We 1 (10-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 3, 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. 40 September 24 - 30, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Near- to below normal temperatures prevailed nationwide, except in the Northwest. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal in many locations from the eastern Plains to the Appalachians, but were more than 5 degrees F above normal across parts of the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies. Northwestern warmth favored winter wheat planting, but rain was needed to promote crop emergence and establishment. Mild, dry weather also prevailed elsewhere in West. Meanwhile on the Plains, late-season warmth in Montana contrasted with chilly conditions elsewhere. The Plains' emerging wheat crop was in need of a soaking rain to ensure proper autumn establishment, in part due to lingering subsoil moisture deficits. In addition, topsoil moisture shortages began to appear again in some areas, particularly across Oklahoma and Kansas. In contrast, wet weather lingered across the eastern Corn Belt, maintaining a sluggish pace of corn and soybean harvesting and initial winter wheat planting. Cool, dry weather overspread the remainder of the Midwest, allowing for a gradual acceleration of summer crop harvesting. Elsewhere, locally heavy rain fell in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern States, but scattered showers caused only minor fieldwork delays in the Southeast. As a result, Southern summer crop harvesting advanced in most areas, especially west of the Appalachians. Early in the week, heavy rain subsided across the South and East, while cool air settled into the West. In southern Texas, McAllen's 4.59-inch deluge on September 24 contributed to its second-wettest September on record (11.22 inches, or 275 percent of normal). McAllen's wettest September occurred in 1967, when the remnants of Hurricane Beulah helped to boost its monthly sum to 17.87 inches. Meanwhile, Western daily-record lows for September 24 included 20 degrees F in Ely, NV; 21 degrees F in Alamosa, CO; and 27 degrees F in Cedar City, UT. Two days later, however, record warmth overspread western Washington, where record highs for September 26 included 81 degrees F in Olympia and 78 degrees F in Seattle. Later, Northwestern daily-record highs included 91 degrees F (on September 29) in Redmond, OR, and 85 degrees F (on September 30) in Moses Lake, WA. Chilly weather lingered for much of the week across the Plains, where Alliance, NE (22 degrees F), posted a daily-record low for September 28. Meanwhile, heavy showers returned to the eastern one-third of the Nation. Northeastern daily-record totals reached 1.63 inches (on September 28) in Binghamton, NY, and 1.50 inches (on September 29) in Burlington, VT. Mid- to late-week rain was not as heavy in the Ohio Valley, but soggy conditions persisted in the wake of earlier downpours. In Paducah, KY, where 0.41 inch fell on September 27-28, the monthly total of 11.65 inches (327 percent of normal) easily surpassed its former September 1985 record of 9.23 inches. In Hawaii, locally heavy showers dotted mostly windward locations. On the Big Island, Hilo netted 6.12 inches of its 9.52-inch monthly total from September 24-30. Meanwhile, monthly rainfall totaled just 1.18 inches (44 percent of normal) in Lihue, Kauai. Farther north, heavy precipitation capped a wet month in southeastern Alaska. Daily-record totals on September 24 included 2.83 inches in Sitka and 2.73 inches in Juneau. In fact, Juneau's monthly total of 13.01 inches (173 percent of normal) represented its second-wettest September behind a 15.14-inch total in 1991. Juneau's wet September followed its second-wettest August on record (11.02 inches, or 205 percent of normal). Elsewhere in southeastern Alaska, Port Alexander (31.07 inches, or 176 percent of normal) completed its wettest September, previously established with a 28.03-inch sum in 1962. Meanwhile, Alaskan weekly temperatures ranged from near normal in