We 1 (9-07) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 11, 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 Dawn Keen at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 94, No. 37 September 2 - 8, 2007 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Above-normal temperatures prevailed nearly nationwide for the second week in a row. In fact, parts of the southern U.S. continued an impressive run of hot weather that began in early August. Midwestern weekly readings averaged 4 to 10 degrees F above normal, promoting summer crop maturation. However, locally heavy showers accompanied the Midwestern warmth, slowing initial harvest activities. Rain in the drought-affected southern Corn Belt was largely too late for summer crops but boosted topsoil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. Farther south, showery weather in southern Florida and the western and central Gulf Coast States contrasted with hot, dry conditions in much of the Southeast. The rain, locally in excess of 4 inches, disrupted harvest activities and threatened the quality of open-boll cotton, especially in northwestern parts of the Delta. Meanwhile on the southern Plains, the return of locally heavy rain brought renewed fieldwork delays. Across the remainder of the nation's mid-section, including the northern and central Plains, scattered showers caused only minor harvest delays. Elsewhere, much of the West experienced mostly dry weather and late-season heat, favoring fieldwork and crop maturation. Readings above 100 degrees F were common in California and observed across the Intermountain West as far north as the Snake River Plain. Early-week heat in Montana produced monthly record highs on September 2 in locations such as Belgrade Field (99 degrees F) and Helena (97 degrees F). In both of those locations, the former monthly record was 97 degrees F, set on September 15, 2000. Meanwhile in California, Riverside opened the month with three consecutive daily-record highs (112, 113, and 112 degrees F from September 1-3). Other daily-record highs in southern California on September 3 included 110 degrees F in El Cajon and 103 degrees F in Long Beach. Late-season heat also lingered in many other parts of the country. For example, Dickinson, ND (99 degrees F), posted a daily-record high for September 3, followed 2 days later by monthly record highs in eastern Kentucky locations such as London (97 degrees F; previously, 95 degrees F on September 1, 1957, and September 6, 1998) and Jackson (95 degrees F; tied 95 degrees F on September 6, 1998). In West Virginia, Bluefield (92 degrees F; tied 92 degrees F on September 13 and 14, 1998) matched a monthly record on September 5, then achieved a high of 93 degrees F on the following day. Farther south, Key West, FL (95 degrees F on September 3), reached the 95-degree mark for the first time since August 16, 1957, and tied its monthly record (previously, 95 degrees F on September 2, 1956, and earlier dates). Late in the week, heat shifted into the Northeast, where daily-record highs soared to 95 degrees F in Syracuse, NY (on September 7), Hartford, CT (on September 8), and Boston, MA (on September 8). In Maine, Portland's low of 70 degrees F on September 8 represented its latest minimum temperature of 70 degrees F or higher (previously, September 2, 1980). Farther south, enough cool air arrived in Muscle Shoals, AL, to end a record-tying streak of 90-degree days. Muscle Shoals reached or exceeded 90 degrees F on 40 consecutive days from July 30 - September 7, tying its mark set from May 30 - July 8, 1925. Elsewhere, however, Nashville, TN, noted its 44th consecutive day (July 27 - September 8) with an above-normal daily average temperature. In North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham posted a high of 93 degrees F on September 8, representing its record-tying 72nd day this year with a reading of 90 degrees F or greater. Raleigh-Durham previously experienced 72 days of 90-degree heat in 1953. Some of the week's heaviest rain fell in the drought-affected upper Great Lakes region, where 24-hour totals in northeastern Minnesota on September 6-7 reached 8.70 inches in Tower and 8.00 inches in Babbitt. Tower's former 24-hour record was 4.64 inches on September 11, 1947. In addition, Tower's former September precipitation record had been 8.59 inches in 1947. Meanwhile, Babbitt's