We 1 (4-07) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 17, 2007, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Theresa Holland at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary April 8 - 14, 2007 Highlights: Cold April weather continued in the wake of record-setting March warmth. The week opened in the midst of a severe, late-season freeze; Sunday was the coldest April morning on record in several Southeastern cities and towns. In the days following the April 7-8 freezes, producers from the central and southern Plains into the lower Midwest and Southeast monitored the effects of cold weather on numerous crops, including jointing to heading winter wheat, emerged corn, and blooming fruit trees. Chilly conditions lingered for several days after the significant freezes, holding weekly temperatures 10 to 15 degrees F below normal in a broad area stretching from the central and southern Plains into the Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic States. The second week of April also featured increasingly stormy weather. Two major weather systems arrived along the West Coast, where frequent showers fell in the Pacific Northwest. Precipitation also fell in parts of the northern and central Rockies, but mostly dry weather and a warming trend prevailed elsewhere in the West. Meanwhile, a pair of strong storms maintained wintry conditions across the Plains and Midwest. The first system blanketed the northern Plains and northern Corn Belt with snow from April 10-12, while the second system delivered heavy snow to parts of the central and southern High Plains on April 13-14. Both systems produced significant rain across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, further delaying spring planting preparations and initial seeding efforts. Widespread showers also fell across the South, easing irrigation demands and providing some relief to drought-stressed crops and pastures. However, strong thunderstorms peppered the South, especially from April 13-15, causing local wind and hail damage. At week's end, the second storm dramatically intensified along the Mid-Atlantic Coast, generating high winds, torrential rain, and high-elevation snow in the Northeast. The week opened in the midst of a historic April cold snap, following the nation's second-warmest March on record. (The preliminary March average temperature for the Lower 48 States was 48.1 degrees F, or 5.6 degrees F above normal, second only to a value of 50.4 degrees F in 1910.) April 8 was the coldest April morning on record in several Southeastern locations, including Charlotte, NC (21 degrees F), Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (24 degrees F), and Savannah, GA (28 degrees F). Charlotte's previous record of 24 degrees F had been set on April 1, 1923. Jacksonville, FL (31 degrees F on April 8), posted its latest freeze on record, previously established on March 31, 1964. From April 5-9, Washington, DC, reported highs below 50 degrees F on 5 consecutive April days for the first time since 1898. Farther west, Muskegon, MI, tied its April record of 4 days in a row (April 5-8) with highs at or below 32 degrees F (previously, April 4-7, 1982). In Minnesota, Rochester's lows fell below 20 degrees F on 6 consecutive days (April 4-9), shattering its April record of 5 days set from April 2-6, 1920, and April 3-7, 1982. With an April 1-15 average temperature of 33.0 degrees F (8.4 degrees F below normal) Rochester also experienced its coldest first half of April since 1975. Meanwhile, Marquette, MI, noted consecutive sub-zero readings (-1 and -3 degrees F) on April 9-10. Marquette's previous latest sub-zero temperature occurred on April 8, 1977, when the low was -5 degrees F. Heavy snow arrived on the northern Plains on April 10 and spread eastward. In the Dakotas, daily-record totals for April 10 included 5.5 inches in Bismarck, ND, and 4.5 inches in Aberdeen, SD. Sioux Falls, SD, measured 6.3 inches on April 10, marking its fourth-snowiest April day behind 10.5 inches on April 28, 1994; 10.0 inches on April 10, 1929; and 8.4 inches on April 4, 1957. Farther east, Dubuque, IA (6.6 inches on April 11), experienced its snowiest April day since April 5, 1982, when 8.0 inches fell. Consecutive daily-record totals were set in several Midwestern locations, including Rochester, MN (1.7 and 5.7 inches on April 10 and 11, respectively); Houghton Lake, MI (3.6 and 4.9 inches on April 11-12); and Rockford, IL (1.9 and 1.0 inches on April 11-12). Farther east, heavy rain arrived in the Mid-Atlantic States, where record totals for April 12 included 1.37 inches in Atlantic City, NJ, and 1.59 inches at New York's