southern areas to as much as 5 degrees F above normal across the northern mainland. National Agricultural Summary September 25 - October 1, 2006 Highlights: Temperatures average above normal in the Pacific Coast States and northern Rocky Mountains but were below normal elsewhere. Mostly dry conditions from the Mississippi River Valley westward favored planting winter wheat and harvesting summer crops. In the Northeast, Ohio River Valley, and portions of the Atlantic Coastal Plains and Southeast, however, moderate rainfall limited harvest activity and fieldwork. Corn: Eighty-eight percent of the crop was mature or beyond, the same as last year but 6 percentage points ahead of normal. Maturation was at or ahead of the normal pace in all States, except Indiana. The most rapid progress was in South Dakota and Wisconsin, where 22 percent of the crop entered the stage during the week. Harvest advanced to 20 percent complete, compared with 25 percent last year and 23 percent for the 5-year average. Tennessee growers had reaped 83 percent of their acreage, while Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas producers were over 70 percent complete. Progress trailed behind normal in most States, with only Missouri leading the normal pace by more than one point. Soybeans: Acreage dropping leaves or beyond advanced to 87 percent, 4 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal. Progress was ahead of normal in the Mississippi Delta and the central and western Corn Belt but behind normal in the eastern Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Ohio River Valley. Growers had harvested 19 percent of their acreage, 14 points behind last year and 7 points behind normal. Harvest progress was well ahead of normal in the Delta but trailed behind normal in most States due to soggy field conditions. Winter Wheat: Fifty-four percent of the acreage had been seeded, compared with 53 percent last year and 56 percent for the 5-year average. Planting was 33 points ahead of normal in Oregon but was at or behind normal in most other States. Emergence, at 24 percent, was the same as last year but 3 points behind normal. Emergence was most advanced in Colorado and Washington, at 46 and 44 percent, respectively. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls advanced to 82 percent, 6 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. All of Louisiana's acreage had open bolls, as did 99 percent of Mississippi's and 96 percent of Virginia's acreage. Progress was 10 points or more behind normal in California, Kansas, and Oklahoma but ahead of normal in most other States. Meanwhile, growers had harvested 24 percent of their acreage, compared with 19 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Harvest was nearly 60 percent complete in Louisiana and Mississippi, well ahead of normal. Sorghum: Eighty-nine percent of the acreage was turning color or beyond, 4 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Though most States were at or ahead of normal, Kansas and Texas, the two leading producing States, trailed 6 and 2 points behind normal, respectively. Maturation, at 60 percent, was 5 points behind last year and 7 points behind normal. South Dakota's crop advanced 30 points during the week, while Nebraska's advanced 17 points. However, progress was limited to 10 points or less elsewhere. Harvest advanced to 38 percent complete, compared with 36 percent last year and 40 percent for the 5-year average. Kansas growers were 6 points behind normal, while Texas growers exceeded their normal harvest pace by 5 points. Rice: Harvest advanced to 79 percent complete, 8 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Harvest was nearly complete in Louisiana and Texas, at 99 percent, while Mississippi producers had harvested 91 percent of their acreage. Progress was ahead of normal in all States, except California, where wet conditions early in the season delayed planting. Other Crops: Peanut growers had combined 11 percent of their acreage, 11 points behind last year and 16 points behind normal. Harvest was behind normal in all States, except Virginia and trailed the normal pace by over two weeks in Alabama and Florida. