We 1 (4-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 25, 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. 17 April 16 - 22, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Cool weather lingered in California for the ninth consecutive week, but hot weather intensified from the central and southern Plains into the Southeast. California's persistent cool spell held weekly temperatures as much as 5 degrees F below normal, further slowing spring fieldwork and threatening the quality of fruits and vegetables, while readings averaged at least 10 degrees F above normal from the southeastern Plains to the southern Appalachians. Although drier weather finally arrived in northern and central California, soggy fields and cool soils continued to hamper summer crop planting and emergence. Favorably dry weather also overspread the Northwest, followed by a late-week warming trend. Elsewhere in the West, dry, breezy weather maintained severe stress on Southwestern pastures and rangeland. Farther east, much of Texas (excluding the northern panhandle and the far south) received some showers, although the rain's beneficial aspects were partially offset by temperatures near 100 degrees F. Meanwhile, unusually warm weather aggravated the effects of dry conditions on winter wheat from Oklahoma northward into Kansas and eastern Colorado. In contrast, a winter-like storm severely stressed livestock and produced blizzard conditions in the Black Hills and adjacent High Plains. Corn planting rapidly advanced across the southwestern Corn Belt, but occasional showers and muddy fields slowed Midwestern fieldwork from the Dakotas southeastward to the Ohio Valley. Locally heavy rain also fell from the Tennessee Valley and the southern Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic States, aiding pastures, winter grains, and newly planted summer crops. However, unfavorably dry conditions persisted along and near the Gulf and southern Atlantic Coasts. Early in the week, cool, stormy weather in the West contrasted with hot conditions across the south-central United States. Pocatello, ID, measured precipitation totaling 0.86 inch on April 16-17, including a daily-record snowfall of 5.5 inches on the latter date. Much heavier snow fell early in the week in some Western mountain locations, including more than 3 feet at elevations above 8,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Approximately 18 inches of snow blanketed Alta, UT, leaving its April 18 snow depth at 179 inches. Farther north, Helena was among many sites in Montana reporting near-record precipitation totals for April. Helena's April 1-22 sum of 2.90 inches was just shy of its April 1975 standard of 3.00 inches. As stormy weather gradually expanded across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, blizzard conditions developed in the Black Hills. From April 17-20, Lead, SD, received 64.9 inches of snow and 5.73 inches of liquid equivalent, but nearby Rapid City noted just 1.0 inch of snow and 0.72 inch of liquid. Elsewhere, storm-total snowfall reached 11.0 inches in Lander, WY, and 30.0 inches in Ekalaka, MT. High winds accompanied the storm, with gusts reaching 60 m.p.h. or higher in locations such as North Platte, NE (60 m.p.h. on April 19), Meeker, CO (65 m.p.h. on April 17), and East Rapid City, SD (69 m.p.h. on April 19). Southern heat peaked on April 17-18 in advance of the Western storm. On April 17, monthly record highs were established in locations such as Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (101 degrees F; previously, 100 degrees F on April 18, 1925), McAlester, OK (95 degrees F; previously, 94 degrees F on April 18, 1987), and Fayetteville, AR (93 degrees F; previously, 90 degrees F on April 6, 1960, and April 12, 1972). For Dallas-Ft. Worth, it was the third-earliest triple-digit reading on record behind highs of 100 degrees F on March 9, 1911, and March 21, 1916. Triple-digit temperatures were also observed in several other Texas cities, including Del Rio (101, 101, and 104 degrees F from April 16-18), Wichita Falls (101 degrees F on April 17), and San Antonio (100 degrees F on April 18). On April 18, Mississippi highs of 93 degrees F in Hattiesburg and 91 degrees F in Vicksburg were both 1 degree shy of monthly record highs (94 degrees F on April 29, 1955, and 92 degrees F on April 28, 2002, respectively). Farther east, Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (92 degrees F on April 17), also missed its monthly record (93 degrees F on April 27, 1986) by 1 degree. In contrast, the temperature in Spokane, WA, reached 60 degrees F for the first time this year on April 19. The average date for Spokane's first 60-degree reading is March 21, but later observances were noted on April 22, 1917, and April 20, 1993. The Northwest also experienced local freezes and observed several daily-record lows, including 30 degrees F (on April 16) in Wenatchee, WA, and 29 degrees F (on April 22) in Pendleton, OR. In Utah, Randolph posted consecutive daily-record lows (11 and 13 degrees F) on April 19-20. Farther east, chilly conditions briefly spread across the Plains, where Gage, OK, collected a daily-record low (31 degrees F on April 19) just 2 days after a high of 99 degrees