We 1 (10-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 24, 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. 43 October 15 - 21, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Inundating rainfall struck the western and central Gulf Coast States, easing or eradicating drought but halting fieldwork and causing lowland flooding. At least 4 inches of rain, with local totals in excess of 1 foot, fell from southeastern Texas to northern Alabama. In contrast, little or no rain fell in the southern Atlantic region, accompanied by highs of 90 degrees F or greater. Heavy rain also fell from the southern Plains into the Northeast, including the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Fieldwork disruptions were especially severe in the already saturated Ohio Valley, where rain further delayed winter wheat planting and corn and soybean harvesting. Rain and wet snow also slowed summer crop harvesting elsewhere in the Midwest, although delays were short-lived in the western Corn Belt. Farther west, beneficial showers overspread Montana's High Plains, but mostly dry weather prevailed elsewhere on the Plains as far south as northwestern Oklahoma and extreme northern Texas. Although the Plains' topsoil moisture was generally favorable for winter wheat germination and establishment, dryness remained a concern in northern Oklahoma and south-central and southeastern Kansas. Elsewhere, Northwestern winter grains benefited from an increase in shower activity, while snow blanketed the northern and central Rockies and parts of the Intermountain West. In contrast, mild, dry weather favored fieldwork in California and the Desert Southwest. For the second consecutive week, cooler-than-normal weather prevailed nearly nationwide. Weekly temperatures ranged from as much as 10 degrees F below normal on the northern Plains to more than 5 degrees F above normal in parts of Florida. Early in the week, very chilly air settled across the Midwest and the East. Daily-record lows for October 15 included 22 degrees F in Wausau, WI; 25 degrees F in Lincoln, IL; 27 degrees F in Lynchburg, VA; and 33 degrees F in Greenville-Spartanburg, SC. Meanwhile, torrential rains developed across the southern Plains, where precipitation records for October 15 were broken in locations such as Wichita Falls, TX (4.34 inches), and McAlester, OK (3.19 inches). Farther north, beneficial showers arrived in the Northwest, breaking October 15 rainfall records in Hoquiam, WA (1.12 inches), and Roseburg, OR (0.69 inch). During the next 2 days, record-setting rains swept across the South. Selected records for October 16 included 5.86 inches in Monroe, LA, and 5.33 inches in Vicksburg, MS. The following day, records for October 17 reached 1.90 inches in Charlotte, NC, and 1.88 inches in Mobile, AL. Additional rain fell across the South after mid-week, boosting October 15-19 totals to more than 20 inches in northern Louisiana locations such as Olla (21.51 inches) and Natchitoches (21.02 inches). In Houston, TX, month-to-date rainfall (13.77 inches) climbed to its fourth-highest October level on record behind 17.64 inches in 1949, 16.05 inches in 1984, and 14.65 inches in 2002. Late in the week, heavy precipitation also fell in the Northeast, where daily-record totals for October 20 reached 2.28 inches in Millinocket, ME, and 1.96 inches (including 2.0 inches of snow) in Burlington, VT. Farther west, snow briefly blanketed parts of the Plains and Midwest, followed by some very cold weather. In Wyoming, Cheyenne noted a daily-record snowfall of 4.3 inches on October 17, followed the next day by daily-record lows in locations such as Laramie (2 degrees F) and Rawlins (3 degrees F). Elsewhere, Valentine, NE, measured daily-record snowfall totals on 3 of 4 days from October 17-20, totaling 2.6 inches. In the Midwest, snowfall records included 1.4 inches (on October 18) in Sioux Falls, SD, and 2.3 inches (on October 21) in Madison, WI. In contrast, record warmth continued through week's end in the southern Atlantic States, where Orlando, FL, collected four consecutive daily-record highs (93, 91, 93, and 91 degrees F) from October 19-23. Other Southeastern daily-record highs included 90 degrees F (on October 19) in