We 1 (8-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 19, 2008, 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 August 10 - 16, 2008 Highlights: During the first half of the week, heavy rain across the South caused local flash flooding but aided pastures and immature summer crops. At least 4 inches of rain fell from the southeastern Plains into western Florida, easing or eradicating drought. Across the interior Southeast, however, much smaller amounts of rain provided little or no drought relief in the southern Appalachians and neighboring areas. Farther west, a disturbance dropping southward from the Canadian Prairies dumped rain during the mid- to late-week period across parts of the Plains. At least 2 inches of rain soaked drought-affected areas from eastern Colorado into central Texas, benefiting immature summer crops and boosting soil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. Meanwhile in the Midwest, scattered showers were mostly confined to areas west of the Mississippi River. Despite pockets of developing dryness in the eastern Corn Belt and the upper Midwest, growing conditions remained mostly favorable for corn and soybeans not affected by spring and early-summer flooding. Elsewhere, sporadic monsoon showers in the Southwest contrasted with hot, mostly dry weather in other areas west of the Rockies. In the Northwest, dry weather and record-setting heat promoted small grain harvesting but maintained the threat of wildfire activity. Weekly temperatures averaged more than 5 degrees F above normal in parts of northern California and the Pacific Northwest, but were at least 5 degrees F below normal in many locations from the central and southern Plains into the Mid-Atlantic States. Early in the week, heavy rain shifted from the Plains into the Gulf Coast region. On August 11, Oklahoma City's 4.62-inch rainfall represented a record for any August day (previously, 3.82 inches on August 19, 2007, associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin). Significant rain also soaked parts of the Dakotas, where daily-record totals included 2.05 inches (on August 10) in Watertown, SD, and 3.33 inches (on August 11) in Fargo, ND. In Riverton, WY, rain on August 10 ended a 65-day spell (June 6 - August 9) without measurable precipitation. Meanwhile across the South, daily-record amounts reached 3.92 inches (on August 10) in Fort Smith, AR, and 5.18 inches (on August 12) in Tyler, TX. Across southeastern Arkansas, rainfall totals during a 96-hour period from August 9-13 reached 11.26 inches in Portland and 10.83 inches in Eudora. Locally heavy showers lingered through week's end along the Gulf Coast, where Mobile, AL (4.91 inches on August 16), collected a daily-record rainfall. Farther west, a southbound storm brought a return to wet weather after mid-week to the nation's mid-section. Huron, SD (1.90 inches), posted a daily-record total for August 14, followed by records in locations such as Cheyenne, WY (2.07 inches on August 15), and Lubbock, TX (2.45 inches on August 16). In Cheyenne, where statistics have been kept since 1871, the second- and third-wettest August days on record occurred on August 5 and 15 (2.02 and 2.07 inches, respectively). Those totals were also Cheyenne's tenth- and twelfth-highest daily totals on record for any time of year. Wet weather also persisted in the Northeast, where Caribou, ME, set a record for its wettest October 1 - September 30 period on record. From October 1, 2007 - August 16, 2008, Caribou's 48.04-inch total already surpassed its October 2005 - September 2006 standard of 47.82 inches. Elsewhere in New England, the level of Lake Champlain at Burlington, VT, rose to 98.78 feet on August 14, edging the former August record of 98.35 feet set on August 18 and 19, 1976. An early-week chill in the Northwest gave way to record-setting heat. In Oregon, for example, Redmond posted a daily-record low of 37 degrees F on August 10, followed by a daily-record high of 106 degrees F on August 16. Elsewhere in Oregon, consecutive daily-record highs were set in locations such as Medford (108 degrees F on both August 14 and 15) and The Dalles (107 and 109 degrees F on August 15 and 16, respectively). Other late-week records in the West included 112 degrees F (on August 15) in Redding, CA, and 106 degrees F (on August 16) in Walla Walla, WA. In contrast, very low maximum temperatures were noted after mid-week across the nation's mid- section in the vicinity of a slow-moving storm. For example, temperatures failed to reach 50 degrees F on August 15 in parts of Wyoming, where Cheyenne noted a high of 49 degrees F. It was Cheyenne's coldest day since May 27. Cool conditions were also observed for much of the week across the Midwest and the East, where scattered daily-record lows included 45 degrees F (on August 10) in Eau Claire, WI, and 45 degrees F (on August 12) in Blacksburg, VA. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary August 11 - 17, 2008 Corn: Dry and cooler than average weather prevailed across the Corn Belt. Development of corn acreage to the silking stage reached 97 percent, lagging 3 points behind last year's pace and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Silking was complete or nearly complete in all States. Nearly half of the crop was at or beyond the dough stage by week's end, 28 points behind last year and 19 points behind the average pace. Progress was behind the 5-year average in all States except Colorado and Michigan, where development to the dough stage was ahead by 12 and 18 points, respectively. Progress in North Dakota was 37 points behind the average pace of development to the dough stage. Fourteen percent of the National corn acreage reached the dent stage by week's end, 24 points behind the previous year and 16 points behind normal. Acreage in Tennessee and North Carolina was most developed by week's end with 70 and 75 percent of the acreage reaching or exceeding the dent stage, respectively. Condition of the corn crop remained unchanged from last week's 67 percent good to excellent rating. Changes in condition from last week at the State level ranged from an 11 point decrease in Wisconsin to an 11 point increase in North Carolina. Soybeans: Blooming was nearly complete at 94 percent, 3 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Blooming was complete in Michigan, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Ohio. Acreage was blooming at or behind the normal pace in all States except Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Three-fourths of the acreage was setting pods, 14 points behind last year and 12 points behind normal. Pod-setting occurred most rapidly in Kentucky and Minnesota where 23 and 27 percent of the acreage set pods during the week, respectively. Condition of the crop declined 1 point from last week to 62 percent good to excellent. Winter Wheat: Ninety-five percent of the winter wheat crop was harvested, 4 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was complete or nearly complete in all States except Idaho, Montana, and Washington, where 30 percent or more of the crop remained unharvested. Cotton: Several inches of rain fell in the central Delta and central Oklahoma where temperatures ranged from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. While California remained dry with varied temperatures across the State, light showers fell over central and East Texas, as well as the Panhandle. In the Southeast, several inches of rain accompanied cooler than normal temperatures. Boll setting reached 84 percent, the same as last year but 5 points behind the 5-year average. In Louisiana and Oklahoma, major development occurred during the week as 30 percent or more of the acreage advanced to the boll setting stage. Development in all States was within 9 points of normal progress. Bolls were opening on 12 percent of the Nation's acreage, the same as last year but 1 point behind the 5-year average. Cotton condition improved 3 points from last week, reaching 48 percent good to excellent. Sorghum: Through the midsection of the country, cooler temperatures prevailed, while in the west, weather conditions were warm and dry. Three-fourths of the sorghum acreage was headed, 11 points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Thirty percent of Nebraska's crop reached the heading stage during the week. Welcomed rains were received in Colorado and New Mexico where heading was ahead of the average pace by 15 and 21 points, respectively. Forty percent of the acreage was coloring, 6 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the acreage was mature, the same as last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Louisiana and Texas acreage was most advanced with 87 and 59 percent mature, respectively. Condition ratings