F. Similarly, Lamar, CO, reported a low of 25 degrees F on April 19, only 2 days after the high reached 91 degrees F. Elsewhere, Midwestern and Southern daily-rainfall records included 1.21 inches (on April 16) in Fort Wayne, IN; 1.75 inches (on April 19) in Abilene, TX; and 1.76 inches (on April 19) in Chattanooga, TN. Heavy rain developed across the Mid-Atlantic region on April 22, when daily records reached 2.88 inches at Virginia's Dulles Airport and 2.13 inches in Wilmington, DE. Hawaii continued to experience relatively quiet weather in the wake of March downpours. Through April 22, month-to-date rainfall at major observing stations included 0.14 inch (10 percent of normal) in Kahului, Maui; 1.02 inches (46 percent) in Lihue, Kauai; and 6.57 inches (68 percent) in Hilo, on the Big Island. Meanwhile, cold, mostly dry weather prevailed across most of the Alaskan mainland, where weekly temperatures averaged up to 12 degrees F below normal. McGrath, AK, noted consecutive sub-zero readings (-2 and -3 degrees F) on April 15-16. In southwestern Alaska, Bethel received 7.4 inches of snow on April 16, boosting its month-to-date total to 27.6 inches. National Agricultural Summary April 17 - 23, 2006 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures prevailed across the eastern three-fourths of the Nation, averaging over 9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the Mississippi Delta and neighboring areas of the Southeast, Corn Belt, and southern Great Plains. Warm weather in these areas encouraged rapid emergence of summer crops and winter wheat heading. Also, planting progress accelerated in these areas, despite moderate rainfall, as fields dried quickly in the warmth. In the northern Great Plains, planting progress was halted around midweek by rain and snow but resumed by week's end. After rainfall early in the week, drier conditions prevailed in the Corn Belt and were favorable for planting summer crops, while in the lower Ohio River and Tennessee River Valleys, planting advanced rapidly despite moderate to heavy rainfall. Storms along the Atlantic Coast brought much-needed relief from dry conditions. Cool, dry weather in the Pacific Coast States and the northern and central Rocky Mountains encouraged planting, but progress remained well behind normal due to continued wet field conditions from previous weeks' precipitation. Corn: Growers had planted 25 percent of their acreage, compared with 28 percent last year and 22 percent for the 5-year average. With the onset of planting in Michigan, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, planting had begun in all States. Despite moderate rainfall, planting progress accelerated in the Corn Belt and lower Ohio Valley, advancing 41 percentage points in Kentucky and 25 points in Illinois and Missouri. Planting progress continued to trail the normal pace in the eastern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains but was ahead of normal elsewhere. Winter Wheat: Heading advanced to 26 percent, 10 percentage points ahead of last year and 12 points ahead of normal. Warm dry weather promoted rapid heading in the southern Great Plains and Mississippi Delta, where Arkansas's and Oklahoma's crop advanced 38 and 36 points during the week, respectively, with both States well ahead of their 5-year average. In North Carolina, 43 percent of the crop entered the heading stage, pushing progress to 36 points ahead of the normal pace. Heading was at or ahead of normal in all States, except California and Indiana. Cotton: Twenty-three percent of the crop had been planted, 6 points ahead of last year and 7 points ahead of the average. In the Delta, planting progressed well despite moderate rainfall. Producers in Arkansas and Louisiana seeded one-fifth of their acreage during the week, while planting advanced 25 points in Mississippi. California growers planted their acreage rapidly under mostly dry conditions, advancing 30 points, but remained well behind normal due to wet-weather delays earlier in the season. Planting had begun in all States, except Kansas, and was ahead of the normal pace except in California and Arizona. Rice: Producers had seeded 67 percent of their acreage compared with 43 percent last year and 49 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed rapidly in the Delta under warm conditions, advancing 32 points in Arkansas, 29 points in Mississippi, and 31 points in Missouri. However, Texas and Louisiana growers remained the most advanced, with 89 and 82 percent of their acreage sown, respectively. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except California, where planting had not yet begun due to excessive wetness. Emergence, at 34 percent, was 16 points ahead of last year and 11 points ahead of normal. The most rapid emergence was in Mississippi, where 31 percent of the crop emerged during the week. Except for California, emergence was ahead of normal nationwide. