We 1 (5-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 23, 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. 21 May 14 - 20, 2006 Not available at press time. Report will be re-loaded when National Weather Summary is available. National Agricultural Summary May 15 - 21, 2006 Highlights: Temperatures averaged below normal across the eastern half of the Nation, while above-normal temperatures prevailed from the Great Plains to the west Coast. Conditions were mostly dry across the Great Plains and western Corn Belt, encouraging planting but contributing to soil moisture shortages. Planting progress remained behind normal along the west Coast, despite mostly dry conditions. Persistent rainfall across the eastern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley hindered planting, while below-normal temperatures limited emergence and development. Dry conditions in the Mississippi Delta limited availability of irrigation water in some areas. Corn: Growers had planted 92 percent of their acreage, compared with 94 percent last year and 87 percent for the 5-year average. Planting progressed rapidly in the northern Great Plains under mostly dry conditions, advancing 22 point in North Dakota and 19 points in South Dakota. In the central Great Plains and western and central Corn Belt, planting neared completion ahead of the 5-year average. Emergence, at 66 percent, was 3 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of normal. The crop emerged rapidly in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, advancing 29 points or more. The season's first estimates of crop condition showed nearly two-thirds of the crop rated as good or excellent, slightly better than last year at this time. Soybeans: Seeding advanced to 55 percent complete, 8 points behind last year but 4 points ahead of normal. With warm, dry conditions and corn planting nearing completion, growers planted their crop rapidly in the western Corn Belt and northern and central Great Plains. Nebraska producers planted 40 percent of their acreage during the week, while planting advanced over 30 points in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Emergence, however, progressed slowly due to cool weather across most growing areas. Seventeen percent of the crop was at or beyond emergence, compared with 25 percent last year and 23 percent for the 5-year average. Emergence of the crop had begun in all States, but was behind normal in most areas due to the previous slow planting pace and cool temperatures. Winter Wheat: Seventy-one percent of the acreage was at or beyond the heading stage, 4 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. All of the acres in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma had entered the stage, while heading had not yet begun in Montana. Though progress was ahead of normal in most States, Oregon's crop trailed behind the normal pace by over a week. With mostly dry conditions across the western half of the Nation, crop condition declined. Cotton: Growers had seeded 73 percent of their acreage, compared with 67 percent last year and 68 percent for the 5-year average. With dry conditions across most growing areas, planting progressed rapidly, pulling ahead of normal after falling briefly behind a week ago. Tennessee producers sowed over one-third of their acreage during the week, while planting advanced over 20 points in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Sorghum: Planting advanced to 44 percent complete, 7 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. After slow progress through the early part of the season, planting accelerated as corn planting neared completion in most areas. The most rapid progress was in Nebraska, where growers seeded 27 percent of their acreage during the week. Progress was slightly behind normal in Kansas but well ahead of normal in the Texas. Rice: Eighty-eight percent of the crop had been sown, 5 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Planting rapidly progressed in California under mostly dry conditions but continued to trail well behind normal due to rain delays early in the season. Planting was nearly complete elsewhere. Emergence advanced to 82 percent, 5 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of normal. Progress was head of normal in all States, except California. Crop condition declined in the Delta due to short irrigation supplies, insect pressure, and herbicide drift. