We 1 (8-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 29, 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. 35 August 20 - 26, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Rain continued to provide drought relief in a broad area stretching from the Plains to the upper Midwest, although strong thunderstorms caused local wind and hail damage. On the Plains, rain aided drought-stressed pastures and conditioned soils in preparation for winter wheat planting, but came too late for many summer crops. Meanwhile in the Corn Belt, temperatures and soil moisture levels remained mostly favorable for corn and soybean development. Farther south, hot weather from the Delta westward (weekly temperatures 2 to 8 degrees F above normal) contrasted with locally heavy showers in the Southeast. Nevertheless, cooler weather and more widespread showers were still needed throughout the South to revive pastures and significantly improve prospects for immature summer crops. Elsewhere, the Southwest's phenomenal summer rainy season continued, while hot, mostly dry weather prevailed in other areas west of the Rockies. Although Northwestern dryness favored small grain harvesting and other fieldwork, wildfires continued to burn or threaten hundreds of thousands of acres of vegetation. More than 50 daily-record highs were set or tied nationwide during the week, including 102 degrees F (on August 20) in Greenwood, MS; 102 degrees F (on August 21) in Ephrata, WA; 105 degrees F (on August 23) in Chadron, NE; and 109 degrees F (on August 24) in Wichita Falls, TX. On August 27 in eastern Texas, a long streak of triple-digit heat ended in Dallas-Ft. Worth (96 degrees F) but continued in Waco (102 degrees F). Dallas-Ft. Worth experienced 19 consecutive days (August 8-26) with highs of 100 degrees F or greater, its sixth-longest such streak behind 42 days in 1980, 29 days in 1998, 25 days in 1952, 24 days in 1999, and 20 days in 1954. Meanwhile, Waco posted its 20th consecutive day (August 8-27) with a high of 100 degrees F or greater, its longest such hot spell since 1998. Waco also tied an August 1951 record with its 26th day of triple-digit heat so far this month. Only July 1980, 1969, and 1998 (31, 29, and 28 days, respectively) featured a greater number of 100-degree days in Waco. Meanwhile, locally heavy rains dotted the Southwest and most areas from the Plains eastward. St. Johnsbury, VT, collected a daily-record total (2.32 inches) on August 20, while Columbia, SC (2.13 and 2.22 inches), opened the week with consecutive record amounts on August 20-21. Heavy showers and thunderstorms returned to the Southeast and erupted across the upper Midwest on August 24, when daily records included 4.56 inches in Alma, GA, 4.53 inches in Charleston, SC, and 2.77 inches in Rochester, MN. At least two Midwestern tornadoes on August 24 were rated F3 (estimated winds of 158 to 206 m.p.h.). A tornado in southern Minnesota cut a 30-mile swath across Nicollet and Le Sueur Counties, with a maximum width of about one-half mile, while a South Dakota twister spent about 27 minutes carving a 14-mile path across McPherson County, with a maximum width of approximately 300 yards. Toward week's end, heavy showers shifted eastward across the Great Lakes States and settled southward across the Plains and Mid-South. In Michigan, Alpena (1.11 and 1.15 inches) measured record totals for August 25 and 26. Farther south, daily records for August 26 reached 2.29 inches in Columbia, MO, and 1.99 inches in Oklahoma City, OK. Elsewhere, the Southwestern monsoon of 2006 continued to approach or set