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 25 percent complete, compared with 18 percent last year and 17 percent for the 5-year average. Seeding progressed rapidly in the Delta, with Arkansas growers planting 19 percent of their crop and Louisiana producers planting 29 percent of their acreage during the week. Planting had not yet begun Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota, but with the exception of Illinois, all other States were ahead of the normal planting pace. Small Grains: Twenty percent of the spring wheat crop had been sown, 17 points behind last year and 7 points behind normal. Planting progressed rapidly in South Dakota despite cool, wet conditions toward midweek. Planting there advanced 27 points to 62 percent complete, slightly ahead of normal. However, progress trailed the normal pace in all other States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where several weeks of cool, wet weather have hampered fieldwork. Barley planting, at 18 percent complete, was 14 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. Seeding was most advanced in Washington, at 43 percent, but remained well behind normal due to wet conditions in earlier weeks. Only Minnesota growers were ahead of the normal planting pace. Oat growers had planted 63 percent of their acreage, compared with 65 percent last year and 55 percent for the 5-year average. Spring planting progressed rapidly, with all States, except Nebraska and North Dakota, advancing 20 points or more during the week. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin over 20 points ahead of normal. Thirty-three percent of the crop had emerged, 5 points behind last year and 1 point behind normal. Despite rapid planting progress nationwide, emergence trailed behind normal in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. Other Crops: Sugarbeet planting advanced to 27 percent complete, 17 points behind last year and 10 points behind the average. Planting finally began in the Red River Valley, with Minnesota and North Dakota growers planting 14 and 3 percent of their acreage, respectively. Meanwhile, planting progressed rapidly in Michigan, advancing 54 points under dry conditions. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 14 3 14 8 IL : 33 8 60 39 IN : 9 3 33 20 IA : 26 3 15 16 KS : 50 23 38 35 KY : 70 29 54 52 MI : 8 0 23 8 MN : 12 0 3 9 MO : 75 50 60 54 NE : 16 3 8 11 NC : 83 61 62 61 ND : 2 0 9 7 OH : 9 2 48 17 PA : 15 4 14 7 SD : 3 0 6 4 TN : 79 57 58 70 TX : 72 68 71 66 WI : 5 0 7 3 : 18 Sts: 25 9 28 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 81 43 45 45 CA : 73 50 95 87 CO : 1 0 5 1 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 3 0 1 1 IN : 0 0 1 1 KS : 20 6 3 2 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 30 2 5 6 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 69 26 25 33 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 78 *42 52 39 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 38 27 30 33 WA : 1 0 3 1 : 18 Sts: 26 *13 16 14 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 78 46 46 56 CA : 0 0 2 5 LA : 82 75 70 75 MS : 73 44 50 41 MO : 75 44 19 24 TX : 89 83 77 81 : 6 Sts : 67 45 43 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 29 6 10 17 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 67 54 50 59 MS : 38 7 15 16 MO : 23 4 2 4 TX : 82 73 62 67 : 6 Sts : 34 17 18 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 30 9 27 24 AZ : 35 23 52 51 AR : 28 8 6 7 CA : 44 14 41 56 GA : 10 3 4 8 KS : 0 0 1 0 LA : 35 15 27 20 MS : 36 11 15 14 MO : 19 3 11 11 NC : 15 4 3 5 OK : 4 3 0 2 SC : 8 4 5 6 TN : 7 0 6 5 TX : 23 20 21 18 VA : 18 10 8 10 : 15 Sts: 23 13 17 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 59 40 46 50 CO : 1 0 1 0 IL : 1 0 6 2 KS : 4 2 2 1 LA : 72 43 45 34 MO : 19 6 6 8 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 11 8 5 7 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 64 63 47 45 : 11 Sts: 25 23 18 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 65 36 88 82 MI : 66 12 97 65 MN : 14 0 21 23 ND : 3 0 29 18 : 4 Sts : 27 7 44 37 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 29 17 65 59 MN : 16 2 12 18 MT : 14 9 35 23 ND : 10 3 26 17 SD : 62 35 84 60 WA : 53 45 92 82 : 6 Sts : 20 10 37 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 23 13 36 46 MN : 19 7 12 11 MT : 22 12 40 31 ND : 7 2 20 11 WA : 43 30 70 68 : 5 Sts : 18 9 32 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 85 55 91 80 MN : 44 17 28 29 NE : 87 73 90 80 ND : 15 3 25 12 OH : 76 44 76 54 PA : 72 52 74 46 SD : 54 32 73 51 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 56 14 48 35 : 9 Sts : 63 44 65 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 23,:Apr 16,:Apr 23,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 30 5 56 34 MN : 6 0 8 5 NE : 35 14 54 40 ND : 0 0 1 1 OH : 25 5 18 19 PA : 27 14 18 14 SD : 14 7 26 16 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 3 0 9 6 : 9 Sts : 33 27 38 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 23, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 5 23 54 18 CA : 0 0 2 25 73 CO : 6 16 32 40 6 ID : 0 2 9 83 6 IL : 0 2 19 56 23 IN : 1 2 17 63 17 KS : 10 21 39 28 2 MI : 0 1 17 58 24 MO : 3 13 29 47 8 MT : 1 5 25 51 18 NE : 4 8 34 48 6 NC : 1 11 41 42 5 OH : 0 3 15 59 23 OK : 34 38 23 5 0 OR : 0 0 30 66 4 SD : 1 9 30 51 9 TX : 51 26 18 5 0 WA : 1 3 15 66 15 : 18 Sts : 16 18 27 33 6 : Prev Wk : 15 17 29 32 7 Prev Yr : 1 6 25 51 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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