We 1 (8-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 22, 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. 34 August 13 - 19, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Scattered showers provided local drought relief in the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast, despite the lack of a well-organized weather system. A weak low-pressure system lurked for several days near the southern Atlantic Coast before making landfall in coastal southeastern Georgia on the night of August 19-20, but strong upper-atmospheric winds prevented its development into a tropical storm. Farther west, heat intensified from eastern Texas to the Delta, maintaining severe stress on pastures and immature summer crops, including cotton and soybeans. Meanwhile, near-normal temperatures and frequent showers aided Midwestern corn and soybeans, especially in the previously dry southwestern Corn Belt. Much-needed rain also fell across the nation's mid-section from the southern High Plains to Kansas and eastern Nebraska, reviving drought-stressed pastures, benefiting immature summer crops, and boosting topsoil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. Weekly rainfall topped 4 inches in several locations from southeastern Colorado to southern Iowa. Near-normal temperatures prevailed in the West, although showery weather in the Four Corners States contrasted with dry conditions elsewhere. Southwestern showers caused flash flooding but further eased long-term drought and reduced irrigation demands. Farther north, numerous large wildfires continued to burn, although dry weather favored Northwestern small grain harvesting and other late-summer fieldwork. Despite an early-week cool spell, the Northwest remained a hotbed of wildfire activity, with dozens of active blazes. Northwestern daily-record lows on August 13 included 31 degrees F in Meacham, OR, and 41 degrees F in Challis, ID. Meanwhile, Idaho Falls, ID, opened the week with consecutive daily-record lows (39 and 37 degrees F on August 13 and 14, respectively). By August 20, the region's largest blaze was the 224,000-acre Crystal fire, burning in grass but 90 percent contained about 20 miles northwest of American Falls, ID. Farther north and west, the 116,000-acre Tripod complex, 30 percent contained, continued to burn forested areas just northeast of Winthrop, WA. Meanwhile in Nevada, the 190,000-acre Charleston complex, 55 miles north of Elko, was nearly (90 percent) contained. The national year-to-date burned acreage climbed to 6.8 million (160 percent of the 10-year average), rapidly approaching the modern (post-1960) annual record of 8.7 million acres, set just last year. Farther east, record-setting heat briefly overspread Florida but persisted through week's end from the southeastern Plains to the Delta. August 13 featured the hottest weather in more than 20 years in parts of southern Florida, where West Palm Beach's high of 99 degrees F represented the highest reading since it was also 99 degrees F on July 26, 1983. Meanwhile, Miami, FL (96 degrees F on August 13), marked its hottest day since August 2, 1999 (also 96 degrees F). Farther west, Southern daily-record, triple-digit highs included 106 degrees F (on August 17) in Waco, TX; 103 degrees F (on August 15) in both Hattiesburg, MS, and Monroe, LA; and 101 degrees F (on August 18 and 19) in Fayetteville, AR. Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW), TX, closed the week with a 12th consecutive day (August 8-19) of triple-digit heat, its longest such streak since 2000 (13 days from August 24 - September 5). It was also DFW's 35th day of 100-degree heat so far this year; higher annual totals were observed as recently as 2000 (46 days), 1998 (56 days), and 1980 (all-time-record total of 69 days). Enough rain fell in the Southeast to provide local drought relief. A daily-record total was set in Tallahassee, FL (2.88 inches on August 14), although most of the rain fell in less than 1 hour. Showers also dotted the northern Rockies and northern Plains, where daily-record amounts included 0.54 inch (on August 16) at Mullan Pass, ID, and 0.36 inch (on August 17) in Great Falls, MT. On August 18, daily records were established in South Dakota locations such as Kennebec (1.20 inches) and Pierre (0.89 inch). Farther south, heavy showers continued to pepper the Four Corners States, where Roswell, NM (1.20 inches on August 15), collected a daily-record total. Through August 19, month-to-date rainfall reached 6.39 inches (620 percent of normal) in El Paso, TX, shattering its August 1984 record of 5.57 inches. The only wetter months in El Paso were July 1881 (8.18 inches), July 1880 (7.54 inches), and September 1974 (6.68 inches). Similarly, Tucson, AZ, completed its second-wettest June 15 - August 16 period on record (7.84 inches), behind only a 10.54-inch total in 1955. Elsewhere, drier air overspread the north-central U.S. at week's end, but Norfolk, NE, set a record for its wettest August 1-18 period on record (6.08 inches; previously, 5.71 inches in 1923). Ironically, Norfolk recently completed its second-driest July on record (0.22 inch, or 6 percent of normal). Near- to below-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, accompanied by heavy precipitation across the state's southern tier. Valdez collected daily-record rainfall totals (1.16, 2.38, and 3.04 inches) on 3 consecutive days from August 18-20, boosting its month-to-date sum to 10.54 inches (276 percent of normal). Farther north, late-week rain soaked parts of interior Alaska, while pea-size hail fell on August 19 in Fairbanks. Through August 19, month-to-date rainfall totals were also greater than 200 percent of normal in locations such as Juneau (6.91 inches), King Salmon (4.49 inches), and Anchorage (3.91 inches). Meanwhile in Hawaii, scattered showers were primarily confined to windward locations. At the state's major airport stations, August 1-19 rainfall ranged from 0.04 inch (11 percent of normal) in Kahului, Maui, to 4.03 inches (66 percent) in Hilo, on the Big Island. Month-to-date precipitation reached 2.86 inches (249 percent of normal) in Lihue, Kauai, although more than three-quarters (2.17 inches) of the rain fell on August 1 and 7. National Agricultural Summary August 14 - 20, 2006 Highlights: Near-normal temperatures prevailed across most of the Nation. However, temperatures averaged over 3 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across much of the Mississippi Delta and Tennessee River Valley and exceeded the normal by over 6 degrees in parts of the southern Great Plains. The warm weather promoted rapid growth and development of summer crops in the area. Moderate to heavy precipitation fell in a band from the Southwest, across the central Great Plains, to the western Corn Belt, improving crop conditions in most of the affected area. Lighter rainfall in the northern Great Plains, also improving crop conditions. Mostly dry conditions across the Mississippi Delta, Southeast, and southern Atlantic Coast caused further depletion of soil moisture but favored fieldwork. Corn: Eighty-two percent of the acreage was at or beyond the dough stage, 4 percentage points ahead of last year and 11 points ahead of normal. Doughing was at or ahead of normal in all States, except Kansas, and was well ahead of normal in the northern Corn Belt. Acreage at or beyond the dent stage advanced to 44 percent, compared with 38 percent last year and 33 percent for the 5-year average. Denting progressed rapidly in the western Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Great Plains, advancing 27 points in Nebraska, 22 points in Iowa, and 20 points in Minnesota and North Dakota, despite slightly below-normal temperatures in the area. Seven percent of the crop was mature, 1 point ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Maturation was most advanced in Texas, at 67 percent, but had not yet begun in Colorado