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting advanced to 90 percent complete, 3 points behind last year but 5 points ahead of the 5-year average. Planting was nearly complete in South Dakota and the Pacific Northwest and was at or ahead of normal in all States, except Minnesota. Emergence, at 64 percent, was 8 points behind last year but 6 points ahead of normal. The crop emerged rapidly in Idaho and North Dakota due to warm weather. Emergence trailed behind normal in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies but was ahead of normal in the northern Great Plains and Minnesota. Barley seeding was 90 percent complete, compared with 89 percent last year and 85 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was well ahead of normal in North Dakota but trailed behind normal in Minnesota and the Pacific Northwest. Emergence had begun on 61 percent of the acreage, 4 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. The crop emerged rapidly in most States under warm conditions but was still behind normal in the Pacific Northwest. Oat growers had sown 97 percent of their crop, 1 point behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Planting was complete or nearly complete in all States, except North Dakota, and was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States. Eighty-nine percent of the acreage had begun emerging, compared with 87 percent last year and 80 percent for the normal. The crop emerged rapidly in North Dakota and Pennsylvania, advancing 27 and 28 points respectively. Heading, at 23 percent, was 1 point ahead of last year and the 5-year average. In Texas, where oats are planted in the fall, heading had begun on 93 percent of the acreage. Elsewhere, however, only Iowa and Ohio showed any heading progress, at 1 and 9 percent, respectively. Other Crops: Peanut planting advanced to 54 percent complete, 4 points behind last year and 10 points behind normal. Nationwide, progress remained well behind normal despite rapid progress. Planting was most advanced, and slightly ahead of normal, in Virginia, where producers seeded one-third of their acreage during the week. Meanwhile, planting advanced 27 points in Georgia and 26 points in Oklahoma and Texas. Planting was over a week behind normal in Florida, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Sugarbeet growers had seeded 96 percent of their acreage, compared with 100 percent last year and 94 percent for the 5-year average. Planting advanced 27 points in Minnesota and 17 points in North Dakota, with both States slightly ahead of their normal pace. Twenty-one percent of the sunflower crop had been planted, 4 points ahead of last year and 8 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in the 4 major producing States and was most advanced in North Dakota, at 27 percent complete. