We 1 (5-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 16, 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. 20 May 7 - 13, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A second consecutive week of very warm weather promoted fieldwork and crop development in California but boosted irrigation demands in the Desert Southwest, where temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F above normal. In contrast, chilly conditions lingered in the Northwest, where temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal. Weekly readings also averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal in several locations across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. On the Plains, cool, dry weather followed a period of scattered showers. Early-week rains were heaviest (generally 1 inch or more) across Kansas and Oklahoma, excluding drought-stricken western portions of those States. On May 11-12, readings near the freezing mark (32 degrees F) were noted as far south as eastern Colorado and northwestern Kansas, although temperatures were not low enough to cause significant concern for winter wheat. Farther east, cool, showery conditions developed after mid-week across the Midwest and Northeast. Midwestern fieldwork delays were most pronounced east of the Mississippi River, but chilly weather slowed corn and soybean emergence throughout the region. Some wet snow fell from northeastern Minnesota into Upper Michigan, while weekly rainfall topped 2 inches in large portions of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Intense rainfall (as much as 4 to 12 inches) across southern New England on May 13-14 triggered widespread flooding in eastern Massachusetts and southern portions of Maine and New Hampshire. Elsewhere, locally heavy rain also soaked the Southeast, with at least 4 inches falling in a broad area centered on southern Alabama. Briefly heavy rain arrived on the night of May 14-15 in drought-affected southern Texas, but unfavorably dry conditions persisted into mid-May across southern Florida. In the latter region, Florida's citrus producers irrigated to help offset the effects of hot, dry weather, while scattered wildfires caused local travel disruptions. Several daily-record highs were established across the Deep South, particularly in Florida and Texas. In fact, triple-digit readings were common across southern Texas on May 8-10 and 13. On May 10, daily records in Texas included 103 degrees F in Corpus Christi and 102 degrees F in McAllen. In addition, McAllen's year-to-date rainfall through May 14 stood at 0.78 inch (14 percent of normal). By May 13, highs also reached or exceeded 100 degrees F in western Texas locations such as Midland (102 degrees F) and Lubbock (100 degrees F). Farther east, selected record highs across Florida included 94 degrees F in both in Orlando (on May 7) and Vero Beach (on May 11). Among the largest of Florida's numerous wildfires was the 14,000-acre Berg fire, which burned mostly grass about 14 miles south of Belle Glade. Other Florida fires caused significant travel disruptions due to smoke. In Naples, FL, the 0.10-inch rainfall on May 9 ended a 46-day dry spell and marked its first measurable precipitation since March 23. Meanwhile in the Northwest, chilly conditions lingered for much of the week before yielding to much warmer weather. On May 9, daily-record lows in Washington included 29 degrees F at both Whitman Mission and Omak. Whitman Mission also notched record lows on May 10 and 13 (30 and 29 degrees F, respectively). Meanwhile in Oregon, Pendleton (32 degrees F on May 9) noted its third freeze of the month, following the May 2-3 cold snap. Farther inland, records for May 10 included 24 degrees F in Idaho Falls, ID, and 16 degrees F in Laramie, WY. Elsewhere in Wyoming, Rawlins (13 and 19 degrees F) collected consecutive daily-record lows on May 10-11. The only lower May temperature in Rawlins occurred on May 9, 2002, when the low was 11 degrees F. Numerous daily-record rainfall totals were observed across the eastern Plains, South, and Midwest. In Mississippi, Meridian collected record totals on May 7 and 10 (1.80 and 2.80 inches, respectively). Farther north and west, scattered daily records included 