previous 24-hour record for any month was 3.62 inches on October 8, 1949. Heavy rain also fell in parts of Michigan's upper peninsula, where Marquette (4.29 inches on September 4) noted its wettest day on record (previously, 4.09 inches on June 27, 1968). Elsewhere, selected daily-record totals included 1.79 inches (on September 2) in Yuma, AZ; 2.49 inches (on September 4) in Del Rio, TX; and 5.20 inches (on September 8) in Joplin, MO. Yuma's rain boosted its year-to-date total to 2.04 inches. Farther east, remnant moisture from former eastern Pacific Hurricane Henriette interacting with a cold front helped to generate the heavy rain in Joplin and elsewhere on and near the Ozark Plateau. Hawaii's warm, dry weather pattern was interrupted by brief showers, mainly in windward locations. On the Big Island, Hilo's high of 87 degrees F on September 6 tied a record for the date. Meanwhile, year-to-date rainfall through September 8 included 4.15 inches (34 percent of normal) in Kahului, Maui, and 12.20 inches (51 percent) in Lihue, Kauai. Farther north, showery but mild weather prevailed across much of the Alaskan mainland, while some heavy precipitation fell across the state's southern tier. In Valdez, for example, just over 2 inches of rain (31 percent of normal) fell in August, but 6.19 inches fell on September 8-9. On the 9th, the 3.18-inch total in Valdez tied its September daily record previously set on September 26, 2004. Meanwhile, McGrath posted a daily-record rainfall (0.88 inch) for September 8. Alaskan daily-record highs included 55 degrees F (on September 5) on St. Paul Island and 57 degrees F (on September 9) in Barrow. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary September 3 - 9, 2007 Highlights: Temperatures were warmer than average in all areas of the country. Widely scattered showers fell across portions of the Pacific Coast and Intermountain Regions with a narrow band in the Rocky Mountains receiving rainfall amounting to two to four inches. Farther east, from the panhandle of Texas, stretching northeast through the Corn Belt, heavier rains brought abundant moisture with some areas receiving more than 4 inches in the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. The Southeast and Atlantic Coast remained mostly dry and warm, except isolated portions of southern Florida and coastal portions of Georgia and South Carolina, which gained between 1 and 4 inches of moisture during the week. Corn: Ninety percent of corn acres were at or beyond the dent stage, 42 percent reached maturation, and 8 percent was harvested by the end of the week. As the dent stage neared completion 1 point ahead of last year and 9 points ahead of normal, corn was maturing ahead of the 5-year average by 13 points. With rapid advancement across the Corn Belt, Illinois' crop was 33 percent ahead of normal and the crop in the rest of the Corn Belt, excluding Ohio, was also progressing well ahead of normal. Harvest was underway in areas from the central Corn Belt southward with progress well ahead of the 5-year average in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Soybeans: Soybeans at or beyond the leaf dropping stage, at 32 percent, were ahead of last year and the 5-year average by 7 points. Twenty-eight percent or more of the acreage began dropping leaves in the northern Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Corn Belt. Progress during the week was only slightly less rapid in Iowa and the eastern Corn Belt, as nearly 20 percent began dropping leaves. Cotton: Steadily advancing during the week, cotton with bolls opening reached 48 percent, while farmers reaped 4 percent of their acreage. Four points behind last year, but 4 points ahead of normal, bolls opened on 11 percent of the crop during the week. In the Delta and Tennessee Valley, above normal temperatures during the growing season has pushed development well ahead of normal. However, in the central and southern Great Plains, along with Arizona and Georgia, cotton at or beyond the boll setting stage was 5 to 21 points behind normal. Harvest was underway in Alabama, the upper Delta and Texas, but was 10 points behind normal in Texas, and as much as 6 points behind normal in the lower Delta, where harvest had not begun. Nationally, harvest was 5 and 3 points behind last year and average, respectively. Sorghum: Eighty-one percent of the sorghum crop had