Alma, GA, and 91 degrees F (on October 18) in both Shreveport, LA, and Vicksburg, MS. Impressive rains caused local flooding in Hawaii. In a 96-hour period from October 16-20, Big Island totals climbed to 21.60 inches in Pahoa, 15.00 inches in Pali, and 11.65 inches in Mountain View. Most of Pahoa's rain fell in a very short period on October 16-17, totaling 15.79 inches in 6 hours and 21.36 inches in 12 hours. Elsewhere on October 16-17, 24-hour totals on Maui included 10.11 inches at Kaupo Gap and 8.14 inches at Oheo Gulch, while Big Island rainfall reached 8.13 inches in Pali and 6.95 inches in Mountain View. Farther west, much drier conditions prevailed on Kauai, where on October 17 Lihue posted both a daily-record low (61 degrees F) and a daily-record high (86 degrees F). Meanwhile, mild weather prevailed again in Alaska, boosting weekly temperatures at least 10 degrees F above normal across interior and western portions of the State. Daily-record highs included 56 degrees F (on October 15) in Valdez and 59 degrees F (on October 21) in Wrangell. Elsewhere, wet conditions persisted across parts of southern and western Alaska. Through October 21, month-to-date precipitation climbed to 16.31 inches (262 percent of normal) in Valdez and 4.13 inches (401 percent) in Bethel. The previous record-high October rainfall in Valdez was 15.43 inches in 1979. National Agricultural Summary October 16 - 22, 2006 Highlights: Below-normal temperatures prevailed across most of the Nation, with the exception of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the Pacific Northwest. Freezes occurred throughout the northern and central Rocky Mountains, northern and central Great Plains, and across most of the Corn Belt and Ohio River Valley. Over 10 inches of snow cover was reported in parts of Wyoming and Colorado, where temperatures fell below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Showers hindered fieldwork in the eastern half of the Nation, holding summer crop harvest progress behind normal. In the northern and central Great Plains, however, mostly dry conditions favored summer crop harvest and winter wheat planting. Corn: Growers had harvested 53 percent of their acreage, 10 percentage points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Harvest progressed slowly in the Ohio River Valley due to soggy conditions but advanced 24 and 22 points in Minnesota and North Dakota, respectively. Progress trailed behind normal in most States, with Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio producers trailing a week or more behind their normal pace. Soybeans: Harvest advanced to 76 percent complete, compared with 85 percent last year and 78 percent for the 5-year average. With limited progress in the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, progress slipped behind the normal nationwide pace. Though harvest was nearly complete in the Delta, North Dakota, and Minnesota, progress was over a week behind in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Winter Wheat: Eighty-six percent of the acreage had been sown, the same as last year but 1 point behind normal. Planting was complete in Colorado and South Dakota and was well ahead of normal in Arkansas and Oregon. However, Michigan and Ohio growers, stymied by wet conditions, trailed their normal planting pace by over a week. Meanwhile, emergence advanced to 65 percent, 1 point ahead of last year but 2 points behind the 5-year average. Progress trailed behind normal in most States, especially in the Corn Belt. Cotton: Acreage with open bolls, at 94 percent, was the same as last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Progress was at or ahead of normal in most States, but trailed behind normal in California, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Producers had harvested 44 percent of their acreage, the same as last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Harvest progressed slowly in Texas and the Mississippi Delta as heavy rainfall hampered fieldwork. Sorghum: Eighty-four percent of the crop was mature, compared with 88 percent for last year and the 5-year average. Though several States were at or near 100 percent maturation, Kansas, the largest producing