1.96 inches (on May 9) in Wichita, KS, and 3.15 inches (on May 10) in Springfield, MO. In Wisconsin, LaCrosse noted a daily-record total (1.70 inches) on May 8, then experienced its fifth-latest snowfall just 4 days later. LaCrosse also received a trace of snow on May 12, 1966, but noted later traces on May 18, 1915, and May 24 and 27, 1925. Measurable snow (0.2 inch) fell in LaCrosse on May 28, 1947. Meanwhile in northern Wisconsin, May 11-12 snowfall reached as 8 inches in Montreal and 6 inches in Hurley. Some wet snow also fell in Upper Michigan, but more notable were the 4- to 6-inch precipitation totals across parts of the peninsula. Marquette, MI (3.15 inches on May 11), experienced its wettest May day in the last 45 years, breaking a record set with a 2.73-inch total on May 1, 1973. High winds, which gusted to 70 m.p.h. on May 11 at Gills Rock in Door County, WI, accompanied the developing storm system. Near the storm's center, Grand Rapids, MI, registered a monthly record low barometric pressure of 29.08 inches on May 11, edging its May 1997 standard of 29.10 inches. A day later, Midwestern high temperatures remained below 45 degrees F in locations such as Muskegon, MI, and South Bend, IN (both 43 degrees F). Farther east, heavy rain overspread the Northeast on May 11-12 but intensified at week's end across parts of New England. In Connecticut, daily records for May 12 included 2.97 inches in Bridgeport and 2.94 inches in Hartford. Boston, MA, endured 7.61 inches of rain during the weekend of May 13-14, while Concord, NH, netted 7.55 inches. On May 15, the Merrimack River crested 8.87 feet above flood stage below Manchester, NH, and 6.84 feet above flood stage at Lowell, MA. A complete account of Northeastern rainfall and flooding will be provided in next week's summary. In contrast, weekly rainfall totaled just 0.04 inch in Amarillo, TX, where nearby Lake Meredith continued to shrink. By May 12, Lake Meredith's surface level fell to 58.06 feet, a few inches below the June 2004 former record low of 58.41 feet and more than 37 feet below the August 1999 record high of 95.43 feet. In Hawaii, heavy rainfall subsided across the Big Island's windward locations early in the week. From May 5-10, rainfall totaled 15.47 inches in Hilo, on the Big Island. Through May 14, Hilo's month-to-date rainfall reached 17.54 inches (429 percent of normal). Following the rain, Hilo posted daily-record lows (60 and 62 degrees F) on May 11 and 13. Farther west, Hawaiian month-to-date rainfall totals included 0.98 inch (233 percent of normal) in Honolulu, Oahu, and 0.73 inch (52 percent) in Lihue, Kauai. Meanwhile, weekly temperatures ranged from as much as 5 degrees F below normal in southwestern Alaska to 5 degrees F above normal along the Arctic Coast. Alaskan daily-record lows included 23 degrees F (on May 7) in Cold Bay and 20 degrees F (on May 8) in King Salmon. Late in the week, snow blanketed parts of western Alaska, where Cold Bay received daily-record totals on May 12 and 14 (0.3 and 1.4 inches, respectively). Other Alaskan snowfall records for May 14 included 1.5 inches in Bethel and 0.8 inch in Nome. National Agricultural Summary May 8 - 14, 2006 Highlights: A weather system held station over the Nation's mid section through much of the week, generating persistent rainfall and below-normal temperatures across the Corn Belt, Ohio River Valley, Mississippi Delta, and Southeast. Despite the rainfall, planting steadily progressed across the Corn Belt. However, fieldwork was limited in the Delta, Southeast, and parts of the Ohio Valley. Moderate precipitation in the southern and central Great Plains improved winter wheat condition, while dry conditions elsewhere on the Plains encouraged planting. Planting continued to progress slowly in California despite another week of mostly dry, warm weather. Meanwhile, heavy rains and above-normal temperatures improved pasture conditions in New England but caused flooding in some areas. Corn: Eighty-five percent of the crop had been planted, 3 percentage points behind last year but 8 points ahead of normal. Planting progressed rapidly in the northern Great Plains under mostly dry conditions, advancing 26 points in North Dakota and 30 points in South