60 degrees F in Skagway and 57 degrees F in Haines. Some heavy precipitation was noted across southern Alaska, where Annette Island's month-to-date total of 4.04 inches (195 percent of normal) was elevated by a daily-record sum (1.73 inches) on April 7. National Agricultural Summary April 3 - 9, 2006 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures prevailed across the Nation, with the exception of California and the Northeast. Temperatures averaged over 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the Mississippi Delta and parts of the southern Great Plains, and much of the Missouri River Valley. Dry weather returned to the southern Plains, where winter wheat condition remained mostly poor to very poor. In contrast, light to moderate precipitation fell in more northerly areas of the Great Plains, particularly in Nebraska and South Dakota, where fieldwork was limited to 3 and 2 days, respectively. The Delta, Gulf Cost, and southern Atlantic Coast States remained mostly dry, further reducing topsoil moisture. However, rainfall was abundant across most of the Corn Belt, improving soil moisture but seriously hindering fieldwork. In most Corn Belt States, fieldwork was limited to 3 days or less. Heavy rainfall in California hampered cotton and rice planting, while moderate rainfall in the Pacific Northwest kept small grain growers out of their fields. Corn: Growers had seeded 3 percent of their acreage, 3 percentage points behind last year and 1 point behind normal. Planting was ahead of the normal pace in Texas and North Carolina, at 64 and 35 percent, respectively. However, progress was limited to 16 percent or less elsewhere. In the Corn Belt, only the southernmost State, Missouri, showed any planting progress. Cotton: Eight percent of the Nation's cotton crop had been planted, compared with 7 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Encouraged by warm, dry weather, Texas producers had planted 17 percent of their acreage, 4 points ahead of normal, while in Arizona, 15 percent of the crop had been sown. Elsewhere, planting progress was confined to the southernmost States in the Mississippi Delta and Southeast and was limited to 3 percent or less. In California, heavy rainfall continued to delay the onset of planting, which fell to 24 points behind the normal pace. Rice: Planting advanced to 22 percent complete, 10 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. Planting was most advanced in Texas and Louisiana, at 73 and 54 percent complete, respectively. Meanwhile, Arkansas and Missouri growers had seeded 15 percent of their acreage. Planting was 3 points behind normal in Mississippi and had not yet begun in California. Sorghum: Planting, at 18 percent complete, was 4 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. Seeding progressed rapidly in Louisiana, advancing 19 points, while Texas growers continued to lead the way, with 54 percent of their acreage planted. Planting was just getting underway in Missouri and Oklahoma, but had not yet begun in the northern and central Great Plains. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting advanced to 4 percent complete, compared with 10 percent last year and 7 percent for the 5-year average. Barley seeding, at 5 percent complete, was 6 points behind last year and the normal. Minnesota growers had not begun planting either crop, and progress was behind the normal pace in the remaining States. Planting was farthest behind in the Northwest. Thirty-one percent of the Nation's oat crop had been planted, 9 points behind last year and 3 points behind normal. Pennsylvania producers, with 29 percent of their acreage sown, were 17 points ahead of normal, while Iowa and Nebraska growers trailed the normal pace by 21 and 17 points, respectively. Planting had begun in all States, except Minnesota and North Dakota. Other Crops: Sugarbeet growers had planted 3 percent of their acreage, compared with 9 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Planting had not yet begun in the Red River Valley and was less than 10 percent complete elsewhere. In Idaho, where heavy rainfall has delayed planting of summer crops, just 9 percent of the acreage had been seeded, 31 points behind normal. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 1 0 IL : 0 NA 12 4 IN : 0 NA 2 1 IA : 0 NA 2 1 KS : 7 NA 10 8 KY : 15 NA 7 14 MI : 0 NA 3 1 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 16 NA 28 19 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 35 NA 13 18 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 0 NA 0 1 PA : 1 NA 0 0 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 16 NA 16 26 TX : 64 NA 61 55 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 3 NA 6 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 NA 1 2 AZ : 15 NA 18 19 AR : 0 NA 0 0 CA : 0 NA 9 24 GA : 1 NA 1 2 KS : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 3 NA 1 2 MS : 1 NA 0 0 MO : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 0 NA 0 0 SC : 0 NA 1 1 TN : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 17 NA 14 13 VA : 0 NA 0 0 : 15 Sts: 8 NA 7 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 8 7 12 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 1 0 LA : 26 7 22 11 MO : 1 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 1 0 2 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 54 45 40 39 : 11 Sts: 18 15 14 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 15 2 5 11 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 54 40 42 54 MS : 6 0 3 9 MO : 15 0 6 2 TX : 73 58 41 56 : 6 Sts : 22 11 12 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 7 2 37 32 MN : 0 0 0 0 MT : 2 1 5 4 ND : 0 0 3 2 SD : 15 5 35 20 WA : 39 32 77 56 : 6 Sts : 4 2 10 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 7 1 21 24 MN : 0 0 0 0 MT : 7 5 11 10 ND : 0 0 1 1 WA : 28 26 46 36 : 5 Sts : 5 3 11 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 19 6 67 40 MN : 0 0 0 5 NE : 27 13 69 44 ND : 0 0 3 1 OH : 17 5 9 16 PA : 29 24 14 12 SD : 13 1 30 17 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 2 0 14 7 : 9 Sts : 31 27 40 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 9, :Apr 2, :Apr 9, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 9 NA 32 40 MI : 8 NA 27 17 MN : 0 NA 0 0 ND : 0 NA 0 1 : 4 Sts : 3 NA 9 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 9, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 4 24 57 15 CA : 0 0 6 42 52 CO : 6 16 30 40 8 ID : 0 1 7 87 5 IL : 0 1 22 61 16 IN : 1 3 18 63 15 KS : 6 15 37 37 5 MI : 1 1 24 63 11 MO : 0 2 30 54 14 MT : 1 6 43 43 7 NE : 3 7 36 49 5 NC : 0 9 35 54 2 OH : 0 4 21 60 15 OK : 31 31 27 11 0 OR : 0 0 37 60 3 SD : 1 19 32 43 5 TX : 44 30 19 6 1 WA : 1 2 21 63 13 : 18 Sts : 14 16 29 35 6 : Prev Wk : 15 16 31 33 5 Prev Yr : 1 5 24 53 17 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2005 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 National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Field 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 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 Field 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. 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