LaGuardia Airport. A day later, heavy snow overspread northern New England, resulting in daily-record totals in Maine locations such as Caribou (10.3 inches) and Millinocket (8.5 inches). April 12-13 snowfall totaled 5.3 inches in Bangor, ME, boosting its April-record total to 24.4 inches (previously, 16.5 inches in 1974). Meanwhile, a second storm gathered strength over the nation's mid-section, trailed by cooler air. On April 12-13, Idaho Falls, ID, notched consecutive daily-record lows (20 and 17 degrees F). Alamosa, CO (6 and 5 degrees F on April 13 and 14, respectively), also collected two record lows in a row. In contrast, warmth returned to the Southeast, where April 13 featured record-setting highs in Florida locations such as Ft. Myers (94 degrees F) and Tampa (90 degrees F). Farther west, heavy snow developed on the High Plains, where Dodge City, KS, received 10.0 inches on April 13-14. Most (9.8 inches) of the snow fell on April 13, which became Dodge City's second-snowiest April day behind 10.6 inches on April 7, 1938. Dodge City's previous record for snow on and after April 10 was 7.5 inches in 1900. Elsewhere in Kansas, Wichita noted a daily-record precipitation total (1.58 inches on April 13) and broke consecutive snowfall records (0.5 and 0.8 inch on April 13 and 14, respectively). By April 14, rain and wet snow returned to parts of the Midwest, where Ft. Wayne, IN (1.1 inches), posted a daily snowfall record). Meanwhile in Alabama, Huntsville's 1.26-inch rainfall on April 14 exceeded its 1.24-inch total during the preceding 43 days (March 2 - April 13). More details on the storm, which intensified on April 15 over the East, will be provided in next week's summary. Mild, mostly dry weather covered the Alaskan mainland, where weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees F above normal in several locations. Temperatures climbed to daily-record levels on April 9 in a few places, including Fairbanks (56 degrees F) and McGrath (55 degrees F). It was Fairbanks' first reading above 55 degrees F since October 10, when the high was also 56 degrees F. Meanwhile, warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, although isolated heavier showers dotted the western islands. During the first half of April, rainfall totaled just 0.06 inch (4 percent of normal) in Lihue, Kauai, and 0.08 inch (8 percent) in Kahului, Maui. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary April 9 - 15, 2007 Cooler than normal weather was widespread across the Nation during the week. Except in southern Florida, temperatures eastward from the Rocky Mountains averaged 5 to 15 degrees F below normal. West of the Rockies, average temperatures were generally normal to 5 degrees F below normal, except in the Desert Southwest where they were slightly above normal. Moderate to heavy preciptation fell in the Pacific Northwest, from the central Great Plains and the Delta eastward through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and much of the Southeast, and throughout the Atlantic Coast States. Much of the precipitation in the central High Plains and in the Northeast was in the form of late-season snow, with up to a foot recorded in western Kansas and up to 2 feet or more in New York and the New England States. The cold weather continued to limit evaporation from still-soggy fields in the Corn Belt, further delaying pre-planting fieldwork. In the South, growers continued to assess damage to fruits and developing field crops from the previous weekend's hard freeze. Corn: Planting advanced 1 percentage point during the week to 4 percent complete by week's end, behind last year's 8 percent and the average pace of 9 percent. In the Corn Belt, where planting is normally underway except across the northern tier of States, farmers in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana had not yet begun. Missouri and Kansas farmers had sown 18 and 5 percent of their intended corn acreage, respectively, well-behind last year and average. Texas and Kentucky farmers were about on schedule with 67 and 29 percent planted, respectively, while farmers in North Carolina and Tennessee were well-ahead of schedule with 55 and 54 percent planted, respectively. Winter Wheat: Ten percent of the winter wheat crop had advanced to the heading stage, slightly ahead of last year's 8 percent and the 6 percent average. Heading was progressing ahead of normal in the southern Great Plains, where the crops in Texas and Oklahoma had reached 28 and 24 percent headed, respectively. While just starting to head, the crop in Kansas had been progressing well-ahead of normal prior to the previous week's freezing