Dakota. Progress was ahead of normal in most States, exceeding the 5-year average pace by 18 to 20 points in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Emergence advanced to 44 percent, compared with 39 percent last year and 40 percent for the 5-year average. The crop rapidly emerged throughout the Corn Belt, with Ohio's crop advancing 38 points and over one-fourth of Illinois's and Michigan's crop emerging during the week. Soybeans: Growers had planted 33 percent of their acreage, 10 points behind last year and 2 points behind normal. Planting progressed rapidly in Michigan, advancing 29 points despite persistent rainfall. In the major producing States of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Minnesota, seeding trailed behind the normal pace by 12 points or more. Nine percent of the acreage had emerged, 1 point behind last year and the 5-year average. Emergence was well ahead of normal in the Mississippi Delta as a result of the rapid planting pace but generally trailed behind the normal pace in the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Winter Wheat: The crop was at or beyond the heading stage on 62 percent of the acreage, compared with 55 percent for last year and the 5-year average. All of Arkansas's acres had reached the stage, while at least 95 percent of the crop was heading in California, Missouri, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. In Kansas, the largest producing State, 85 percent of the crop was at or beyond the heading stage, 17 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States, except Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, and South Dakota. Condition of the crop improved slightly with rainfall in the Great Plains and Corn Belt. Cotton: Planting advanced to 53 percent complete, 1 point behind last year and 2 points behind normal. After leading the normal pace through last week, progress fell behind normal as rainfall in the Mississippi Delta and Southeast limited fieldwork. Seeding was behind normal in most States, with Missouri and Tennessee growers trailing 20 and 26 points behind normal, respectively. The most rapid progress was in Virginia, where producers experienced only scattered rainfall and planted over one-fourth of their acreage during the week. Sorghum: Thirty-four percent of the acreage had been seeded, compared with 27 percent last year and 30 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed slowly, advancing just 3 points in Kansas and 2 points in Texas, the two largest producing States. Arkansas and Louisiana producers led the way with 89 and 87 percent of their acreage planted, respectively. Rice: Producers had planted 82 percent of their acreage, 5 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Though progress was at or ahead of normal in most States, California growers slipped to 40 points behind their 5-year average. Planting was nearly complete in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. Emergence advanced to 77 percent, compared with 63 percent last year and 69 percent for the 5-year average. Progress trailed behind normal in California and Texas but was ahead of normal elsewhere, leading the normal pace by as much as 31 points in Missouri. Small Grains: Spring wheat seeding was 79 percent complete, 9 points behind last year but 7 points ahead of normal. Planting advanced 35 points in Montana and also progressed well in Minnesota and North Dakota to finish the week near or ahead of normal in all States. Forty-six percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 53 percent last year and 42 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence trailed 26 points behind normal in Idaho and 18 points behind normal in Washington due to the slow early-season planting progress but was ahead of normal elsewhere. Barley growers had planted 78 percent of their crop, 4 points behind last year but 7 points ahead of the 5-year average. Under dry conditions, North Dakota producers planted 32 percent of their acreage during the week, pushing their progress to 16 points ahead of normal. Emergence advanced to 36 percent, 10 points behind last year and 5 points behind normal. In Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota, one-fifth of the crop emerged