We 1 (10-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 17, 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. 42 October 8 - 14, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Freezes ended the 2006 growing season from the northern and central Plains into the Northeast. However, summer crops were either harvested or mature enough to withstand the chill, while temperatures were not low enough to cause significant concern for emerging winter grains. Nevertheless, the unusually strong October cold wave held weekly temperatures more than 10 degrees F below normal across parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest, and contributed to heavy snow in the Great Lakes States. Meanwhile, showers swept across the Four Corners region early in the week and again at week's end, providing additional relief to rangeland recovering from long-term drought. Locally heavy rain also overspread the southern half of the Plains, slowing fieldwork but promoting winter wheat emergence and boosting topsoil moisture. In contrast, cold, mostly dry weather prevailed across the northern Plains and the Northwest, where wheat planting continued to advance. However, emerging Northwestern grains were still in need of moisture to promote crop establishment. Farther east, chilly weather slowed Midwestern evaporation rates, maintaining soggy conditions and a slow pace of summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting and emergence across the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Harvesting advanced, however, with only minor delays, in the western Corn Belt. Elsewhere, cool weather also spilled into the South and East, accompanied by heavy rain in the western Gulf Coast region and the northern Atlantic States. However, mostly dry weather favored fieldwork from the Delta into the Southeast. Heavy showers soaked the Southwest early in the week, producing a daily-record total in Albuquerque, NM (1.47 inches on October 9). A day later in Texas, record totals for October 10 included 2.32 inches in College Station and 2.31 inches in Lufkin. Elsewhere in Texas, Victoria netted daily-record totals on October 10 and 12 (1.79 and 3.04 inches, respectively). By mid-week, downpours shifted into the East, where records for October 11 reached 3.22 inches in Bridgeport, CT, 2.47 inches in Islip, NY, and 2.04 inches in Philadelphia, PA. Maine was drenched the following day, resulting in records for October 12 in Millinocket (2.16 inches) and Bangor (1.98 inches). At week's end, heavy precipitation returned to the Southwest, where daily records for October 14 included 0.76 inch in Flagstaff, AZ, and 0.56 inch in Sandberg, CA. Meanwhile in Texas, Childress posted consecutive record totals on October 14 and 15 (2.40 and 1.90 inches, respectively). Unseasonably cold air trailed the early- to mid-week storminess nearly nationwide, resulting in more than 50 daily-record lows from October 10-14. Chilly conditions originated in the Northwest, where record lows for October 10 included 22 degrees F in Redmond, OR, and 25 degrees F in Whitman Mission, WA. Farther east, consecutive daily-record lows were established on October 12-13 in Montana locations such as Miles City (19 and 21 degrees F) and Glasgow (17 and 18 degrees F). On October 12 in Wisconsin, high temperatures remained at or below 32 degrees F on the earliest date on record at several observing sites, including Rhinelander (30 degrees F; previously, 31 degrees F on October 13, 1909) and Wausau (32 degrees F; previously, 32 degrees F on October 16, 1952). Elsewhere, the week ended with consecutive daily-record lows for October 13-14 in Chadron, NE (20 and 16 degrees F), and Crossville, TN (31 and 28 degrees F). In the East, three consecutive freezes were reported from October 13-15 as far south as southern Virginia, where Lynchburg noted 31, 27, and 27 degrees F. In the Great Lakes region, some of the earliest and heaviest October snow on record accompanied the cold blast. From October 11-13, Lansing, MI, set or tied three consecutive daily snowfall records (a trace, 1.5 inches, and a trace). In addition, Lansing noted its earliest snowfall of 1 inch or greater, previously set with a 1.7-inch total on October 16, 1943. Similarly, Grand Rapids, MI (2.0 inches on October 12), experienced its earliest snowfall of at least 1 inch, previously set with a 4.5-inch sum on October 19, 1989. Elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, October 12 