State, was 6 points behind normal, while Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma were over 1 week behind normal. Meanwhile, harvest advanced to 54 percent complete, 6 points behind last year and 7 points behind normal. Growers in most States trailed behind the normal harvest pace, with Colorado and Kansas over a week behind and New Mexico and Oklahoma 3 weeks behind normal. Rice: Harvest, at 96 percent complete, was 1 point behind last year but 1 point ahead of normal. Harvest was complete in Texas and nearly complete across the Delta, but continued to trail behind normal in California. Other Crops: Peanut growers had combined 52 percent of their acreage, 10 points behind last year and 16 points behind normal. Despite rapid progress in the southern Atlantic Coast States, harvest remained over a week behind normal nationwide. Florida, Georgia, and Virginia producers were over a week behind the normal pace while in Alabama, harvest was over three weeks behind normal. The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 76 percent complete, compared with 77 percent last year and 79 percent for the 5-year average. Harvest was most advanced in the Red River Valley, at 92 percent complete in Minnesota and North Dakota. Idaho growers harvested 20 percent of their acreage during the week to remain ahead of normal, while other States continued to trail behind their normal harvest pace. Forty-two percent of the Nation's sunflower crop had been harvested, 3 points behind last year and 4 points behind normal. Colorado and North Dakota led their normal harvest pace by 9 and 8 points respectively, but South Dakota growers were over a week behind normal and Kansas growers were over two weeks behind. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 30 22 31 45 IL : 73 63 87 76 IN : 37 28 60 53 IA : 48 31 57 49 KS : 82 81 84 86 KY : 84 82 92 90 MI : 23 14 53 35 MN : 52 28 45 45 MO : 89 88 87 85 NE : 38 26 58 49 NC : 95 92 96 94 ND : 53 31 27 39 OH : 18 14 40 36 PA : 50 44 66 55 SD : 36 23 49 41 TN : 97 96 97 97 TX : 97 94 93 94 WI : 26 18 43 31 : 18 Sts: 53 41 63 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 76 66 73 58 IL : 82 75 92 83 IN : 58 49 85 77 IA : 91 87 96 91 KS : 64 50 70 66 KY : 39 32 64 51 LA : 95 91 97 80 MI : 45 33 90 70 MN : 98 95 94 89 MS : 99 98 97 87 MO : 64 56 65 57 NE : 82 73 94 87 NC : 11 8 14 14 ND : 95 92 95 91 OH : 53 42 77 74 SD : 93 77 93 88 TN : 60 55 71 45 WI : 65 52 80 67 : 18 Sts: 76 69 85 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 95 CO : 70 60 88 90 IL : 99 99 98 98 KS : 82 69 89 88 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 99 97 100 97 NE : 100 95 99 98 NM : 39 22 39 57 OK : 73 62 88 85 SD : 100 96 100 98 TX : 86 82 85 86 : 11 Sts: 84 76 88 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 99 CO : 20 15 28 38 IL : 63 56 78 71 KS : 41 34 54 54 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 77 71 80 74 NE : 42 29 57 53 NM : 1 0 11 16 OK : 34 31 43 59 SD : 60 45 83 70 TX : 74 72 68 72 : 11 Sts: 54 48 60 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 54 40 53 32 CA : 7 6 13 15 CO : 100 97 99 100 ID : 95 84 91 93 IL : 81 73 89 74 IN : 70 54 83 73 KS : 93 85 90 90 MI : 61 55 95 88 MO : 61 48 65 55 MT : 93 92 97 98 NE : 99 95 98 99 NC : 20 15 18 23 OH : 57 42 83 82 OK : 85 76 89 89 OR : 90 81 54 66 SD : 100 97 99 98 TX : 78 73 75 80 WA : 96 92 94 97 : 18 Sts: 86 79 86 87 -------------------------------------- 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 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 29 14 18 15 CA : 1 0 2 4 CO : 91 83 90 90 ID : 58 40 45 49 IL : 41 14 56 46 IN : 21 6 47 40 KS : 71 54 71 72 MI : 25 17 68 56 MO : 31 16 36 33 MT : 56 51 67 72 NE : 93 82 89 92 NC : 8 3 5 12 OH : 22 9 50 51 OK : 64 47 71 73 OR : 61 44 20 33 SD : 88 74 83 78 TX : 62 50 47 58 WA : 74 72 65 81 : 18 Sts: 65 52 64 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 33 25 71 76 FL : 64 42 83 87 GA : 58 40 66 74 NC : 73 45 63 71 OK : 28 14 50 42 SC : 68 44 63 66 TX : 37 27 32 33 VA : 50 39 67 64 : 8 Sts : 52 36 62 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 95 97 97 CA : 81 70 90 85 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 99 99 97 MO : 93 89 96 89 TX : 100 100 