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 80 64 79 85 IL : 96 95 99 88 IN : 77 74 94 75 IA : 98 92 98 94 KS : 97 89 97 96 KY : 95 88 94 85 MI : 85 79 87 70 MN : 91 76 92 92 MO : 98 96 98 90 NE : 97 89 96 93 NC : 100 99 98 97 ND : 79 57 80 78 OH : 91 90 94 78 PA : 82 75 83 71 SD : 84 65 88 82 TN : 98 93 99 97 TX : 98 96 95 96 WI : 82 75 82 72 : 18 Sts: 92 85 94 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 41 11 33 41 IL : 84 71 89 76 IN : 56 38 71 62 IA : 71 42 71 64 KS : 76 61 74 76 KY : 81 76 83 76 MI : 52 32 38 35 MN : 53 20 34 43 MO : 93 87 87 79 NE : 69 34 65 61 NC : 97 95 92 91 ND : 33 9 21 28 OH : 73 54 55 60 PA : 54 34 38 42 SD : 32 8 28 30 TN : 92 87 92 93 TX : 88 77 79 86 WI : 35 13 27 28 : 18 Sts: 66 44 63 60 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 95 97 95 CA : 37 12 69 72 LA : 98 94 98 97 MS : 97 95 99 96 MO : 97 91 98 87 TX : 99 98 100 100 : 6 Sts : 88 82 93 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 94 91 85 87 CA : 15 0 19 33 LA : 95 90 95 94 MS : 95 93 94 89 MO : 92 87 80 73 TX : 98 92 97 97 : 6 Sts : 82 77 77 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 61 40 73 51 IL : 46 31 86 57 IN : 37 32 71 56 IA : 74 41 66 60 KS : 37 12 49 44 KY : 26 18 62 34 LA : 81 67 64 60 MI : 56 54 71 43 MN : 53 21 36 54 MS : 96 93 94 87 MO : 53 26 62 41 NE : 72 32 66 54 NC : 32 18 33 32 ND : 53 19 45 42 OH : 71 68 74 55 SD : 41 13 33 35 TN : 36 18 64 35 WI : 46 26 52 38 : 18 Sts: 55 33 63 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 35 52 39 IL : 12 3 40 30 IN : 15 6 33 35 IA : 14 4 19 18 KS : 7 4 21 21 KY : 12 1 26 20 LA : 66 60 54 49 MI : 16 7 14 15 MN : 6 0 5 9 MS : 92 89 88 78 MO : 18 7 30 21 NE : 13 2 22 19 NC : 14 6 15 17 ND : 6 0 3 5 OH : 40 21 26 33 SD : 5 1 3 4 TN : 18 10 28 18 WI : 3 1 9 8 : 18 Sts: 17 9 25 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 89 93 91 CO : 23 19 27 23 IL : 22 20 59 34 KS : 24 10 23 27 LA : 95 87 89 86 MO : 63 43 64 52 NE : 40 13 37 29 NM : 11 4 11 12 OK : 43 28 29 31 SD : 25 12 17 18 TX : 73 70 53 57 : 11 Sts: 44 34 37 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 59 36 63 67 FL : 30 20 51 59 GA : 51 24 52 62 NC : 45 31 63 78 OK : 45 19 65 71 SC : 62 48 67 71 TX : 73 47 67 64 VA : 83 50 68 80 : 7 Sts : 54 31 58 64 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 99 99 100 100 CO : 52 23 40 45 ID : 8 3 0 0 IL : 92 85 88 88 IN : 67 46 62 73 KS : 96 85 89 90 MI : 1 0 1 6 MO : 98 95 87 90 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 35 12 20 30 NC : 100 98 95 97 OH : 42 9 14 36 OK : 100 99 100 99 OR : 10 5 39 27 SD : 2 0 1 3 TX : 95 91 94 94 WA : 23 16 34 20 : 18 Sts: 71 62 67 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 84 75 85 84 AZ : 92 85 93 91 AR : 90 70 94 82 CA : 98 89 99 98 GA : 73 56 58 67 KS : 23 6 17 21 LA : 93 78 96 92 MS : 87 73 93 90 MO : 80 53 96 84 NC : 90 74 86 84 OK : 49 27 41 62 SC : 77 53 77 70 TN : 64 29 92 72 TX : 59 37 43 50 VA : 95 86 87 93 : 15 Sts: 73 53 67 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 100 100 100 100 MI : 100 100 100 100 MN : 94 67 99 93 ND : 93 76 100 90 : 4 Sts : 96 79 100 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 82% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 12 5 1 4 KS : 15 3 18 15 ND : 27 4 23 18 SD : 14 4 9 7 : 4 Sts : 21 4 17 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 95 90 89 95 MN : 81 73 95 84 MT : 90 83 94 87 ND : 90 72 91 79 SD : 99 96 100 98 WA : 99 96 100 99 : 6 Sts : 90 79 93 85 -------------------------------------- 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 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 76 45 81 83 MN : 62 45 63 56 MT : 45 41 72 54 ND : 63 37 65 49 SD : 95 82 99 89 WA : 79 67 95 94 : 6 Sts : 64 46 72 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 89 81 78 91 MN : 75 63 95 82 MT : 93 86 91 89 ND : 89 70 90 76 WA : 97 90 99 99 : 5 Sts : 90 78 89 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 67 36 67 73 MN : 59 40 60 52 MT : 62 39 67 60 ND : 55 29 60 42 WA : 72 55 84 92 : 5 Sts : 61 36 65 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 79% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MN : 95 91 98 92 NE : 100 100 100 99 ND : 90 78 92 80 OH : 100 100 100 96 PA : 99 98 100 93 SD : 98 95 100 97 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 98 96 99 93 : 9 Sts : 97 94 98 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 98 90 100 98 MN : 82 