featured the earliest measurable snowfall on record in locations such as Detroit, MI (0.2 inch; previously 0.4 inch on October 13, 1909), and Chicago, IL (0.3 inch; previously 0.2 inch on October 18, 1972, and 0.7 inch on October 18, 1989). Farther east, a narrow squall originating over Lake Erie blanketed Buffalo, NY, with 22.6 inches of snow on October 12-13, including a 14.0-inch total on the latter date. Prior to 2006, Buffalo's greatest 1-day snowfall in October was 6.0 inches, achieved on October 13, 1909, and October 31, 1917. Alaska's mild weather pattern continued, boosting weekly temperatures as much as 10 to 15 degrees F above normal across the northern two-thirds of the State. On October 9, Alaskan daily-record highs included 67 degrees F in Nenana and 66 degrees F in McGrath. Meanwhile, wet conditions persisted in parts of southern and western Alaska. Valdez experienced its wettest day on record (4.80 inches on October 9), eclipsing its daily standards for October (3.28 inches on October 10, 1983) and any month (4.06 inches on December 22, 1999). Through October 14, month-to-date Alaskan precipitation totals were significantly above normal in locations such as Valdez (14.13 inches, or 328 percent of normal) and Bethel (3.12 inches, or 427 percent). Farther south, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii through week's end, when heavy showers overspread the western islands. No rain (0.34 inch below normal) fell in Kahului, Maui, during the first two weeks of October. Farther west, however, 24-hour rainfall totals on October 14-15 reached 3.15 inches in Mililani, Oahu, and 2.92 inches in Kalaheo, Kauai. National Agricultural Summary October 9 - 15, 2006 Highlights: Below-normal temperatures prevailed nearly nationwide, with the exception of New England, the Pacific Northwest, and southern Texas. Conditions were mostly dry across the Corn Belt, with only light precipitation in most areas, allowing harvest of summer crops to progress rapidly. The Delta and Southeast were also mostly dry. In the central and southern Great Plains, fieldwork was limited by moderate to heavy rainfall. Moderate rainfall in the Southwest improved soil moisture levels. Conditions were mostly dry across the Pacific Northwest, northern Rocky Mountains, and northern Great Plains. Corn: Harvest advanced to 41 percent complete, 7 percentage points behind last year and 2 points behind normal. The most rapid progress took place under mostly dry conditions in the Corn Belt, where Illinois growers harvested 19 percent of their crop and Minnesota growers harvested 20 percent of their crop during the week. Harvest also advanced 19 points in Pennsylvania. Harvest trailed behind normal in most States, particularly in the Ohio River Valley, where Indiana and Ohio producers were over a week behind the normal harvest pace. Soybeans: Sixty-nine percent of the acreage had been harvested, 5 points behind last year but 4 points ahead of normal. Harvest progressed rapidly in the Corn Belt under mostly dry conditions, advancing 30 points or more in Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Progress trailed behind normal in the eastern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley but was ahead of normal in most other areas. Winter Wheat: Growers had seeded 79 percent of their acreage, compared with 78 percent last year and 80 percent for the 5-year average. The most rapid progress was in the central Corn Belt, where planting advanced 39 points in Illinois and 37 points in Indiana. Ohio growers planted 29 percent of their acreage during the week but were still a week behind the normal pace. Meanwhile, acreage emerged advanced to 52 percent, 1 point ahead of last year but 4 points behind normal. Development was ahead of normal in the Pacific Northwest but trailed behind normal in the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls advanced to 92 percent, compared with 89 percent last year and 90 percent for the 5-year average. Development trailed over a week behind normal in California but was ahead of normal in Texas, the Mississippi Delta, and the Southeast. Growers had harvested 39 percent of their acreage, 3 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of normal. Harvest was most advanced, and well ahead of normal, in the Mississippi Delta, at 64 percent complete in Arkansas, 91 percent in Louisiana, and 90 percent in Mississippi. However, in all other States, less than half of the crop had been