rainfall records. Fresh from its wettest July (3.55 inches, or 280 percent of normal) since 1930, Albuquerque, NM, achieved its wettest August since 1935. Albuquerque's August 1-26 total of 3.74 inches (253 percent of normal) tied its August airport record (3.74 inches in 1935) and represented the city's wettest August since 1858, when 4.90 inches fell. Meanwhile in Tucson, AZ, June 15 - August 26 rainfall totaled 8.60 inches (201 percent of normal), its second-wettest such period behind 11.93 inches in 1955. Even without additional rain in Tucson before the end of September, the city's June 15 - September 30 total would rank as the ninth-wettest such period since 1895 and wettest since 1990, when 9.85 inches fell. By August 27, two very large Northwestern fires were half to three-quarters contained: the 140,000-acre Tripod complex near Winthrop, WA, and the 118,000-acre South End complex near Fields, OR. Northwestern month-to-date wildfire vegetation consumption topped 430,000 acres, while the national August 1-27 total exceeded 1.95 million acres. The national year-to-date burned acreage reached 7.58 million, 167 percent of the 10-year average. Farther east, much cooler air overspread northern New England, where weekly temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal. In northern Maine, Houlton (34 degrees F) notched a daily-record low for August 26. Although quiet weather prevailed in Hawaii, one of the strongest hurricanes on record prowled the central Pacific Ocean. On August 22-23, Hurricane Ioke grazed Johnston Island, a U.S.-owned atoll about 700 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, Oahu. Several days later, from August 24-26, Ioke's maximum sustained winds reached an estimated 160 m.p.h. Ioke crossed the International Date Line on August 26, becoming the first storm to make the transition from hurricane to typhoon since the El Ni¤o-onset year of 2002. That year, both Huko (late October and early November) and Ele (late August) reached the Date Line as hurricanes. Ioke was also the first category 5 storm (sustained winds of 155 m.p.h. or greater) in the central Pacific Basin since the El Ni¤o-onset year of 1994, when Hurricanes Emilia (July 19-20), Gilma (July 24), and John (August 22) became the three strongest storms between 140 Degrees West longitude and the International Date Line during the satellite-monitoring era. Meanwhile in Alaska, chilly, occasionally wet weather persisted. On August 20, McGrath (30 degrees F) posted a daily-record low. Farther north, Fairbanks set an August record for the most consecutive days with at least a trace of precipitation (21 days from August 3-23; previously, 19 days in 1930), although rain totaled just 1.93 inches during the wet spell. Elsewhere, August 1-26 rainfall ranged from less than half of normal in some western locations (e.g. 0.74 inch, or 44 percent of normal, in Kotzebue) to more than twice normal in parts of southern Alaska (e.g. 6.35 inches, or 261 percent of normal, in Anchorage, and 14.39 inches, or 273 percent, in Valdez). Valdez had opened the week with its third consecutive daily-record total (1.16, 2.38, and 3.04 inches from August 18-20). National Agricultural Summary August 21 - 27, 2006 Highlights: Warm weather prevailed across most of the Nation, with the exception of the Pacific Coast, Northeast, and portions of the central Great Plains, Southwest, and Florida. Moderate to heavy rainfall increased soil moisture levels in parts of the Great Plains and Mississippi River Valley, allowing the condition of some crops to improve. Mostly dry conditions