100 100 : 6 Sts : 96 92 97 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 97 95 97 97 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 99 99 100 99 CA : 93 83 93 98 GA : 97 96 92 95 KS : 70 65 88 77 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 95 100 98 NC : 100 100 100 98 OK : 94 88 97 95 SC : 92 89 94 92 TN : 100 99 100 99 TX : 88 86 89 87 VA : 100 100 100 95 : 15 Sts: 94 92 94 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 56 48 36 40 AZ : 34 26 32 35 AR : 70 64 86 60 CA : 16 3 21 40 GA : 48 34 32 38 KS : 21 20 3 8 LA : 92 91 97 79 MS : 92 90 87 70 MO : 49 44 82 58 NC : 28 18 33 35 OK : 25 19 16 27 SC : 30 21 35 34 TN : 55 46 63 51 TX : 29 27 27 32 VA : 34 29 39 38 : 15 Sts: 44 39 44 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 53 33 46 46 MI : 23 16 31 35 MN : 92 74 94 95 ND : 92 74 96 98 : 4 Sts : 76 59 77 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2001- State:Oct 22,:Oct 15,:Oct 22,: 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 53 45 48 44 KS : 24 19 50 52 ND : 49 34 36 41 SD : 32 17 58 55 : 4 Sts : 42 29 45 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 82% of last year's sunflower acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Oct 22, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 1 29 63 7 CA : 0 0 65 35 0 CO : 2 5 26 40 27 ID : 0 0 3 84 13 IL : 0 3 20 74 3 IN : 1 3 45 49 2 KS : 1 6 36 47 10 MI : 3 10 31 47 9 MO : 0 6 47 46 1 MT : 0 4 30 46 20 NE : 0 1 28 67 4 NC : 0 0 10 73 17 OH : 1 2 32 60 5 OK : 8 19 33 34 6 OR : 0 0 37 52 11 SD : 3 0 25 56 16 TX : 2 9 37 38 14 WA : 1 14 35 46 4 : 18 Sts : 2 8 33 46 11 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 3 7 33 48 9 -------------------------------------- Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 22, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 12 25 39 19 IL : 2 5 20 51 22 IN : 2 6 20 52 20 IA : 2 5 20 50 23 KS : 8 19 41 27 5 KY : 0 3 12 35 50 MI : 1 5 23 52 19 MN : 5 8 18 51 18 MO : 6 12 32 43 7 NE : 6 11 26 40 17 NC : 0 1 20 43 36 ND : 7 19 37 34 3 OH : 1 6 21 50 22 PA : 3 6 23 50 18 SD : 20 22 26 27 5 TN : 5 10 23 45 17 TX : 34 18 28 17 3 WI : 6 12 20 40 22 : 18 Sts : 5 9 23 45 18 : Prev Wk : 6 9 24 43 18 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 22, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 37 33 20 9 1 AZ : 0 9 35 46 10 AR : 1 7 25 48 19 CA : 0 0 20 64 16 GA : 11 20 31 30 8 KS : 5 15 25 50 5 LA : 4 11 34 46 5 MS : 11 17 27 32 13 MO : 1 8 25 63 3 NC : 2 8 38 49 3 OK : 22 29 32 17 0 SC : 0 6 49 37 8 TN : 2 2 18 49 29 TX : 19 22 30 22 7 VA : 0 11 42 29 18 : 15 Sts : 12 17 29 33 9 : Prev Wk : 12 17 29 33 9 Prev Yr : 4 9 28 48 11 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 22, 2006 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 34 37 20 2 FL : 0 45 35 17 3 GA : 8 21 37 28 6 NC : 0 1 24 68 7 OK : 1 11 40 38 10 SC : 1 4 38 48 9 TX : 4 10 46 32 8 VA : 0 13 34 43 10 : 8 Sts : 5 21 38 30 6 : Prev Wk : 5 19 39 32 5 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- 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 22, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 27 30 31 11 1 :: NJ : 0 0 15 85 0 AZ : 4 5 43 34 14 :: NM : 5 12 23 49 11 AR : 12 26 36 23 3 :: NY : 7 15 31 34 13 CA : 48 35 12 5 0 :: NC : 0 4 31 56 9 CO : 11 24 37 24 4 :: ND : 23 25 28 24 0 CT : 0 8 31 61 0 :: OH : 1 8 22 53 16 DE : 7 11 23 56 3 :: OK : 27 33 32 8 0 FL : 5 40 50 5 0 :: OR : 14 41 32 10 3 GA : 15 27 36 20 2 :: PA : 8 10 30 45 7 ID : 0 8 52 34 6 :: RI : 0 0 0 50 50 IL : 5 10 27 53 5 :: SC : 1 13 37 48 1 IN : 2 4 27 58 9 :: SD : 18 25 33 22 2 IA : 3 13 35 42 7 :: TN : 8 16 37 35 4 KS : 18 33 33 14 2 :: TX : 27 30 28 12 3 KY : 0 4 22 52 22 :: UT : 7 16 39 37 1 LA : 4 29 47 20 0 :: VT : 0 0 40 60 0 ME : 0 9 13 32 46 :: VA : 1 9 39 42 9 MD : 2 12 35 43 8 :: WA : 7 11 30 52 0 MA : 0 0 22 40 38 :: WV : 2 6 36 47 9 MI : 0 14 36 41 9 :: WI : 3 15 40 37 5 MN : 9 17 37 34 3 :: WY : 37 25 28 10 0 MS : 23 31 29 17 0 :: : MO : 36 21 26 15 2 :: 48 Sts : 17 23 32 24 4 MT : 10 25 42 18 5 :: : NE : 19 26 36 16 3 :: Prev Wk: 19 23 31 23 4 NV : 28 20 40 12 0 :: Prev Yr: 15 21 34 26 4 NH : 0 0 32 64 4 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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