harvested. Sorghum: Ninety-five percent of the acreage was turning color or beyond, 4 points behind last year and 2 points behind normal. Though coloring was at or near 100 percent in most States, New Mexico's crop, at just 65 percent turning color, was 27 points behind normal. Maturation, at 76 percent, was 5 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. Progress was a week behind normal in Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico and two weeks behind normal in Oklahoma. Harvest advanced to 48 percent complete, compared with 50 percent last year and 53 percent for the 5-year average. Progress was ahead of normal in the Delta, Missouri, and Texas but behind normal elsewhere, trailing a week behind normal in Colorado and Kansas and three weeks behind in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Rice: Growers had reaped 92 percent of their acreage, the same as last year and the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in Louisiana and Texas and was ahead of normal across the Delta. In California, however, harvest progress trailed 7 points behind normal. Other Crops: The peanut harvest advanced to 36 percent complete, 10 points behind last year and 19 points behind normal. Only Texas growers, with 27 percent of their acreage harvested, led the normal pace. Harvest was over a week behind normal nationwide, two weeks behind normal in Florida, and nearly three weeks behind in Alabama. Fifty-nine percent of the sugarbeet crop had been harvested, compared with 54 percent last year and 63 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest advanced rapidly in the Red River Valley, advancing 24 points in Minnesota and 27 points in North Dakota, as cooler weather permitted piling. Sunflower growers had harvested 29 percent of their acreage, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind normal. Harvest was most advanced in Colorado, at 45 percent complete, followed by North Dakota, at 34 percent. In Kansas and South Dakota, less than 20 percent of the acreage had been harvested, and both States were over a week behind normal. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 22 15 22 30 IL : 63 44 74 62 IN : 28 19 44 40 IA : 31 17 34 29 KS : 81 69 77 79 KY : 82 67 87 86 MI : 14 8 35 23 MN : 28 8 23 25 MO : 88 84 83 79 NE : 26 18 41 34 NC : 92 87 92 90 ND : 31 17 12 22 OH : 14 8 23 24 PA : 44 25 59 48 SD : 23 16 30 28 TN : 96 94 93 94 TX : 94 88 90 92 WI : 18 10 35 20 : 18 Sts: 41 29 48 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 66 56 60 48 IL : 75 47 81 73 IN : 49 18 68 64 IA : 87 68 88 79 KS : 50 32 57 52 KY : 32 20 47 38 LA : 91 82 90 70 MI : 33 19 80 54 MN : 95 62 82 73 MS : 98 96 94 82 MO : 56 37 49 42 NE : 73 49 87 73 NC : 8 6 8 9 ND : 92 77 85 81 OH : 42 15 64 63 SD : 77 52 80 71 TN : 55 38 56 35 WI : 52 22 69 51 : 18 Sts: 69 47 74 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 25 12 47 65 FL : 42 29 65 76 GA : 40 26 52 61 NC : 45 23 43 51 OK : 14 5 26 27 SC : 44 34 49 54 TX : 27 16 20 22 VA : 39 35 47 46 : 8 Sts : 36 23 46 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 95 92 93 94 CA : 70 58 78 77 LA : 100 100 99 99 MS : 99 96 96 94 MO : 89 81 91 83 TX : 100 99 100 100 : 6 Sts : 92 88 92 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 15 29 19 CA : 6 5 9 10 CO : 97 93 96 98 ID : 84 73 80 84 IL : 73 34 68 57 IN : 54 17 63 54 KS : 85 75 82 83 MI : 55 31 87 74 MO : 48 28 46 40 MT : 92 84 93 95 NE : 95 91 95 97 NC : 15 6 6 17 OH : 42 13 69 68 OK : 76 64 80 82 OR : 81 70 45 54 SD : 97 90 95 94 TX : 73 67 67 73 WA : 92 85 86 92 : 18 Sts: 79 69 78 80 -------------------------------------- 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 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 14 2 6 6 CA : 0 0 1 3 CO : 83 69 82 82 ID : 40 30 32 36 IL : 14 4 20 21 IN : 6 2 19 19 KS : 54 34 53 59 MI : 17 11 44 33 MO : 16 7 17 18 MT : 51 32 56 60 NE : 82 66 82 84 NC : 3 1 2 7 OH : 9 1 22 24 OK : 47 34 62 64 OR : 44 27 15 23 SD : 74 60 66 65 TX : 50 40 37 48 WA : 72 58 47 71 : 18 Sts: 52 37 51 56 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 95 93 96 96 AZ : 100 96 99 100 AR : 99 97 100 98 CA : 83 71 80 93 GA : 96 94 90 93 KS : 65 60 81 67 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 99 99 MO : 95 92 98 97 NC : 100 95 99 96 OK : 88 81 95 93 SC : 89 80 89 87 TN : 99 98 100 97 TX : 86 77 81 81 VA : 100 99 100 91 : 15 Sts: 92 86 89 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 48 38 32 32 AZ : 26 21 25 26 AR : 64 49 70 48 CA : 3 1 9 20 GA : 34 27 22 28 KS : 20 15 0 4 LA : 91 78 87 68 MS : 90 77 71 58 MO : 44 22 63 47 NC : 18 9 20 23 OK : 19 13 9 20 SC : 21 14 25 25 TN : 46 30 42 40 TX : 27 24 26 28 VA : 29 28 29 27 : 15 Sts: 39 32 36 34 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 33 22 21 26 MI : 16 10 12 17 MN : 74 50 70 79 ND : 74 47 74 85 : 4 Sts : 59 39 54 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 45 30 37 31 KS : 19 16 39 39 ND : 34 15 16 23 SD : 17 8 36 38 : 4 Sts : 29 15 26 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sunflower acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 96 94 100 98 IL : 100 99 99 99 KS : 96 91 100 98 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 100 NE : 100 100 100 100 NM : 65 64 93 92 OK : 92 91 100 95 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 95 94 97 95 : 11 Sts: 95 93 99 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 60 55 73 76 IL : 99 96 97 97 KS : 69 58 79 80 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 95 98 94 NE : 95 87 95 94 NM : 22 16 23 44 OK : 62 54 82 79 SD : 96 93 96 94 TX : 82 79 82 82 : 11 Sts: 76 69 81 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 15,:Oct 8, :Oct 15,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 96 98 CO : 15 10 18 27 IL : 56 42 72 60 KS : 34 25 39 42 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 71 63 72 67 NE : 29 16 39 38 NM : 0 0 7 9 OK : 31 25 38 52 SD : 45 30 61 54 TX : 72 71 66 69 : 11 Sts: 48 42 50 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 15, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 12 21 43 19 IL : 2 5 20 51 22 IN : 2 6 20 54 18 IA : 3 6 22 49 20 KS : 8 19 41 27 5 KY : 0 3 12 35 50 MI : 0 4 19 58 19 MN : 5 8 20 48 19 MO : 6 12 32 43 7 NE : 6 11 29 38 16 NC : 0 1 20 43 36 ND : 8 19 38 32 3 OH : 1 7 21 48 23 PA : 3 6 21 53 17 SD : 20 25 23 27 5 TN : 5 10 23 45 17 TX : 34 18 28 17 3 WI : 6 8 24 39 23 : 18 Sts : 6 9 24 43 18 : Prev Wk : 6 9 24 43 18 Prev Yr : 7 11 25 40 17 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 15, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 37 33 20 9 1 AZ : 0 10 35 43 12 AR : 1 7 25 48 19 CA : 0 0 22 62 16 GA : 14 20 31 29 6 KS : 5 15 25 50 5 LA : 4 11 34 46 5 MS : 11 17 27 32 13 MO : 1 4 25 65 5 NC : 4 11 40 42 3 OK : 26 31 27 16 0 SC : 0 8 43 43 6 TN : 2 2 18 49 29 TX : 18 23 31 21 7 VA : 0 13 32 30 25 : 15 Sts : 12 17 29 33 9 : Prev Wk : 13 18 29 32 8 Prev Yr : 4 11 27 47 11 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 15, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 11 39 38 9 CO : 1 17 35 46 1 IL : 4 12 28 51 5 KS : 11 20 38 25 6 LA : 1 5 26 58 10 MO : 2 11 39 43 5 NE : 4 9 28 42 17 NM : 34 16 20 25 5 OK : 11 18 28 30 13 SD : 23 28 35 13 1 TX : 34 21 24 20 1 : 11 Sts : 18 19 32 26 5 : Prev Wk : 19 21 31 25 4 Prev Yr : 5 10 35 42 8 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 15, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 34 37 20 2 FL : 0 36 35 28 1 GA : 9 21 37 28 5 NC : 1 1 21 71 6 OK : 3 9 36 45 7 SC : 1 2 35 58 4 TX : 1 5 49 33 12 VA : 0 13 34 43 10 : 8 Sts : 5 19 39 32 5 : Prev Wk : 6 20 37 31 6 Prev Yr : 2 8 37 46 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. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 15, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 31 31 28 8 2 :: NJ : 0 0 10 90 0 AZ : 20 15 35 25 5 :: NM : 7 14 22 47 10 AR : 17 23 36 20 4 :: NY : 5 9 31 33 22 CA : 45 38 12 5 0 :: NC : 0 5 27 58 10 CO : 13 24 38 23 2 :: ND : 28 29 28 15 0 CT : 0 5 20 65 10 :: OH : 1 4 24 54 17 DE : 5 8 24 57 6 :: OK : 33 35 26 6 0 FL : 10 25 50 15 0 :: OR : 24 41 22 10 3 GA : 19 31 34 15 1 :: PA : 8 12 33 42 5 ID : 2 9 46 39 4 :: RI : 0 0 0 50 50 IL : 5 12 33 45 5 :: SC : 2 15 40 43 0 IN : 1 6 29 56 8 :: SD : 17 22 32 26 3 IA : 3 12 33 43 9 :: TN : 13 18 33 32 4 KS : 17 29 38 14 2 :: TX : 31 31 25 11 2 KY : 0 3 23 56 18 :: UT : 10 14 28 42 6 LA : 18 26 42 13 1 :: VT : 0 20 34 46 0 ME : 0 0 30 24 46 :: VA : 1 8 35 45 11 MD : 2 12 35 43 8 :: WA : 8 6 24 62 0 MA : 0 0 2 60 38 :: WV : 1 8 31 52 8 MI : 1 13 34 41 11 :: WI : 3 16 29 40 12 MN : 6 12 40 38 4 :: WY : 37 25 28 10 0 MS : 23 42 29 6 0 :: : MO : 36 27 25 11 1 :: 48 Sts : 19 23 31 23 4 MT : 16 23 40 17 4 :: : NE : 15 30 37 15 3 :: Prev Wk: 20 23 29 24 4 NV : 36 24 30 10 0 :: Prev Yr: 14 21 34 27 4 NH : 0 0 31 61 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. 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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