across the Ohio River Valley and middle Atlantic Coast States caused crop conditions to decline, while moderate precipitation fell in the Mississippi Delta and Southeast. Corn: Acreage at or beyond the dough stage advanced to 93 percent, 3 percentage points ahead of last year and 9 points ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of normal in all States, and all of Kentucky's, North Carolina's, and Tennessee's acreage was at or beyond the stage. Sixty-five percent of the acreage was at or beyond the dent stage, compared with 58 percent last year and 50 percent for the 5-year average. The crop developed rapidly in Kentucky and Minnesota, with 30 and 42 percent of the acreage entering the dent stage during the week. Acreage mature, at 12 percent, was 2 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. Maturation was underway in all States, except Wisconsin, and was most advanced, at 70 percent, in North Carolina and Texas. Soybeans: Ninety-six percent of the acreage was setting pods or beyond, 1 point behind last year but 2 points ahead of normal. Pod setting progressed ahead of normal in most States, trailing behind only in Indiana and North Carolina. Acreage dropping leaves advanced to 7 percent, compared with 6 percent last year and 5 percent for the 5-year average. The crop was most advanced in the Delta, with 72 percent of Mississippi's crop and 53 percent of Louisiana's crop at or beyond the leaf-dropping stage. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls advanced to 29 percent, 10 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. Progress was well ahead of normal in the Delta, at 79 percent in Louisiana and 60 percent in Mississippi, leading the normal pace by 36 and 23 points, respectively. Texas's crop, however, trailed slightly behind the normal boll-setting pace. Sorghum: Eighty-eight percent of the acreage was at or beyond the heading stage, 2 points behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Heading trailed 21 points behind normal in New Mexico but was at or ahead of normal elsewhere. Acreage turning color or beyond, at 55 percent, was 7 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. Coloring progressed rapidly in Nebraska, advancing 21 points under warm, mostly dry conditions. Maturation advanced to 28 percent, compared with 22 percent last year and 24 percent for the normal. Texas's crop, at 66 percent mature, was 11 points ahead of the 5-year average pace, while 7 percent of Kansas's crop was mature, the same as normal. Rice: Acreage heading advanced to 96 percent, the same as last year and the 5-year average. Heading was complete in Louisiana and nearly complete everywhere else, except in California, where early season rainfall slowed planting progress. Growers had harvested 19 percent of their acreage, 4 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. Harvest was most advanced in Texas, at 87 percent, and Louisiana, at 73 percent, but was less than 10 percent complete elsewhere and had not yet begun in California. Small Grains: The spring wheat harvest advanced to 92 percent complete, compared with 74 percent last year and 69 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest progressed rapidly in the Pacific Northwest, advancing 20 points in Idaho and 19 points in Washington under dry conditions. Progress was ahead of normal in all States. Barley producers had harvested 86 percent of their acreage, 11 points ahead of last year and 16 points ahead of normal. Washington growers remained slightly behind their normal harvest pace despite rapid progress, while all other States were ahead of normal. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 67 57 48 60 IL : 95 88 96 94 IN : 91 83 93 88 IA : 93 77 89 81 KS : 96 86 97 96 KY : 100 92 98 97 MI : 89 77 85 56 MN : 95 75 87 69 MO : 99 97 97 95 NE : 94 90 94 92 NC : 100 99 98 97 ND : 91 79 84 76 OH : 91 78 89 83 PA : 89 78 79 71 SD : 89 73 83 81 TN : 100 99 100 100 TX : 99 98 99 98 WI : 79 62 67 57 : 18 Sts: 93 82 90 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 25 18 19 22 IL : 74 53 72 64 IN : 57 37 58 51 IA : 63 37 54 45 KS : 82 63 67 72 KY : 90 60 82 84 MI : 45 27 43 17 MN : 67 25 52 30 MO : 90 81 87 80 NE : 68 53 66 57 NC : 92 86 88 88 ND : 59 34 25 28 OH : 47 23 44 34 PA : 64 42 41 35 SD : 55 31 45 36 TN : 97 93 96 97 TX : 91 89 88 90 WI : 33 18 24 14 : 18 Sts: 65 44 58 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 0 2 2 IL : 10 5 9 11 IN : 3 0 7 8 IA : 6 1 5 5 KS : 38 24 24 28 KY : 48 20 46 44 MI : 2 0 3 1 MN : 3 1 1 1 MO : 52 35 50 38 NE : 4 1 3 5 NC : 70 52 61 59 ND : 7 5 0 2 OH : 1 0 1 1 PA : 16 14 10 7 SD : 4 2 2 5 TN : 53 32 41 50 TX : 70 67 68 69 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 12 7 10 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 95 96 93 IL : 97 92 98 95 IN : 93 86 99 94 IA : 99 97 99 98 KS : 90 83 89 88 KY : 84 76 81 83 LA : 99 97 99 98 MI : 98 93 100 94 MN : 99 99 99 98 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 93 84 94 87 NE : 100 97 100 98 NC : 65 64 74 68 ND : 100 100 100 99 OH : 99 96 100 95 SD : 100 97 95 97 TN : 99 97 99 93 WI : 94 87 96 88 : 18 Sts: 96 93 97 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 20 15 21 14 IL : 1 1 4 2 IN : 2 0 3 6 IA : 2 0 2 1 KS : 10 7 2 8 KY : 3 0 5 4 LA : 53 47 43 29 MI : 0 0 1 1 MN : 3 1 1 1 MS : 72 60 50 43 MO : 2 1 2 3 NE : 0 0 1 2 NC : 2 2 2 1 ND : 16 3 1 3 OH : 4 1 7 4 SD : 16 7 10 17 TN : 18 10 18 9 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 7 4 6 5 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 96 97 97 CA : 81 62 84 89 LA : 100 99 100 100 MS : 99 98 99 99 MO : 99 95 97 92 TX : 99 98 100 100 : 6 Sts : 96 91 96 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 1 2 4 CA : 0 0 1 1 LA : 73 58 62 70 MS : 8 3 2 7 MO : 1 0 2 1 TX : 87 76 68 75 : 6 Sts : 19 14 15 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 100 CO : 83 71 90 80 IL : 98 95 98 96 KS : 88 81 90 87 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 99 96 98 96 NE : 96 90 98 93 NM : 50 49 87 71 OK : 81 69 79 81 SD : 99 97 100 97 TX : 88 85 89 87 : 11 Sts: 88 83 90 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 96 97 95 CO : 32 24 24 17 IL : 64 51 68 61 KS : 45 30 41 42 LA : 99 98 97 97 MO : 73 57 69 62 NE : 45 24 44 36 NM : 7 6 9 13 OK : 40 33 46 46 SD : 67 55 33 43 TX : 70 69 57 66 : 11 Sts: 55 45 48 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 82 64 59 65 CO : 6 0 2 1 IL : 2 2 11 5 KS : 7 2 4 7 LA : 83 78 83 87 MO : 19 9 10 13 NE : 0 0 0 1 NM : 3 3 3 1 OK : 14 14 11 18 SD : 2 0 1 2 TX : 66 65 52 55 : 11 Sts: 28 25 22 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 35 15 12 22 AZ : 38 34 39 53 AR : 30 17 39 23 CA : 25 21 16 26 GA : 34 16 8 22 KS : 10 8 2 4 LA : 79 57 33 43 MS : 60 37 27 37 MO : 21 10 13 18 NC : 9 4 8 17 OK : 14 12 2 13 SC : 10 5 14 17 TN : 12 5 11 18 TX : 22 19 18 24 VA : 25 20 58 32 : 15 Sts: 29 20 19 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 76 56 57 65 MN : 97 89 73 70 MT : 90 81 68 58 ND : 90 78 71 64 SD : 100 100 99 99 WA : 88 69 82 83 : 6 Sts : 92 82 74 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Aug 27,:Aug 20,:Aug 27,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 71 53 52 