reached the coloring stage, 35 percent was at or beyond maturity, and 24 percent had been harvested. Coloring advanced 11 points during the week and was 13 points ahead of normal. Sorghum reaching the maturation stage, and harvested, were 2 and 3 points ahead of normal, respectively. The crop developed well ahead of normal in Illinois, the Delta, and Texas but lagged behind normal in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Rice: Rice harvest gained momentum as farmers reaped 11 percent of their acreage during the week. Nationally, 35 percent of the crop had been harvested by week's end, 2 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was progressing behind normal in Louisiana and Texas but was ahead of normal in California and the rest of the Delta with Missouri's crop 14 points ahead of normal at 21 percent harvested. Winter Wheat: Six percent of winter wheat acreage had been planted, 2 and 4 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively. Planting was underway in the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, as well as California and Michigan, but had not yet started in the Corn Belt. Progress was behind normal in the Great Plains but ahead of normal in the Pacific Northwest. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 57 40 57 55 IL : 97 92 94 88 IN : 87 79 84 77 IA : 91 77 92 85 KS : 97 93 97 93 KY : 97 96 95 93 MI : 76 53 82 57 MN : 97 87 94 77 MO : 97 91 99 95 NE : 93 80 91 85 NC : 100 96 100 97 ND : 81 64 87 68 OH : 80 67 83 70 PA : 72 56 73 67 SD : 87 70 89 75 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 99 99 96 WI : 72 56 64 54 : 18 Sts: 90 79 89 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 10 3 16 13 IL : 68 44 36 35 IN : 41 25 22 25 IA : 41 16 27 28 KS : 62 40 65 59 KY : 83 81 73 70 MI : 21 7 14 11 MN : 31 13 20 13 MO : 76 57 79 72 NE : 28 10 26 21 NC : 96 87 92 87 ND : 18 9 30 14 OH : 9 7 13 10 PA : 34 26 30 26 SD : 25 6 16 17 TN : 100 98 89 85 TX : 80 75 83 80 WI : 17 6 10 7 : 18 Sts: 42 25 32 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 93% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 12 NA 2 2 IN : 5 NA 1 1 IA : 2 NA 1 1 KS : 18 NA 20 17 KY : 35 NA 17 21 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 29 NA 30 24 NE : 2 NA 2 2 NC : 47 NA 30 34 ND : 0 NA 1 0 OH : 0 NA 0 0 PA : 6 NA 4 6 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 73 NA 35 29 TX : 65 NA 69 64 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 8 NA 5 5 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 0 0 CA : 3 NA 0 0 CO : 5 NA 7 16 ID : 14 NA 7 7 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 1 KS : 2 NA 4 4 MI : 1 NA 0 2 MO : 0 NA 1 0 MT : 9 NA 11 10 NE : 16 NA 16 17 NC : 0 NA 1 0 OH : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 5 NA 8 11 OR : 8 NA 9 3 SD : 10 NA 20 18 TX : 2 NA 11 15 WA : 39 NA 25 31 : 18 Sts: 6 NA 8 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 36 25 39 29 IL : 35 15 11 19 IN : 41 20 15 27 IA : 25 7 26 24 KS : 28 17 25 29 KY : 19 11 10 13 LA : 72 59 75 51 MI : 7 1 13 13 MN : 45 13 31 25 MS : 73 63 88 70 MO : 15 7 10 13 NE : 7 1 8 16 NC : 16 14 13 9 ND : 45 17 62 32 OH : 28 8 23 24 SD : 42 14 40 45 TN : 61 47 36 28 WI : 14 3 15 14 : 18 Sts: 32 14 25 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 59 42 65 52 AZ : 68 60 73 75 AR : 75 62 63 56 CA : 50 38 42 41 GA : 31 21 64 52 KS : 1 0 14 16 LA : 78 58 91 73 MS : 84 75 92 73 MO : 88 71 51 40 NC : 73 51 39 46 OK : 18 9 28 36 SC : 40 27 41 36 TN : 90 78 53 44 TX : 27 18 39 32 VA : 68 50 75 60 : 15 Sts: 48 37 52 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 NA 7 2 AZ : 7 NA 6 3 AR : 4 NA 3 1 CA : 0 NA 0 0 GA : 0 NA 2 2 KS : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 0 NA 11 6 MS : 0 NA 16 5 MO : 11 NA 0 0 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 0 NA 0 0 SC : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 3 NA 0 1 TX : 7 NA 18 17 VA : 0 NA 0 0 : 15 Sts: 4 NA 9 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 98 CO : 53 43 43 44 IL : 89 87 88 84 KS : 78 63 67 66 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 74 58 87 84 NE : 83 65 82 69 NM : 41 30 24 31 OK : 58 35 62 63 SD : 89 86 85 80 TX : 92 87 75 70 : 11 Sts: 81 70 70 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 94 89 CO : 20 12 10 13 IL : 68 36 38 36 KS : 8 4 16 18 LA : 100 98 95 96 MO : 31 19 42 39 NE : 8 2 11 8 NM : 4 4 6 3 OK : 16 