We 1 (5-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 2, 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. 18 April 23 - 29, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A brief cold snap on the High Plains resulted in a freeze on April 26 as far south as Texas' northern panhandle, threatening jointing to heading winter wheat. Four days after the freeze, USDA/NASS reported that wheat was 60 percent jointed in Colorado and 92 to 99 percent jointed in freeze-affected areas of north-central and western Kansas. Temperatures below 25 degrees F are often used as an indicator of possible damage to jointed wheat, and such readings were mostly confined to northwestern Kansas and parts of eastern Colorado. Readings of 30 degrees F or below, used as a benchmark for potential damage to headed wheat, were noted in most of eastern Colorado, the western one-third of Kansas, and scattered locations in the panhandles of western Oklahoma and northern Texas, respectively. On April 30, wheat headed numbers stood at 89 percent in Oklahoma but ranged from 5 to 39 percent in north-central and western Kansas. Colorado wheat was 3 percent headed. Damage to wheat, if any, occurred on fields with already reduced yield potential due to drought. Farther west, warm, dry weather finally overspread California, promoting cotton planting and other spring fieldwork. Similarly favorable conditions prevailed in the Northwest, where small grain planting rapidly advanced. Farther south, a brief period of rain and snow showers provided little relief to drought-stressed Southwestern pastures and rangeland. Meanwhile, significant rainfall again bypassed the central and southern High Plains, maintaining severe stress on maturing winter wheat and emerging, dryland summer crops. In contrast, soil moisture remained mostly favorable for small grains on the northern Plains, while torrential rain and locally severe thunderstorms drenched the eastern Plains from central and northeastern Texas into eastern Nebraska. Heavy rain also soaked the previously parched central Gulf Coast region, while locally heavy showers eased drought in parts of the Carolinas. However, dryness remained a concern with respect to irrigation, the threat of wildfires, and stress on dryland crops in Southern areas such as Florida and southern Texas. Elsewhere, corn and early-season soybean planting gradually progressed, despite cool weather, in the eastern Corn Belt, while late-week downpours halted Midwestern planting activities from the Mississippi Valley westward. Nevertheless, the moisture was generally beneficial for emerging summer crops in the previously dry southwestern Corn Belt, including much of Missouri. Early in the week, warm weather prevailed from the Plains westward, while heavy rain soaked the Northeast. Daily-record highs on April 23 included 96 degrees F in Borger, TX, and 94 degrees F in Wichita, KS. Meanwhile in Washington, a dry pattern resulted in both record lows and highs for April 23; for example, Whitman Mission noted 27 degrees F and Hoquiam reported 74 degrees F. Farther east, record rainfall totals for April 23 reached 5.30 inches in Bridgeport, CT, and 4.63 inches in Islip, NY. By April 24, warmth lingered across the South, where Florence, SC (92 degrees F), collected a daily-record high. However, sharply cooler air and precipitation overspread the Plains, where April 24 snowfall totaled 6.0 inches in Valentine, NE, and 5.5 inches in Rapid City, SD. The first of two rounds of heavy rain developed across the southeastern Plains and adjacent areas, resulting in a daily-record total (2.36 inches on April 24) in Tulsa, OK. A day later, Lafayette, LA (2.51 inches), also measured a record rainfall, while Rockford, IL, witnessed a trace of snow. More than two dozen daily-record lows were reported across the Plains and Midwest on April 26. Records were noted in locations such as Sidney, NE (20 degrees F); Tribune, KS (22 degrees F), Mansfield, OH (25 degrees F), and Chicago, IL (27 degrees F). Other April 26 readings included 17 degrees F in Limon, CO, and 29 degrees F in Guymon, OK. Farther east, record lows were observed in Parkersburg, WV (32 degrees F on April 27), and Montpelier, VT (24 