63 MN : 99 95 98 82 MT : 82 65 68 62 ND : 96 88 87 76 WA : 81 61 88 82 : 5 Sts : 86 72 75 70 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 81% of last year's barley acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 15 30 42 9 IL : 3 7 21 47 22 IN : 2 5 20 52 21 IA : 3 8 24 45 20 KS : 12 20 34 28 6 KY : 0 2 16 44 38 MI : 1 5 23 47 24 MN : 8 11 23 44 14 MO : 6 15 33 40 6 NE : 7 13 27 38 15 NC : 0 2 16 49 33 ND : 9 22 36 30 3 OH : 1 8 23 47 21 PA : 3 7 28 45 17 SD : 25 27 21 23 4 TN : 5 10 23 45 17 TX : 34 18 28 17 3 WI : 6 9 28 41 16 : 18 Sts : 7 11 25 41 16 : Prev Wk : 7 11 24 41 17 Prev Yr : 8 14 26 39 13 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 17 31 33 10 IL : 2 5 23 49 21 IN : 1 5 21 57 16 IA : 2 6 23 50 19 KS : 6 18 42 28 6 KY : 0 1 19 52 28 LA : 2 14 33 42 9 MI : 1 6 26 47 20 MN : 5 11 23 44 17 MS : 13 23 32 28 4 MO : 8 19 33 34 6 NE : 3 12 33 39 13 NC : 1 5 31 53 10 ND : 4 17 38 36 5 OH : 3 9 27 46 15 SD : 10 15 33 34 8 TN : 4 8 22 51 15 WI : 2 6 26 50 16 : 18 Sts : 4 10 27 45 14 : Prev Wk : 4 11 27 44 14 Prev Yr : 5 12 30 41 12 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 35 32 24 9 0 AZ : 0 1 47 44 8 AR : 1 6 27 48 18 CA : 0 0 13 69 18 GA : 16 27 32 23 2 KS : 5 15 25 50 5 LA : 4 12 29 48 7 MS : 13 21 28 32 6 MO : 0 5 22 65 8 NC : 4 10 32 49 5 OK : 26 33 26 15 0 SC : 0 12 45 38 5 TN : 1 4 20 59 16 TX : 30 25 24 15 6 VA : 0 11 23 41 25 : 15 Sts : 18 19 26 30 7 : Prev Wk : 16 20 26 31 7 Prev Yr : 3 7 25 51 14 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 13 38 39 7 CO : 1 10 29 59 1 IL : 5 12 28 48 7 KS : 8 24 38 25 5 LA : 1 5 26 58 10 MO : 1 8 45 42 4 NE : 4 10 36 39 11 NM : 20 26 19 30 5 OK : 9 21 30 28 12 SD : 27 29 35 7 2 TX : 34 21 24 20 1 : 11 Sts : 17 21 32 26 4 : Prev Wk : 18 22 30 26 4 Prev Yr : 4 12 37 40 7 -------------------------------------- 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 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 5 27 51 16 CA : 0 2 84 12 2 LA : 0 5 47 44 4 MS : 1 7 23 59 10 MO : 0 3 11 53 33 TX : 0 11 44 40 5 : 6 Sts : 1 5 39 43 12 : Prev Wk : 1 5 38 44 12 Prev Yr : 1 4 34 46 15 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 31 46 18 0 FL : 15 33 26 19 7 GA : 9 23 38 28 2 NC : 1 4 21 67 7 OK : 1 15 47 34 3 SC : 0 2 34 58 6 TX : 5 7 39 35 14 VA : 0 6 27 43 24 : 8 Sts : 7 20 37 31 5 : Prev Wk : 8 20 34 32 6 Prev Yr : 1 4 20 56 19 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 27, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 34 34 23 8 1 :: NJ : 0 15 40 35 10 AZ : 41 28 19 9 3 :: NM : 4 16 30 35 15 AR : 20 37 30 12 1 :: NY : 0 7 33 41 19 CA : 27 33 26 14 0 :: NC : 2 12 41 41 4 CO : 17 29 37 16 1 :: ND : 32 31 24 13 0 CT : 0 6 23 67 4 :: OH : 4 13 36 40 7 DE : 16 17 38 28 1 :: OK : 45 36 14 4 1 FL : 5 10 40 40 5 :: OR : 16 23 32 24 5 GA : 14 34 34 17 1 :: PA : 12 31 28 22 7 ID : 1 3 50 42 4 :: RI : 0 0 10 60 30 IL : 7 17 23 45 8 :: SC : 6 15 32 43 4 IN : 3 11 30 51 5 :: SD : 31 33 24 11 1 IA : 3 15 37 36 9 :: TN : 15 23 35 25 2 KS : 21 31 35 13 0 :: TX : 57 24 14 4 1 KY : 2 10 38 44 6 :: UT : 3 12 35 45 5 LA : 14 23 34 28 1 :: VT : 0 0 40 60 0 ME : 0 1 16 46 37 :: VA : 22 33 27 15 3 MD : 14 37 38 11 0 :: WA : 6 7 42 45 0 MA : 0 0 11 79 10 :: WV : 6 20 36 36 2 MI : 8 21 37 27 7 :: WI : 5 14 35 41 5 MN : 18 23 31 27 1 :: WY : 44 28 23 5 0 MS : 36 34 24 6 0 :: : MO : 34 31 23 11 1 :: 48 Sts : 25 25 27 20 3 MT : 17 35 31 13 4 :: : NE : 35 31 26 8 0 :: Prev Wk: 25 26 27 19 3 NV : 24 36 29 11 0 :: Prev Yr: 11 20 34 31 4 NH : 0 1 28 63 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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