temperatures and the current week's snow. The effects of the continuing cold temperatures over much of the eastern two-thirds of the country were reflected in another modest decline in winter wheat condition ratings to 55 percent rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 64 percent last week and 39 percent last year. Cotton: With 9 percent of the crop in the ground, cotton planting lagged slightly behind last year's 12 percent and the 10 percent average. Texas producers had planted 13 percent of their acreage, 4 points behind normal. Warm, dry conditions continued to encourage early planting efforts in California, where 76 percent of the crop was already in the ground, well-ahead of schedule. Planting was 30 percent complete in Arizona, and was less than 5 percent complete in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Sorghum: Planting was 3 points behind last year but 3 points ahead of normal, with 19 percent of the intended sorghum crop in the ground. Seeding in Texas advanced to 56 percent complete, 8 points ahead of normal. In Arkansas and Louisiana, growers made good progress, advancing well-ahead of normal to 51 and 47 percent complete, respectively. Growers in Oklahoma and Missouri maintained a near normal pace with 5 and 4 percent planted, respectively. Planting had not yet begun elsewhere. Rice: Planting advanced to 30 percent complete, slightly ahead of the 29 percent average, but behind last year's 40 percent. Progress was most advanced in Louisiana where 61 percent was planted, 7 points behind normal. Progress in Texas, at 45 percent, lagged well-behind last year and average. Planting in Arkansas and Mississippi was ahead of normal at 34 and 22 percent, respectively, while planting was slower than normal in Missouri where 7 percent of the crop was in the ground. In California, planting got underway with 5 percent of the intended acreage sown. Meanwhile, 13 percent of the crop had emerged, slightly ahead of normal. Forty percent of Louisiana's crop and 34 percent of Texas' crop had emerged, both behind last year and average. Emergence in Arkansas and Mississippi was ahead of normal at 11 and 9 percent, respectively. Small Grains: Spring wheat planting advanced only 2 points during the week to 6 percent complete, compared with 9 percent last year and 15 percent for the 5-year average. Barley seeding advanced 4 points to 19 percent complete, 10 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. Idaho farmers were planting both crops well-ahead of normal, while Montana farmers fell slightly behind their usual pace. South Dakota farmers were well-behind in their spring wheat planting efforts. In Washington, farmers made good planting progress, with barley running ahead of normal, but spring wheat running behind. In North Dakota and Minnesota, where planting is usually underway, growers had not yet begun planting either crop. Thirty-three percent of the Nation's oat crop had been planted, 13 points behind last year and 15 points behind the 5-year average. Spring planting was underway in all States except Minnesota and North Dakota. Progress has been very slow, with all States lagging well-behind their normal planting pace. Nebraska growers were farthest along with 43 percent of the crop in the ground. Other Crops: Sugarbeet growers had planted 15 percent of their acreage, ahead of last year's 7 percent, but behind the 19 percent average. In Idaho, 82 percent of the crop was already in the ground, well-ahead of last year's 32 percent and the 61 percent average. Planting in Michigan, at 9 percent complete, lagged 26 points behind normal, while in the Red River Valley, planting had not yet begun. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 1 3 2 IL : 0 0 7 14 IN : 0 0 3 5 IA : 0 0 3 4 KS : 5 2 21 19 KY : 29 26 27 28 MI : 0 0 0 2 MN : 0 0 0 1 MO : 18 12 45 41 NE : 1 0 3 3 NC : 55 39 57 37 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 1 1 2 3 PA : 1 0 4 3 SD : 0 0 0 0 TN : 54 47 51 44 TX : 67 59 67 64 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 4 3 8 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 54 44 39 18 CA : 80 58 49 65 CO : 0 0 0 0 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 1 0 5 1 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 2 0 2 1 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 12 6 23 14 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 24 13 12 12 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 28 16 25 19 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 10 6 8 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 2 8 8 AZ : 30 17 22 27 AR : 0 0 7 2 CA : 76 43 12 34 GA : 1 0 3 3 