degrees F on April 28). Meanwhile, hot weather lingered in Florida, where daily-record highs on April 27 reached 93 degrees F in both Ft. Lauderdale and Vero Beach. Toward week's end, heavy rain returned to the eastern Plains and parts of the South. In Kansas, Topeka's 2-day (April 28-29) total reached 3.10 inches. Daily records for April 29 included 4.43 inches in North Little Rock, AR, and 5.02 inches in New Iberia, LA. For North Little Rock, it was the wettest day since October 29, 1991, when 4.69 inches fell. In contrast, Brownsville, TX--coming off its driest year since 1953--received just 1.29 inches of rain (24 percent of normal) during the first 4 months of 2006. Similarly, San Antonio, TX, netted just 13.66 inches of rain (41 percent of normal) for the year ending April 30, 2006, breaking its May 1938 - April 1939 record of 14.16 inches. Farther west, Tucson, AZ, received rainfall totaling 0.79 inch from September 2005 - April 2006, establishing a record for its driest 8-month period (previously, 1.22 inches from October 1999 - May 2000). Hawaii completed a drier-than-normal April, following one of its wettest months on record. At Hawaii's major observing stations, April rainfall ranged from 0.20 inch (11 percent of normal) at Kahului, Maui, to 7.90 inches (63 percent) at Hilo, on the Big Island. Farther north, near- to below-normal weekly temperatures prevailed in Alaska, with readings as much as 12 degrees F below normal in the southwestern part of the State. During an early-week stormy spell, daily-record Alaskan totals for April 23 included 2.04 inches in Yakutat and 0.24 inch (2.2 inches of snow) in Fairbanks. For April as a whole, much of Alaska experienced wetter-than-normal conditions. Wetness was most pronounced in southern Alaska, where April totals reached 1.76 inches (271 percent) in Bethel and 12.57 inches (171 percent of normal) on Annette Island. Bethel's total included 28.7 inches of snow, more than doubling its April 1975 record of 14.3 inches. National Agricultural Summary April 24 - 30, 2006 Highlights: Temperatures were below normal in the central Corn Belt, northern and central Great Plains, Southwest, and middle and upper Atlantic Coast, while above-normal temperatures prevailed across the Mississippi Delta, Southeast, southern Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest. However, temperatures were remarkably close to normal across the Nation, ranging within 6 degrees Fahrenheit of normal except in a few small areas. Heavy precipitation in the western Corn Belt, central and southern Great Plains, and Mississippi Delta improved soil moisture but did not seriously hinder fieldwork. Mostly dry conditions along the Pacific Coast allowed some planting progress where excessive rainfall in previous weeks had stymied fieldwork. Corn: Planting advanced to 52 percent complete, 3 percentage point ahead of last year and 10 points ahead of normal. Despite periods of heavy rainfall in the Corn Belt, planting progressed rapidly during the week, advancing 39 points in Illinois, 37 points in Iowa, and 36 points in Minnesota. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except Indiana and the Dakotas. Meanwhile, 13 percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 12 percent last year and 11 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence was most advanced, at 70 percent, in North Carolina and Tennessee, and had begun in all States, except North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Soybeans: Growers had planted 10 percent of their acreage, 2 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting was most advanced, and well ahead of normal, in the Mississippi Delta, where 87 percent of the Mississippi crop was planted, 29 points ahead of normal, while Louisiana and Arkansas producers had planted 46 and 32 percent of their acreage, respectively. In all other States, progress was limited to single-digit percentages, except in Missouri, at 13 percent, and Ohio, at 17 percent planted. In the two largest producing States, Illinois and Iowa, 5 and 6 percent of the acreage had been seeded, respectively. Winter Wheat: Thirty-nine percent of the crop was at or beyond the heading stage, compared with 