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 15 percent complete, 6 points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Minnesota and North Dakota growers, with 18 percent of their acreage harvested, were slightly behind normal, while Idaho producer were slightly ahead of normal. Five percent of the Nation's sunflower crop had been reaped, compared with 6 percent last year and 8 percent for the normal. Harvest was underway in the four major producing States but was most advanced in Colorado, at 12 percent complete. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 1 6 5 CA : 4 3 3 4 CO : 84 70 85 84 ID : 49 29 50 48 IL : 8 2 10 10 IN : 5 2 10 13 KS : 50 24 51 53 MI : 15 13 23 30 MO : 12 7 11 11 MT : 68 49 74 74 NE : 80 57 81 83 NC : 4 1 2 7 OH : 6 1 10 13 OK : 51 33 57 61 OR : 57 39 15 24 SD : 78 64 80 73 TX : *57 41 49 57 WA : 73 68 71 73 : 18 Sts: 54 36 53 56 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 0 1 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 46 23 50 44 ID : 14 5 14 14 IL : 1 0 2 1 IN : 1 0 1 2 KS : 21 6 23 22 MI : 2 0 4 7 MO : 4 2 3 2 MT : 14 4 16 24 NE : 37 18 50 54 NC : 0 0 0 1 OH : 0 0 1 1 OK : 22 8 28 33 OR : 25 13 5 6 SD : 40 19 30 31 TX : *27 12 19 28 WA : 44 20 38 46 : 18 Sts: *24 10 24 27 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 12 NA 9 12 KS : 9 NA 14 18 ND : 3 NA 2 3 SD : 5 NA 7 11 : 4 Sts : 5 NA 6 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sunflower acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 12 10 9 10 MI : 5 3 6 5 MN : 18 12 11 19 ND : 18 11 9 19 : 4 Sts : 15 10 9 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 71 54 72 71 IL : 96 83 96 93 IN : 73 59 87 82 IA : 94 82 94 89 KS : 96 93 95 95 KY : 96 87 97 96 MI : 77 64 85 61 MN : 88 78 82 74 MO : 97 95 99 97 NE : 88 73 80 79 NC : 100 100 100 99 ND : 95 87 81 71 OH : 73 53 77 62 PA : 77 68 85 65 SD : 82 60 85 77 TN : 100 99 100 100 TX : 99 96 93 97 WI : 69 47 77 53 : 18 Sts: 88 75 88 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 4 6 9 IL : 28 14 40 32 IN : 10 5 19 19 IA : 8 4 11 10 KS : 58 42 53 57 KY : 52 39 63 65 MI : 5 3 16 8 MN : 4 2 4 5 MO : 71 57 67 62 NE : 10 6 16 15 NC : 72 64 83 76 ND : 6 2 3 5 OH : 4 3 7 7 PA : 23 18 40 27 SD : 9 6 13 10 TN : 83 73 74 82 TX : 73 71 80 79 WI : 6 2 9 5 : 18 Sts: 20 13 25 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 89 84 91 89 AZ : 93 84 93 98 AR : 91 90 98 93 CA : 66 56 55 79 GA : 91 86 80 83 KS : 35 22 49 45 LA : 100 99 100 96 MS : 99 97 96 95 MO : 90 74 90 85 NC : 84 73 92 86 OK : 66 51 82 77 SC : 78 76 74 71 TN : 93 90 95 88 TX : 73 64 60 67 VA : 96 91 95 77 : 15 Sts: 82 75 76 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 27 20 6 10 AZ : 19 15 14 15 AR : 31 17 22 20 CA : 0 0 2 3 GA : 17 9 7 11 KS : 1 0 0 0 LA : 59 40 51 38 MS : 58 43 29 31 MO : 9 4 18 19 NC : 3 0 5 6 OK : 3 0 2 6 SC : 6 3 7 10 TN : 15 7 16 16 TX : 23 20 24 23 VA : 7 2 9 9 : 15 Sts: 24 17 19 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 73 61 71 61 IL : 89 62 93 87 IN : 76 57 94 89 IA : 95 80 96 88 KS : 78 64 81 82 KY : 73 45 75 78 LA : 93 87 90 79 MI : 78 55 96 78 MN : 97 89 95 92 MS : 98 97 97 91 MO : 73 51 79 69 NE : 93 70 97 90 NC : 37 26 55 36 ND : 100 98 96 93 OH : 87 71 96 88 SD : 97 90 99 96 TN : 80 69 87 66 WI : 81 63 92 76 : 18 Sts: 87 70 91 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 32 39 29 IL : 15 4 34 31 IN : 6 2 21 24 IA : 26 4 47 30 KS : 11 2 18 21 KY : 5 4 18 15 LA : 79 73 77 56 MI : 7 5 35 17 MN : 19 7 36 28 MS : 91 87 81 69 MO : 11 3 11 14 NE : 17 4 41 26 NC : 2 1 3 2 ND : 43 26 50 36 OH : 8 2 18 19 SD : 8 2 31 23 TN : 24 18 29 17 WI : 9 2 21 12 : 18 Sts: 19 9 33 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 1 27 38 FL : 15 10 34 45 GA : 12 4 25 30 NC : 12 5 9 13 OK : 3 0 4 6 SC : 24 10 28 29 TX : 5 3 7 10 VA : 18 5 10 12 : 8 Sts : 11 4 22 27 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 81 69 73 78 CA : 41 31 38 45 LA : 99 96 94 96 MS : 91 84 75 80 