and most of the eastern Corn Belt. Soybeans: Acreage setting pods or beyond advanced to 93 percent, 1 point behind last year but 5 points ahead of normal. All of Mississippi's and North Dakota's acreage was setting pods or beyond, and progress was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States. Acreage dropping leaves, at 4 percent, was 2 points ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Leaf dropping was most advanced in the Delta and was underway in most growing areas but was limited to 1 percent across the Corn Belt. Rainfall in the northern and central Great Plains improved crop condition. Cotton: Ninety-six percent of the acreage was setting bolls or beyond, compared with 91 percent last year and 93 percent for the 5-year average. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States, except Alabama, where the crop trailed 2 weeks behind normal. Bolls were open on 20 percent of the acreage, 7 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Development was ahead of normal across the southernmost areas of the Southeast and well ahead of normal in the Delta, but trailed behind normal in Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Sorghum: Acreage at or beyond the heading stage advanced to 83 percent, 2 points behind last year but 2 points ahead of normal. Heading was complete in the Delta and was ahead of the normal pace in all States, except New Mexico and Oklahoma. Acreage turning color or beyond, at 45 percent, was 6 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. All States, except Oklahoma, were at or ahead of normal, with South Dakota leading the normal coloring pace by 26 points. Twenty-five percent of the crop was mature, compared with 20 percent last year and 21 points for the 5-year average. Maturation was well underway in the Mississippi Delta and southern Great Plains but progress was limited to less than 10 percent elsewhere. Rice: Ninety-one percent of the crop had reached the heading stage, 1 point ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. In California, heading progressed rapidly, advancing 19 points during the week, but remained 12 points behind normal due to planting delays early in the season. Meanwhile, harvest was 14 percent complete, 3 points ahead of last year but the same as normal. Arkansas and Mississippi producers had begun harvesting their acreage, reaching 1 and 3 percent, respectively, but Louisiana and Texas remained by far the most advanced. Small Grains: Spring wheat growers had reaped 82 percent of their acreage, 25 points ahead of last year and 29 points ahead of normal. The barley harvest advanced to 72 percent complete, compared with 61 percent last year and 53 percent for the 5-year average. For both crops, harvest progressed rapidly in Idaho under cool, mostly dry conditions. Washington growers trailed slightly behind their normal harvest pace, while Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota producers were well ahead of normal. Ninety-six percent of the Nation's oat crop had been harvested, 5 points ahead of last year and 12 points ahead of normal. Harvest reached completion in Iowa, Ohio, and South Dakota and was complete or nearly complete in all States, except North Dakota, at 88 percent harvested. Other Crops: Peanut acreage at or beyond the pegging stage advanced to 96 percent, 2 points behind last year and 3 points behind normal. Pegging was at or near completion in all States, except Alabama, where the crop trailed over 3 weeks behind normal. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 57 30 34 39 IL : 88 83 91 87 IN : 83 66 85 77 IA : 77 56 74 63 KS : 86 78 93 90 KY : 92 66 87 86 MI : 77 55 77 39 MN : 75 50 65 48 MO : 97 93 95 91 NE : 90 80 85 83 NC : 99 96 94 94 ND : 79 60 60 62 OH : 78 58 75 69 PA : 78 51 63 59 SD : 73 54 63 61 TN : 99 99 99 99 TX : 98 97 98 96 WI : 62 43 55 40 : 18 Sts: 82 67 78 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 18 5 9 9 IL : 53 34 56 49 IN : 37 18 40 34 IA : 37 15 30 23 KS : 63 47 58 59 KY : 60 44 61 64 MI : 27 6 20 7 MN : 25 5 19 12 MO : 81 68 78 69 NE : 53 26 46 38 NC : 86 76 78 79 ND : 34 14 6 12 OH : 23 9 18 18 PA : 42 20 19 22 SD : 31 15 18 17 TN : 93 85 91 91 TX : 89 85 79 83 WI : 18 2 9 5 : 18 Sts: 44 25 38 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 5 NA 4 6 IN : 0 NA 2 2 IA : 1 NA 2 1 KS : 24 NA 17 16 KY : 20 NA 23 17 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 1 NA 0 0 MO : 35 NA 31 20 NE : 1 NA 1 2 NC : 52 NA 33 39 ND : 5 NA 0 1 OH : 0 NA 0 0 PA : 14 NA 2 3 SD : 2 NA 0 2 TN : 32 NA 25 30 TX : 67 NA 65 64 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 7 NA 6 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 90 92 87 IL : 92 87 95 90 IN : 86 67 95 86 IA : 97 92 97 95 KS : 83 74 83 82 KY : 76 55 73 69 LA : 97 93 96 95 MI : 93 82 97 87 MN : 99 97 99 94 MS : 100 99 100 98 MO : 84 71 84 74 NE : 97 91 98 93 NC : 64 50 63 53 ND : 100 100 99 97 OH : 96 91 100 88 SD : 97 88 87 90 TN : 97 93 96 84 WI : 87 75 91 78 : 18 Sts: 93 85 94 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 15 NA 13 6 IL : 1 NA 1 0 IN : 0 NA 0 1 IA : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 7 NA 0 5 KY : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 47 NA 29 19 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 1 NA 0 0 MS : 60 NA 31 31 MO : 1 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 1 NC : 2 NA 1 0 ND : 3 NA 0 1 OH : 1 NA 4 2 SD : 7 NA 4 7 TN : 10 NA 9 3 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 4 NA 2 2 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 87 80 88 97 AZ : 98 98 94 98 AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 97 87 90 96 GA : 100 98 98 98 KS : 100 95 67 72 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 99 100 99 MO : 99 94 100 98 NC : 100 98 96 97 OK : 91 79 92 90 SC : 87 79 83 87 TN : 99 99 100 99 TX : 93 82 84 88 VA : 100 99 100 98 : 15 Sts: 96 90 91 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 15 7 4 10 AZ : 34 29 29 39 AR : 17 4 16 11 CA : 21 13 12 18 GA : 16 7 4 13 KS : 8 5 0 1 LA : 57 39 17 27 MS : 37 23 16 21 MO : 10 6 7 8 NC : 4 2 1 7 OK : 12 6 0 6 SC : 5 2 9 10 TN : 5 1 5 8 TX : 19 17 18 21 VA : 20 6 43 24 : 15 Sts: 20 14 13 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 99 CO : 71 68 80 67 IL : 95 86 94 90 KS : 81 69 85 79 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 92 95 92 NE : 90 83 94 86 NM : 49 38 72 57 OK : 69 56 69 73 SD : 97 90 97 90 TX : 85 84 84 82 : 11 Sts: 83 76 85 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 86 92 91 CO : 24 15 12 8 IL : 51 34 50 46 KS : 30 19 29 28 LA : 98 94 94 95 MO : 57 44 51 45 NE : 24 9 25 19 NM : 6 5 1 6 OK : 33 27 34 37 SD : 55 34 22 29 TX : 69 68 56 60 : 11 Sts: 45 37 39 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 64 36 34 30 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 2 0 1 0 KS : 2 0 3 5 LA : 78 61 71 79 MO : 9 3 3 3 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 3 2 0 0 OK : 14 12 7 10 SD : 0 0 0 1 TX : 65 64 51 52 : 11 Sts: 25 23 20 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 87 92 93 CA : 62 43 64 74 LA : 99 99 98 98 MS : 98 93 97 98 MO : 95 83 94 87 TX : 98 97 100 100 : 6 Sts : 91 83 90 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 1 2 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 58 41 51 59 MS : 3 0 0 2 MO : 0 0 0 0 TX : 76 56 49 60 : 6 Sts : 14 10 11 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Pegging, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 73 62 91 98 FL : 99 98 100 100 GA : 100 100 100 100 NC : 100 100 97 99 OK : 100 100 100 99 SC : 100 100 98 98 TX : 98 85 99 98 VA : 100 97 100 99 : 8 Sts : 96 92 98 99 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 56 25 33 41 MN : 89 73 52 52 MT : 81 62 48 39 ND : 78 68 53 47 SD : 100 98 95 94 WA : 69 54 70 70 : 6 Sts : 82 69 57 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 53 22 32 43 MN : 95 89 93 68 MT : 65 51 51 46 ND : 88 74 79 59 WA : 