during the week. Ninety-four percent of the Nation's oat crop had been planted, compared with 95 percent last year and 88 percent for the 5-year average. Planting reached completion in Iowa and Nebraska and neared completion in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. North Dakota growers made rapid progress during the week, planting 27 percent of their acreage. Emergence, at 77 percent, was 1 point ahead of last year and 8 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States, except Iowa. Other Crops: Sunflower growers had sown 4 percent of their acreage, 2 points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Planting was 5 points ahead of normal in Colorado but 5 points behind normal in Kansas, while producers in the Dakotas were within a point of their normal pace. Thirty-one percent of the peanut acreage had been planted, 1 point ahead of last year but 9 points behind normal. Planting progress was limited by persistent rainfall in the Southeast and trailed behind normal in all States, except Texas. Under dry conditions, Texas producers planted nearly 30 percent of their acreage during the week, pushing ahead of their normal pace. Elsewhere in the southern Great Plains, Oklahoma growers trailed behind their normal pace by 32 points. Sugarbeet planting advanced to 79 percent complete, compared with 100 percent last year and 86 percent for the 5-year average. Planting reached completion in Idaho and Michigan, slightly ahead of normal, but continued to trail well behind normal in Minnesota, the largest producing State. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 38 56 42 IL : 31 14 66 43 IN : 32 15 54 44 IA : 41 17 42 35 KS : 12 7 33 28 KY : 18 12 39 23 LA : 67 62 57 53 MI : 54 25 53 32 MN : 21 6 26 33 MS : 93 91 89 82 MO : 26 15 40 26 NE : 32 9 33 28 NC : 18 13 22 18 ND : 19 8 18 18 OH : 68 45 58 47 SD : 13 3 12 15 TN : 18 13 28 19 WI : 26 10 38 22 : 18 Sts: 33 18 43 35 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 35 NA 34 28 IL : 3 NA 13 12 IN : 6 NA 11 16 IA : 4 NA 4 5 KS : 4 NA 8 9 KY : 1 NA 0 7 LA : 60 NA 45 42 MI : 7 NA 4 6 MN : 0 NA 1 1 MS : 89 NA 76 69 MO : 7 NA 13 8 NE : 2 NA 4 5 NC : 6 NA 5 8 ND : 0 NA 0 1 OH : 21 NA 8 17 SD : 1 NA 1 1 TN : 10 NA 8 6 WI : 1 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 9 NA 10 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 94 92 92 CA : 12 4 50 52 LA : 94 92 95 95 MS : 95 92 97 92 MO : 91 90 93 80 TX : 98 92 98 98 : 6 Sts : 82 79 87 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 85 65 77 CA : 0 0 9 14 LA : 90 81 88 89 MS : 93 84 84 79 MO : 87 80 56 56 TX : 92 90 94 95 : 6 Sts : 77 71 63 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 64 37 56 64 IL : 95 85 97 84 IN : 74 52 87 70 IA : 92 81 95 84 KS : 89 81 90 89 KY : 88 85 92 80 MI : 79 62 80 59 MN : 76 56 87 78 MO : 96 93 94 86 NE : 89 67 87 80 NC : 99 97 95 95 ND : 57 31 68 59 OH : 90 78 87 72 PA : 75 58 70 61 SD : 65 35 71 61 TN : 93 92 96 95 TX : 96 91 91 94 WI : 75 52 74 56 : 18 Sts: 85 70 88 77 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 11 3 16 19 IL : 71 45 75 63 IN : 38 17 47 46 IA : 42 19 37 37 KS : 61 47 54 57 KY : 76 70 65 66 MI : 32 6 12 17 MN : 20 5 9 17 MO : 87 75 77 70 NE : 34 13 29 34 NC : 95 85 83 84 ND : 9 1 4 9 OH : 54 16 26 38 PA : 34 10 16 23 SD : 8 2 6 11 TN : 87 84 78 86 TX : 77 64 74 79 WI : 13 3 11 12 : 18 Sts: 44 25 39 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 89 82 83 85 CO : 19 14 17 12 IL : 20 15 39 24 KS : 10 7 10 16 LA : 87 83 85 79 MO : 43 34 43 39 NE : 13 2 14 11 NM : 4 1 3 4 OK : 28 19 26 25 SD : 12 4 9 8 TX : 70 68 50 53 : 11 Sts: 34 30 27 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 36 23 37 41 FL : 20 14 27 37 GA : 24 13 23 36 NC : 31 13 30 48 OK : 19 15 51 51 SC : 48 24 53 52 TX : 47 18 37 44 VA : 50 31 35 54 : 7 Sts : 31 16 30 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 97 98 CA : 99 94 99 99 CO : 23 11 22 22 ID : 3 1 0 0 IL : 85 60 74 75 IN : 46 27 39 48 KS : 85 72 64 68 MI : 0 0 0 1 MO : 95 83 71 75 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 12 0 3 9 NC : 98 96 90 92 OH : 9 1 2 8 OK : 99 97 97 97 OR : 5 1 21 15 SD : 0 0 0 1 TX : 91 76 87 86 WA : 16 10 27 11 : 18 Sts: 62 53 55 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 75 