MO : 70 52 53 59 TX : 99 98 99 99 : 6 Sts : 79 69 71 76 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 86 72 84 84 IL : 99 99 97 96 KS : 89 84 96 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 96 99 98 NE : 100 100 100 97 NM : 59 58 76 78 OK : 89 78 92 88 SD : 100 97 100 99 TX : 87 85 89 89 : 11 Sts: 89 85 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 99 CO : 48 38 39 43 IL : 88 80 93 81 KS : 48 38 59 62 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 85 75 89 82 NE : 72 55 83 71 NM : 12 10 14 18 OK : 39 34 60 63 SD : 75 45 79 69 TX : 74 73 69 75 : 11 Sts: 60 53 65 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 1, :Sep 24,:Oct 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 90 88 91 CO : 3 2 9 10 IL : 12 7 34 28 KS : 20 14 21 26 LA : 100 100 100 97 MO : 50 34 54 49 NE : 5 3 12 13 NM : 0 0 1 1 OK : 19 17 26 38 SD : 7 4 24 19 TX : 70 69 61 65 : 11 Sts: 38 34 36 40 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 11 20 45 19 IL : 2 5 20 51 22 IN : 2 5 20 54 19 IA : 3 7 21 47 22 KS : 8 19 41 27 5 KY : 0 3 12 35 50 MI : 1 8 25 43 23 MN : 5 9 23 51 12 MO : 6 12 32 43 7 NE : 6 11 24 40 19 NC : 0 1 20 43 36 ND : 5 18 42 33 2 OH : 1 6 21 48 24 PA : 3 6 25 50 16 SD : 19 24 24 27 6 TN : 5 10 23 45 17 TX : 34 18 28 17 3 WI : 7 11 23 39 20 : 18 Sts : 5 10 24 43 18 : Prev Wk : 6 10 23 44 17 Prev Yr : 7 12 26 40 15 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 16 33 31 10 IL : 2 5 17 53 23 IN : 1 5 20 56 18 IA : 2 5 19 50 24 KS : 7 17 42 28 6 KY : 0 2 14 48 36 LA : 5 18 31 40 6 MI : 1 7 30 45 17 MN : 4 9 24 46 17 MS : 13 23 32 28 4 MO : 7 15 32 39 7 NE : 3 8 28 43 18 NC : 0 3 28 59 10 ND : 4 14 40 38 4 OH : 2 7 22 49 20 SD : 8 14 29 37 12 TN : 4 9 22 49 16 WI : 2 6 29 37 26 : 18 Sts : 4 9 25 45 17 : Prev Wk : 4 9 25 46 16 Prev Yr : 5 11 28 41 15 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 39 32 20 8 1 AZ : 0 9 37 43 11 AR : 1 7 26 48 18 CA : 0 0 18 62 20 GA : 14 22 33 27 4 KS : 5 15 25 50 5 LA : 4 11 34 46 5 MS : 11 17 27 32 13 MO : 4 8 21 59 8 NC : 3 7 34 53 3 OK : 25 30 29 16 0 SC : 0 8 48 38 6 TN : 2 3 19 57 19 TX : 18 25 31 21 5 VA : 0 13 28 34 25 : 15 Sts : 12 18 29 33 8 : Prev Wk : 14 18 29 32 7 Prev Yr : 5 11 27 46 11 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 11 39 38 9 CO : 3 12 28 55 2 IL : 4 12 28 51 5 KS : 7 21 39 26 7 LA : 1 5 26 58 10 MO : 2 11 39 43 5 NE : 3 9 29 43 16 NM : 39 13 22 24 2 OK : 13 21 28 27 11 SD : 24 25 29 17 5 TX : 34 21 24 20 1 : 11 Sts : 17 19 32 27 5 : Prev Wk : 17 20 30 28 5 Prev Yr : 4 11 36 42 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. Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 32 40 20 1 FL : 5 34 25 35 1 GA : 6 19 38 33 4 NC : 1 1 24 68 6 OK : 1 9 38 47 5 SC : 1 3 38 51 7 TX : 3 9 47 30 11 VA : 0 10 34 28 28 : 8 Sts : 5 19 37 34 5 : Prev Wk : 6 17 38 33 6 Prev Yr : 2 8 34 46 10 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 1, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 30 28 31 9 2 :: NJ : 0 0 15 85 0 AZ : 31 19 33 14 3 :: NM : 6 13 19 50 12 AR : 14 24 40 19 3 :: NY : 4 8 27 44 17 CA : 41 39 14 6 0 :: NC : 0 3 35 55 7 CO : 10 25 40 23 2 :: ND : 20 32 30 18 0 CT : 0 0 12 80 8 :: OH : 1 6 21 53 19 DE : 6 12 24 55 3 :: OK : 30 33 28 8 1 FL : 0 10 35 50 5 :: OR : 21 30 31 14 4 GA : 10 24 39 26 1 :: PA : 7 9 27 46 11 ID : 1 11 49 37 2 :: RI : 0 0 0 60 40 IL : 3 12 29 48 8 :: SC : 0 16 37 45 2 IN : 1 5 27 58 9 :: SD : 16 25 33 23 3 IA : 2 8 29 47 14 :: TN : 12 17 30 36 5 KS : 16 29 37 16 2 :: TX : 34 33 23 9 1 KY : 0 3 19 57 21 :: UT : 4 15 33 44 4 LA : 15 20 39 24 2 :: VT : 0 0 64 36 0 ME : 0 1 14 58 27 :: VA : 2 13 39 38 8 MD : 2 12 37 41 8 :: WA : 8 14 38 40 0 MA : 0 0 0 64 36 :: WV : 2 6 32 55 5 MI : 1 7 39 43 10 :: WI : 3 8 33 42 14 MN : 10 16 36 31 7 :: WY : 40 25 28 7 0 MS : 21 27 29 16 7 :: : MO : 31 28 25 14 2 :: 48 Sts : 18 22 30 25 5 MT : 16 26 39 15 4 :: : NE : 18 26 38 16 2 :: Prev Wk: 19 22 29 25 5 NV : 36 22 24 18 0 :: Prev Yr: 15 23 33 26 3 NH : 0 3 34 51 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. 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