11 25 33 SD : 19 11 16 14 TX : 79 69 68 61 : 11 Sts: 35 28 35 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 78 68 74 58 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 9 3 0 1 KS : 1 0 6 5 LA : 91 87 91 83 MO : 8 5 12 10 NE : 0 0 0 1 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 5 3 6 15 SD : 0 0 0 1 TX : 75 61 64 57 : 11 Sts: 24 19 23 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2002- State:Sep 9, :Sep 2, :Sep 9, : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 30 18 28 23 CA : 9 1 2 4 LA : 81 75 86 85 MS : 41 20 37 32 MO : 21 8 13 7 TX : 86 79 93 92 : 6 Sts : 35 24 33 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 2 7 19 50 22 IL : 3 5 14 51 27 IN : 8 15 34 36 7 IA : 3 7 21 50 19 KS : 2 8 29 48 13 KY : 7 17 24 38 14 MI : 18 21 30 30 1 MN : 12 15 34 30 9 MO : 8 16 33 35 8 NE : 1 4 15 51 29 NC : 23 27 23 19 8 ND : 2 5 18 58 17 OH : 10 17 29 36 8 PA : 17 11 20 39 13 SD : 3 9 24 54 10 TN : 26 32 30 12 0 TX : 3 6 20 44 27 WI : 7 16 27 35 15 : 18 Sts : 6 10 23 44 17 : Prev Wk : 6 10 25 44 15 Prev Yr : 6 10 25 42 17 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 9 22 27 30 12 IL : 7 10 27 43 13 IN : 8 15 35 36 6 IA : 1 5 22 52 20 KS : 1 9 32 48 10 KY : 18 22 40 18 2 LA : 0 5 24 63 8 MI : 7 21 42 24 6 MN : 5 10 31 41 13 MS : 2 5 18 43 32 MO : 11 20 38 27 4 NE : 1 2 16 57 24 NC : 34 32 19 12 3 ND : 2 3 17 59 19 OH : 7 17 29 36 11 SD : 1 4 20 54 21 TN : 36 31 26 7 0 WI : 5 11 30 40 14 : 18 Sts : 6 11 27 42 14 : Prev Wk : 6 11 27 43 13 Prev Yr : 4 9 27 45 15 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 41 28 22 8 1 AZ : 0 1 29 56 14 AR : 0 11 24 44 21 CA : 0 0 2 60 38 GA : 7 13 35 36 9 KS : 0 15 30 50 5 LA : 0 7 30 63 0 MS : 2 5 27 49 17 MO : 10 23 30 33 4 NC : 19 31 33 13 4 OK : 0 5 19 73 3 SC : 11 31 39 17 2 TN : 7 25 40 22 6 TX : 4 13 28 40 15 VA : 1 36 42 21 0 : 15 Sts : 6 14 28 39 13 : Prev Wk : 6 13 29 39 13 Prev Yr : 15 18 28 32 7 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 7 28 47 17 CO : 0 0 22 66 12 IL : 16 19 36 28 1 KS : 1 5 23 54 17 LA : 0 8 23 53 16 MO : 3 12 47 35 3 NE : 1 1 13 57 28 NM : 0 0 43 55 2 OK : 0 8 24 61 7 SD : 2 6 29 55 8 TX : 3 12 32 42 11 : 11 Sts : 2 7 26 51 14 : Prev Wk : 2 7 28 50 13 Prev Yr : 16 19 32 27 6 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2006 planted acres. Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 3 25 44 28 CA : 1 4 10 75 10 LA : 0 3 41 49 7 MS : 0 0 10 65 25 MO : 2 2 24 50 22 TX : 0 6 69 22 3 : 6 Sts : 0 3 25 52 20 : Prev Wk : 0 3 26 51 20 Prev Yr : 1 5 37 44 13 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 17 24 34 23 2 FL : 9 14 47 20 10 GA : 5 10 31 43 11 NC : 8 29 41 22 0 OK : 1 6 26 66 1 SC : 1 9 57 28 5 TX : 0 0 23 51 26 VA : 6 29 41 24 0 : 8 Sts : 6 13 34 37 10 : Prev Wk : 7 12 35 37 9 Prev Yr : 6 18 38 33 5 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 9, 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 44 30 22 4 0 :: NJ : 0 0 45 55 0 AZ : 13 23 38 21 5 :: NM : 4 17 39 32 8 AR : 11 40 28 19 2 :: NY : 12 21 43 21 3 CA : 79 16 5 0 0 :: NC : 63 26 10 1 0 CO : 3 9 35 41 12 :: ND : 2 12 33 47 6 CT : 21 30 30 19 0 :: OH : 19 25 28 23 5 DE : 31 15 26 27 1 :: OK : 1 4 22 55 18 FL : 1 10 40 40 9 :: OR : 22 36 28 8 6 GA : 26 23 33 15 3 :: PA : 11 23 41 22 3 ID : 15 53 27 5 0 :: RI : 0 40 60 0 0 IL : 25 21 22 29 3 :: SC : 21 34 42 3 0 IN : 46 27 18 8 1 :: SD : 3 9 31 49 8 IA : 2 7 26 48 17 :: TN : 56 30 11 3 0 KS : 4 11 32 47 6 :: TX : 1 4 20 50 25 KY : 54 29 14 3 0 :: UT : 18 35 27 20 0 LA : 0 13 43 37 7 :: VT : 0 33 48 19 0 ME : 4 21 32 29 14 :: VA : 33 33 29 5 0 MD : 27 33 25 14 1 :: WA : 6 23 16 54 1 MA : 0 34 43 23 0 :: WV : 20 38 30 12 0 MI : 17 31 29 17 6 :: WI : 7 10 26 49 8 MN : 15 24 33 22 6 :: WY : 7 25 38 26 4 MS : 17 23 32 26 2 :: : MO : 29 25 33 12 1 :: 48 Sts : 18 18 26 30 8 MT : 17 19 37 24 3 :: : NE : 3 12 25 47 13 :: Prev Wk: 17 18 27 30 8 NV : 39 51 9 1 0 :: Prev Yr: 23 24 28 22 3 NH : 2 7 46 45 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Corn - Dented, Harvested, Mature, Condition Cotton - Bolls Opening, Harvested, Condition Pasture & Range - Condition Peanuts - Harvested, Condition Rice - Harvested, Condition Sorghum - Coloring, Harvested, Mature, Condition Soybeans - Dropping Leaves, Harvested, Condition Sugarbeets - Planted Winter Wheat - Planted 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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