63 71 74 AZ : 85 75 90 86 AR : 70 62 74 69 CA : 89 78 97 95 GA : 56 41 35 50 KS : 6 2 7 7 LA : 78 64 89 84 MS : 73 68 84 82 MO : 53 47 90 73 NC : 74 55 66 64 OK : 27 16 24 42 SC : 53 30 53 49 TN : 29 17 66 55 TX : 37 31 33 36 VA : 86 60 75 82 : 15 Sts: 53 44 54 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 NA 0 0 KS : 3 NA 7 8 ND : 4 NA 7 5 SD : 4 NA 4 3 : 4 Sts : 4 NA 6 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 100 93 100 99 MI : 100 96 100 99 MN : 67 62 99 82 ND : 76 54 100 77 : 4 Sts : 79 70 100 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 90 74 88 92 MN : 73 49 91 71 MT : 83 48 87 76 ND : 72 51 83 62 SD : 96 90 100 93 WA : 96 90 100 98 : 6 Sts : 79 57 88 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 45 32 71 71 MN : 45 17 40 36 MT : 41 8 45 34 ND : 37 16 46 32 SD : 82 66 94 77 WA : 67 55 82 85 : 6 Sts : 46 23 53 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 81 60 75 86 MN : 63 52 91 68 MT : 86 68 84 77 ND : 70 38 80 54 WA : 90 88 95 97 : 5 Sts : 78 55 82 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 36 21 54 59 MN : 40 20 38 31 MT : 39 18 47 42 ND : 29 9 38 25 WA : 55 52 68 81 : 5 Sts : 36 18 46 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 99 100 100 MN : 91 80 95 83 NE : 100 97 100 98 ND : 78 51 84 63 OH : 100 *100 98 93 PA : 98 91 97 89 SD : 95 87 99 91 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 96 91 93 84 : 9 Sts : 94 86 95 88 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 14,:May 7, :May 14,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 90 78 99 93 MN : 73 46 63 54 NE : 97 80 94 88 ND : 36 11 50 32 OH : 99 80 73 74 PA : 66 52 63 63 SD : 72 59 83 71 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 78 60 54 51 : 9 Sts : 77 62 76 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending May 14, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 5 19 51 25 CA : 0 2 2 33 63 CO : 14 23 37 24 2 ID : 0 3 10 79 8 IL : 0 2 20 61 17 IN : 0 2 15 60 23 KS : 16 23 36 23 2 MI : 0 2 18 60 20 MO : 3 11 32 46 8 MT : 1 7 17 49 26 NE : 13 20 31 30 6 NC : 1 6 36 52 5 OH : 0 3 17 58 22 OK : 40 32 22 6 0 OR : 0 8 26 63 3 SD : 2 13 29 43 13 TX : 47 26 19 8 0 WA : 1 4 21 61 13 : 18 Sts : 19 19 26 30 6 : Prev Wk : 19 19 27 29 6 Prev Yr : 2 10 33 44 11 -------------------------------------- Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 14, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 1 2 21 60 16 MN : 0 1 16 71 12 NE : 1 4 24 65 6 ND : 0 0 33 64 3 OH : 1 2 24 60 13 PA : 0 2 33 59 6 SD : 0 2 18 73 7 TX : 38 27 24 10 1 WI : 0 1 7 73 19 : 9 Sts : 9 8 22 53 8 : Prev Wk : 9 9 20 55 7 Prev Yr : 1 6 30 55 8 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2005 planted acres. Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 14, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 4 25 52 16 CA : 0 0 60 40 0 LA : 0 0 28 67 5 MS : 1 2 16 74 7 MO : 0 1 29 59 11 TX : 0 5 52 40 3 : 6 Sts : 2 2 32 54 10 : Prev Wk : 0 1 37 51 11 Prev Yr : 1 4 37 51 7 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 14, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 7 35 50 7 :: NJ : 0 5 90 5 0 AZ : 52 24 12 11 1 :: NM : 21 38 30 11 0 AR : 1 7 38 46 8 :: NY : 1 10 26 51 12 CA : 0 0 0 53 47 :: NC : 0 6 39 50 5 CO : 23 25 47 5 0 :: ND : 0 5 33 54 8 CT : 0 2 23 67 8 :: OH : 1 4 23 54 18 DE : 8 17 39 33 3 :: OK : 14 25 35 25 1 FL : 5 60 30 5 0 :: OR : 0 2 27 53 18 GA : 1 11 34 48 6 :: PA : 5 17 40 32 6 ID : 0 1 17 55 27 :: RI : 0 0 40 60 0 IL : 0 1 13 61 25 :: SC : 0 8 38 52 2 IN : 0 2 16 67 15 :: SD : 1 8 28 54 9 IA : 1 4 22 52 21 :: TN : 1 4 22 60 13 KS : 9 21 37 30 3 :: TX : 22 22 31 22 3 KY : 0 3 22 55 20 :: UT : 0 1 12 66 21 LA : 2 13 30 50 5 :: VT : 0 0 0 95 5 ME : 2 2 22 43 31 :: VA : 4 13 37 40 6 MD : 1 9 36 47 7 :: WA : 0 3 11 83 3 MA : 0 0 4 58 38 :: WV : 2 8 40 44 6 MI : 2 5 31 42 20 :: WI : 1 8 17 52 22 MN : 1 2 14 57 26 :: WY : 0 9 37 53 1 MS : 0 3 24 59 14 :: : MO : 6 15 43 31 5 :: 48 Sts : 7 13 28 41 11 MT : 2 5 30 47 16 :: : NE : 4 9 33 48 6 :: Prev Wk: 8 13 30 39 10 NV : 0 0 3 62 35 :: Prev Yr: 3 9 33 44 11 NH : 3 4 13 68 12 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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.nass.usda.gov. 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