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 0 0 13 6 MS : 4 1 10 3 MO : 0 0 3 2 NC : 0 0 3 2 OK : 0 0 3 1 SC : 0 0 3 3 TN : 0 0 1 1 TX : 13 11 20 17 VA : 0 0 9 2 : 15 Sts: 9 7 12 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 51 36 37 25 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 2 1 LA : 47 39 41 25 MO : 4 2 5 3 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 5 2 7 4 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 56 52 62 48 : 11 Sts: 19 17 22 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 16 9 50 67 MN : 0 0 15 16 NE : 43 32 66 68 ND : 0 0 3 4 OH : 17 10 40 27 PA : 12 10 49 32 SD : 6 4 29 37 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 2 1 12 18 : 9 Sts : 33 31 46 48 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 1 0 4 10 MN : 0 0 0 0 NE : 15 6 12 19 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 0 0 4 3 PA : 1 0 13 8 SD : 2 0 6 6 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 9 Sts : 28 28 30 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 67% of last year's oat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 34 25 42 28 CA : 5 0 0 1 LA : 61 51 72 68 MS : 22 15 39 18 MO : 7 5 40 16 TX : 45 42 82 74 : 6 Sts : 30 22 40 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 5 5 3 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 40 26 51 49 MS : 9 3 6 4 MO : 1 *1 3 1 TX : 34 20 71 53 : 6 Sts : 13 7 13 11 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 62 46 16 43 MN : 0 0 2 7 MT : 6 5 8 10 ND : 0 0 3 7 SD : 8 5 32 43 WA : 56 40 44 68 : 6 Sts : 6 4 9 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 22 NA 2 12 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MT : 0 NA 0 0 ND : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 3 NA 5 6 WA : 18 NA 27 33 : 6 Sts : 2 NA 1 2 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 55 51 12 31 MN : 0 0 6 5 MT : 14 10 11 18 ND : 0 0 2 3 WA : 55 33 30 50 : 5 Sts : 19 15 9 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 26 NA 1 10 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MT : 0 NA 0 2 ND : 0 NA 0 0 WA : 15 NA 14 21 : 5 Sts : 6 NA 1 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 78% of last year's barley acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 82 60 32 61 MI : 9 6 11 35 MN : 0 0 0 6 ND : 0 0 0 4 : 4 Sts : 15 11 7 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 81% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 15, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 32 24 23 5 CA : 1 2 7 33 57 CO : 2 3 18 40 37 ID : 0 1 12 80 7 IL : 8 24 40 25 3 IN : 6 17 38 37 2 KS : 13 14 37 26 10 MI : 4 12 28 42 14 MO : 20 37 33 10 0 MT : 0 4 30 54 12 NE : 3 11 39 40 7 NC : 1 5 34 58 2 OH : 7 21 35 28 9 OK : 3 6 17 51 23 OR : 0 0 7 86 7 SD : 2 12 35 45 6 TX : 2 9 27 36 26 WA : 2 5 20 62 11 : 18 Sts : 6 11 28 39 16 : Prev Wk : 3 7 26 45 19 Prev Yr : 15 17 29 32 7 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2006 planted acres. Crop Progress and Condition Survey and Estimating Procedures Survey Procedures: Crop progress and condition estimates are based on survey data collected each week from early April through the end of November. The non-probability crop progress and condition surveys include input from 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 various stages of development. They also provide subjective evaluations of crop conditions. Most reporters complete their questionnaires on Friday or early Monday morning and submit them to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Field Offices in their States 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 when questionnaires are 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 by projections for weekend changes in progress and condition. 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, significantly reducing 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 used as reporting guidelines are available on the NASS website at: www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/National_Crop_Progress/terms_definit ions.asp. 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 that is released after 12:00 pm ET on the second business day of the week. These estimates are subject to revision the following week. Crop Progress and Condition tables expected next week: Barley - Planted, Emerged Corn - Planted Cotton - Planted Oats - Planted, Emerged Rice - Planted, Emerged Sorghum - Planted Spring Wheat - Planted, Emerged Sugarbeets - Planted Winter Wheat - Headed, Condition 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. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. 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