61 40 72 64 : 5 Sts : 72 54 61 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 81% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 20,:Aug 13,:Aug 20,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 98 100 100 MN : 97 94 89 82 NE : 100 100 100 99 ND : 88 79 72 59 OH : 100 97 100 95 PA : 96 74 93 78 SD : 100 96 96 96 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 95 86 97 83 : 9 Sts : 96 90 91 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 72% of last year's oat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 13 30 41 12 IL : 3 6 21 50 20 IN : 2 5 21 52 20 IA : 3 8 24 44 21 KS : 14 22 33 25 6 KY : 1 3 11 43 42 MI : 1 6 25 49 19 MN : 8 13 24 41 14 MO : 7 15 32 39 7 NE : 6 12 27 38 17 NC : 0 2 17 47 34 ND : 8 22 38 30 2 OH : 1 7 20 49 23 PA : 1 3 24 49 23 SD : 24 25 24 22 5 TN : 5 10 24 44 17 TX : 34 18 28 17 3 WI : 7 8 20 43 22 : 18 Sts : 7 11 24 41 17 : Prev Wk : 7 11 25 41 16 Prev Yr : 9 14 27 37 13 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 18 33 32 8 IL : 2 5 24 50 19 IN : 2 5 21 56 16 IA : 2 6 22 50 20 KS : 6 16 41 31 6 KY : 0 2 15 48 35 LA : 4 16 37 38 5 MI : 1 6 28 50 15 MN : 6 10 23 44 17 MS : 15 24 30 27 4 MO : 8 22 36 30 4 NE : 3 13 34 41 9 NC : 0 4 27 56 13 ND : 5 19 37 34 5 OH : 3 8 22 50 17 SD : 11 17 33 31 8 TN : 4 10 23 49 14 WI : 2 7 23 44 24 : 18 Sts : 4 11 27 44 14 : Prev Wk : 4 12 28 43 13 Prev Yr : 5 12 31 41 11 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 31 36 23 10 0 AZ : 0 1 47 39 13 AR : 1 6 28 47 18 CA : 0 0 8 70 22 GA : 15 28 32 22 3 KS : 1 7 27 53 12 LA : 3 11 28 54 4 MS : 15 21 25 34 5 MO : 0 5 22 65 8 NC : 5 9 24 57 5 OK : 30 30 26 14 0 SC : 1 12 45 38 4 TN : 1 4 21 61 13 TX : 26 27 26 17 4 VA : 0 7 18 35 40 : 15 Sts : 16 20 26 31 7 : Prev Wk : 16 19 26 32 7 Prev Yr : 3 8 26 50 13 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 11 41 37 9 CO : 1 11 31 57 0 IL : 5 14 32 42 7 KS : 10 25 35 25 5 LA : 0 6 23 64 7 MO : 1 9 41 44 5 NE : 4 9 34 42 11 NM : 40 20 18 17 5 OK : 10 22 32 25 11 SD : 17 35 38 6 4 TX : 34 21 24 20 1 : 11 Sts : 18 22 30 26 4 : Prev Wk : 19 23 32 23 3 Prev Yr : 6 15 38 36 5 -------------------------------------- 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 Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 27 51 16 CA : 0 2 82 14 2 LA : 0 5 47 44 4 MS : 1 9 22 60 8 MO : 0 2 11 55 32 TX : 0 11 44 40 5 : 6 Sts : 1 5 38 44 12 : Prev Wk : 1 5 38 45 11 Prev Yr : 1 3 33 49 14 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 40 37 17 0 FL : 15 30 20 26 9 GA : 9 21 38 29 3 NC : 1 2 11 74 12 OK : 0 14 50 36 0 SC : 0 2 39 54 5 TX : 9 10 37 32 12 VA : 0 1 23 51 25 : 8 Sts : 8 20 34 32 6 : Prev Wk : 8 17 37 33 5 Prev Yr : 0 3 20 58 19 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 20, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 39 38 18 4 1 :: NJ : 5 20 45 30 0 AZ : 44 26 18 10 2 :: NM : 10 21 31 28 10 AR : 25 38 27 10 0 :: NY : 0 9 30 44 17 CA : 21 36 32 11 0 :: NC : 1 15 38 44 2 CO : 21 29 36 13 1 :: ND : 36 35 20 9 0 CT : 0 10 23 55 12 :: OH : 3 6 26 52 13 DE : 9 13 28 48 2 :: OK : 48 37 13 2 0 FL : 1 19 55 20 5 :: OR : 14 23 34 24 5 GA : 18 38 33 10 1 :: PA : 6 20 42 25 7 ID : 1 5 45 45 4 :: RI : 0 0 20 50 30 IL : 7 15 30 41 7 :: SC : 7 17 39 36 1 IN : 2 6 27 58 7 :: SD : 33 33 26 8 0 IA : 9 19 33 30 9 :: TN : 14 21 35 28 2 KS : 24 29 33 13 1 :: TX : 53 25 15 6 1 KY : 2 10 34 47 7 :: UT : 6 8 32 47 7 LA : 12 29 32 22 5 :: VT : 0 0 27 70 3 ME : 0 0 11 35 54 :: VA : 14 23 37 21 5 MD : 10 18 46 25 1 :: WA : 16 6 22 56 0 MA : 0 0 27 65 8 :: WV : 5 23 30 40 2 MI : 7 16 38 31 8 :: WI : 8 23 30 34 5 MN : 25 22 34 17 2 :: WY : 46 29 21 4 0 MS : 24 31 29 16 0 :: : MO : 40 33 19 8 0 :: 48 Sts : 25 26 27 19 3 MT : 13 30 36 17 4 :: : NE : 32 34 26 8 0 :: Prev Wk: 25 26 29 18 2 NV : 22 34 31 13 0 :: Prev Yr: 11 21 33 31 4 NH : 0 2 25 65 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. 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. 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