73 74 70 NE : 100 97 98 95 ND : 63 36 69 50 OH : 100 99 93 90 PA : 94 66 87 80 SD : 89 72 93 85 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 93 78 76 70 : 9 Sts : 89 77 87 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:May 21,:May 14,:May 21,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 1 NA 1 1 MN : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 0 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 9 NA 1 3 PA : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 93 NA 92 91 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 9 Sts : 23 NA 22 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 21, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 3 11 82 4 IL : 0 2 25 66 7 IN : 2 12 40 43 3 IA : 1 3 28 56 12 KS : 0 3 33 60 4 KY : 0 4 27 54 15 MI : 2 7 41 46 4 MN : 0 0 20 60 20 MO : 0 3 36 56 5 NE : 0 2 30 63 5 NC : 0 0 19 69 12 ND : 0 0 14 73 13 OH : 2 6 37 47 8 PA : 1 5 31 48 15 SD : 1 3 24 66 6 TN : 0 4 23 52 21 TX : 7 8 41 38 6 WI : 1 5 35 52 7 : 18 Sts : 1 4 29 57 9 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 2 5 30 54 9 -------------------------------------- Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending May 21, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 5 18 54 23 CA : 0 4 6 42 48 CO : 21 29 34 15 1 ID : 0 2 13 77 8 IL : 0 1 13 69 17 IN : 0 4 20 56 20 KS : 20 24 34 21 1 MI : 1 2 16 62 19 MO : 6 11 31 44 8 MT : 1 10 38 39 12 NE : 12 18 35 32 3 NC : 1 6 37 51 5 OH : 1 4 22 55 18 OK : 36 35 23 6 0 OR : 0 10 25 63 2 SD : 11 12 37 34 6 TX : 50 27 19 4 0 WA : 1 8 23 56 12 : 18 Sts : 21 21 28 26 4 : Prev Wk : 19 19 26 30 6 Prev Yr : 3 12 33 42 10 -------------------------------------- Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 21, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 1 2 21 61 15 MN : 0 1 17 67 15 NE : 1 5 29 58 7 ND : 0 3 35 56 6 OH : 1 5 35 49 10 PA : 0 2 36 57 5 SD : 1 5 29 58 7 TX : 36 27 26 10 1 WI : 0 2 15 63 20 : 9 Sts : 9 9 26 47 9 : Prev Wk : 9 8 22 53 8 Prev Yr : 1 6 29 54 10 -------------------------------------- Spring Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 21, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 0 4 9 73 14 MN : 0 0 9 57 34 MT : 0 4 32 61 3 ND : 0 0 18 68 14 SD : 3 7 33 47 10 WA : 0 7 38 51 4 : 6 Sts : 0 2 22 62 14 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 0 2 24 61 13 -------------------------------------- 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 21, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 8 29 48 13 CA : 0 0 67 33 0 LA : 0 5 40 48 7 MS : 2 4 17 74 3 MO : 0 6 30 51 13 TX : 0 0 55 38 7 : 6 Sts : 1 5 37 48 9 : Prev Wk : 2 2 32 54 10 Prev Yr : 1 4 37 49 9 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending May 21, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 11 32 47 9 :: NJ : 0 0 20 80 0 AZ : 52 24 12 11 1 :: NM : 36 39 22 3 0 AR : 1 8 34 49 8 :: NY : 0 1 19 53 27 CA : 0 2 9 59 30 :: NC : 0 5 36 55 4 CO : 31 29 33 7 0 :: ND : 0 16 32 45 7 CT : 0 0 20 67 13 :: OH : 1 6 22 52 19 DE : 6 15 37 39 3 :: OK : 12 26 38 22 2 FL : 5 60 25 5 5 :: OR : 0 3 32 44 21 GA : 1 9 36 49 5 :: PA : 2 12 25 53 8 ID : 0 2 19 51 28 :: RI : 0 0 15 45 40 IL : 0 2 12 65 21 :: SC : 0 10 40 48 2 IN : 0 4 16 64 16 :: SD : 2 15 32 39 12 IA : 1 4 20 56 19 :: TN : 1 3 20 61 15 KS : 8 18 38 32 4 :: TX : 24 24 30 20 2 KY : 1 3 21 57 18 :: UT : 0 4 21 50 25 LA : 3 14 36 44 3 :: VT : 0 0 12 64 24 ME : 0 0 16 68 16 :: VA : 4 13 36 40 7 MD : 2 9 36 47 6 :: WA : 0 1 12 86 1 MA : 0 0 5 65 30 :: WV : 1 12 39 44 4 MI : 1 6 24 41 28 :: WI : 1 3 20 51 25 MN : 1 2 16 58 23 :: WY : 3 13 46 37 1 MS : 0 4 28 41 27 :: : MO : 5 14 43 34 4 :: 48 Sts : 7 14 28 40 11 MT : 1 5 37 48 9 :: : NE : 5 17 34 39 5 :: Prev Wk: 7 13 28 41 11 NV : 0 0 4 70 26 :: Prev Yr: 2 10 32 46 10 NH : 5 8 17 57 13 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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