27 percent last year and 26 percent for the 5-year average. Heading was most advanced in Oklahoma, at 89 percent, 19 points ahead of normal, and was well ahead of normal in Kansas and Missouri. Development lagged well behind normal in California due to cool weather in recent weeks. Cotton: Planting advanced to 32 percent complete, 6 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. Growers in the Southwest progressed well during the week, planting 21 percent of Arizona's crop and 24 percent of California's crop, but remained behind normal. Planting also progressed well in the Delta, advancing 20 points or more in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri despite periods of heavy rainfall in some areas. Sorghum: Growers had sown 28 percent of their crop, compared with 19 percent last year and 20 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was most advanced in Louisiana, at 80 percent complete. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota, where planting had not yet begun. Rice: Planting advanced to 74 percent complete, 11 points ahead of last year and 8 points ahead of normal. California growers had not yet begun planting and slipped to 14 points behind normal. However, progress was at or ahead of normal in the other States, with Mississippi and Texas producers leading the way, at 91 percent planted. Fifty-six percent of the crop had emerged, 22 points ahead of last year and 16 points ahead of normal. Except in California, emergence was well ahead of normal, with the Mississippi and Missouri crops exceeding the average by 35 points. Small Grains: Forty-two percent of the spring wheat crop had been seeded, compared with 58 percent last year and 43 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was at or ahead of normal in Minnesota and the Dakotas, but trailed well behind normal in the Pacific Northwest. Emergence, at 11 percent, was 8 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Progress was 3 points ahead of normal in South Dakota but trailed behind elsewhere. Barley growers had planted 34 percent of their acreage, 16 points behind last year and 9 points behind normal. Minnesota producers, with 46 percent of their acreage planted, were 19 points ahead of normal. However, planting trailed behind normal in all other States, particularly Idaho, at 31 points behind the 5-year average. Eight percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 14 percent last year and 16 percent for the 5-year average. Again, only Minnesota's crop was ahead of the normal pace, while emergence in all other States trailed behind normal. Oat planting, at 77 percent complete, was the same as last year but 10 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting neared completion in Iowa and Nebraska, at 97 and 96 percent complete, respectively. With the exception of North Dakota, at 27 percent, planting was over 70 percent complete and at or ahead of normal in all States. Emergence advanced to 47 percent, compared with 49 percent last year and 43 percent for the normal. Emergence had begun in all States and was ahead of normal everywhere except in Iowa and North Dakota. Other Crops: Peanut producers had planted 5 percent of their acreage, the same as last year but 2 points behind normal. Oklahoma and South Carolina growers led the way with 12 percent of their acreage seeded, followed closely by Virginia at 10 percent planted. Planting progress was at or behind normal in all States. Fifty-five percent of the sugarbeet acreage had been sown, compared with 74 percent last year and 59 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed rapidly in the Red River Valley during the week, advancing 32 points in Minnesota and 31 points in North Dakota, but remained behind normal. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 32 NA 24 20 IL : 5 NA 5 5 IN : 5 NA 10 11 IA : 6 NA 3 3 KS : 5 NA 6 5 KY : 6 NA 6 6 LA : 46 NA 35 32 MI : 8 NA 8 5 MN : 3 NA 1 3 MS : 87 NA 60 58 MO : 13 NA 6 6 NE : 3 NA 4 3 NC : 7 NA 2 2 ND : 0 NA 0 2 OH : 17 NA 17 14 SD : 1 NA 1 1 TN : 7 NA 6 4 WI : 4 NA 3 1 : 18 Sts: 10 NA 8 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 88 81 76 77 CA : 77 73 98 97 CO : 3 1 8 3 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 29 3 5 7 IN : 11 0 4 6 KS : 48 20 11 13 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 64 30 17 22 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 84 69 49 60 OH : 0 0 0 1 OK : 89 78 77 70 OR : 0 0 3 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 54 38 56 53 WA : 2 1 7 3 : 18 Sts: 39 26 27 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 87 78 72 76 CA : 0 0 6 14 LA : 89 82 79 85 MS : 91 73 77 64 MO : 87 75 52 46 TX : 91 89 91 91 : 6 Sts : 74 67 63 66 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 62 29 32 42 CA : 0 0 0 1 LA : 75 67 62 71 MS : 72 38 44 37 MO : 51 23 13 16 TX : 87 82 76 79 : 6 Sts : 56 34 34 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 26 14 19 19 IL : 72 33 79 59 IN : 33 9 49 40 IA : 63 26 49 42 KS : 68 50 55 55 KY : 72 70 69 66 MI : 31 8 34 21 MN : 48 12 36 35 MO : 90 75 71 68 NE : 39 16 30 32 NC : 92 83 80 80 ND : 13 2 20 21 OH : 43 9 57 35 PA : 34 15 30 18 SD : 11 3 22 17 TN : 87 79 75 82 TX : 80 72 78 76 WI : 31 5 23 15 : 18 Sts: 52 25 49 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 NA 3 1 IL : 23 NA 28 20 IN : 5 NA 8 8 IA : 5 NA 5 3 KS : 32 NA 21 19 KY : 45 NA 31 39 MI : 1 NA 1 1 MN : 1 NA 0 1 MO : 58 NA 42 40 NE : 3 NA 3 4 NC : 70 NA 43 47 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 4 NA 3 2 PA : 4 NA 3 2 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 70 NA 45 56 TX : 62 NA 64 64 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 13 NA 12 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 NA 7 9 FL : 5 NA 4 10 GA : 5 NA 3 6 NC : 1 NA 1 4 OK : 12 NA 15 13 SC : 12 NA 15 16 TX : 0 NA 6 6 VA : 10 NA 5 10 : 7 Sts : 5 NA 5 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 83 65 97 93 MI : 89 66 99 81 MN : 46 14 61 48 ND : 34 3 71 45 : 4 Sts : 55 27 74 59 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 44 30 39 45 AZ : 56 35 68 65 AR : 38 28 26 25 CA : 68 44 58 74 GA : 24 10 8 17 KS : 0 0 2 0 LA : 55 35 51 46 MS : 57 36 37 38 MO : 44 19 38 30 NC : 20 15 15 17 OK : 6 4 1 7 SC : 17 8 11 13 TN : 10 7 8 12 TX : 24 23 22 21 VA : 39 18 20 29 : 15 Sts: 32 23 26 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 68 59 59 64 CO : 12 1 4 2 IL : 14 1 9 6 KS : 6 4 3 3 LA : 80 72 56 51 MO : 24 19 11 16 NE : 0 0 0 1 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 13 11 11 12 SD : 0 0 1 0 TX : 66 64 48 48 : 11 Sts: 28 25 19 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 97 85 98 94 MN : 72 44 51 48 NE : 96 87 94 89 ND : 27 15 46 28 OH : 92 76 85 70 PA : 89 72 85 65 SD : 71 54 85 68 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 80 56 66 51 : 9 Sts : 77 63 77 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 56 30 79 59 MN : 27 6 18 16 NE : 64 35 68 59 ND : 2 0 9 5 OH : 61 25 34 34 PA : 44 27 26 27 SD : 32 14 44 30 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 27 3 25 17 : 9 Sts : 47 33 49 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 53 29 80 74 MN : 44 16 40 35 MT : 35 14 55 44 ND : 32 10 50 32 SD : 83 62 94 75 WA : 71 53 98 91 : 6 Sts : 42 20 58 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 17 NA 44 41 MN : 7 NA 10 9 MT : 1 NA 9 10 ND : 5 NA 11 8 SD : 41 NA 57 38 WA : 47 NA 63 63 : 6 Sts : 11 NA 19 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 31 23 60 62 MN : 46 19 31 27 MT : 46 22 52 47 ND : 21 7 41 24 WA : 63 43 75 80 : 5 Sts : 34 18 50 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Apr 30,:Apr 23,:Apr 30,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 11 NA 29 27 MN : 15 NA 7 6 MT : 5 NA 9 16 ND : 2 NA 5 4 WA : 37 NA 44 51 : 5 Sts : 8 NA 14 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 30, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 6 20 51 23 CA : 0 0 4 30 66 CO : 10 19 34 34 3 ID : 0 2 9 83 6 IL : 0 2 17 62 19 IN : 0 3 17 61 19 KS : 14 23 37 23 3 MI : 0 1 18 58 23 MO : 3 13 29 47 8 MT : 1 4 22 56 17 NE : 5 11 34 44 6 NC : 0 8 43 44 5 OH : 0 4 15 60 21 OK : 40 36 20 4 0 OR : 0 0 30 66 4 SD : 1 11 30 46 12 TX : 54 26 17 3 0 WA : 1 3 16 63 17 : 18 Sts : 19 19 26 30 6 : Prev Wk : 16 18 27 33 6 Prev Yr : 2 7 28 48 15 -------------------------------------- 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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