improved 4 points from the previous week, reaching 54 percent good to excellent. Rice: Seventy-four percent of the acreage was headed, 14 points behind last year and 13 points behind the 5-year average. Nationwide, producers had harvested 8 percent of the rice crop while more than half of the Texas rice crop was reaped. Harvest activity was limited to Louisiana and Texas. Condition of the rice crop was rated 72 percent good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Small Grains: Barley producers harvested 42 percent of the crop by week's end, 33 points behind last year 17 points behind the 5-year average. Producers had reaped 50 percent or more of the acreage in North Dakota and Washington. All barley producing States were between 11 and 35 points behind the average pace. Fifty-two percent of the barley crop was rated good to excellent, unchanged from last week's rating. Oat harvest reached 74 percent complete, 14 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Progress was significantly behind the normal pace in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Spring wheat acreage was 35 percent harvested, 32 points behind last year and 19 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest progress was most advanced in South Dakota, where nearly two-thirds of the crop was harvested. Condition of the crop was rated 56 percent good to excellent, 3 points better than the previous week. Other Crops: Peanut pegging was 98 percent complete, 4 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the 5-year average. Pegging was within 5 points of normal in all States. Condition ratings improved 5 points from last week to 62 percent good to excellent. Corn: Percent Silking, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 100 96 100 94 IL : 99 97 100 100 IN : 97 93 100 99 IA : 95 87 99 100 KS : 100 96 100 100 KY : 100 97 100 100 MI : 100 96 99 95 MN : 98 96 100 99 MO : 96 92 100 99 NE : 100 98 100 100 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 94 86 100 98 OH : 100 96 100 100 PA : 95 87 93 92 SD : 90 80 99 97 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 98 97 100 100 WI : 95 82 99 95 : 18 Sts: 97 93 100 99 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 48 26 50 36 IL : 66 48 93 86 IN : 49 24 84 73 IA : 30 10 67 60 KS : 73 56 87 86 KY : 72 50 79 78 MI : 66 40 67 48 MN : 20 4 69 48 MO : 63 48 90 91 NE : 67 38 85 80 NC : 92 90 95 93 ND : 16 7 69 53 OH : 52 41 73 69 PA : 44 25 49 53 SD : 32 15 66 52 TN : 96 90 98 98 TX : 88 74 84 92 WI : 24 9 55 42 : 18 Sts: 49 30 77 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 12 3 11 8 IL : 12 5 54 45 IN : 6 0 36 28 IA : 4 0 32 20 KS : 37 18 57 51 KY : 41 18 56 53 MI : 10 0 15 10 MN : 4 0 32 14 MO : 26 14 60 68 NE : 19 3 40 30 NC : 70 56 82 75 ND : 0 0 13 11 OH : 8 5 19 15 PA : 14 2 20 20 SD : 3 0 23 14 TN : 75 53 92 88 TX : 68 62 75 79 WI : 1 0 14 6 : 18 Sts: 14 6 38 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Blooming, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 83 99 97 IL : 93 84 99 98 IN : 92 86 97 96 IA : 96 89 99 99 KS : 86 83 89 93 KY : 85 78 90 84 LA : 99 97 100 99 MI : 100 96 99 96 MN : 99 96 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 76 63 91 92 NE : 96 93 99 99 NC : 79 70 81 81 ND : 100 98 100 100 OH : 100 98 100 99 SD : 98 93 100 99 TN : 92 87 96 94 WI : 93 86 99 96 : 18 Sts: 94 88 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 78 61 94 88 IL : 70 55 96 89 IN : 61 45 88 82 IA : 80 67 95 94 KS : 65 55 66 75 KY : 64 41 73 64 LA : 91 87 99 94 MI : 92 77 91 82 MN : 89 62 95 93 MS : 96 93 98 99 MO : 41 28 69 72 NE : 77 58 90 91 NC : 51 39 52 49 ND : 96 84 99 97 OH : 85 77 99 90 SD : 73 54 88 87 TN : 77 71 87 83 WI : 75 57 89 80 : 18 Sts: 75 60 89 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 100 99 100 100 CO : 100 100 100 100 ID : 60 26 88 77 IL : 100 100 100 100 IN : 100 100 100 100 KS : 100 100 100 100 MI : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 100 MT : 70 45 96 91 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 100 100 100 100 OH : 100 100 100 100 OK : 100 100 100 100 OR : 93 86 93 90 SD : 97 90 100 99 TX : 100 100 100 100 WA : 68 60 88 81 : 18 Sts: 95 92 99 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 91 81 88 90 AZ : 94 85 97 97 AR : 100 100 100 99 CA : 90 85 96 94 GA : 95 90 93 97 KS : 80 50 96 78 LA : 96 92 100 100 MS : 98 97 100 99 MO : 100 96 93 96 NC : 93 91 98 97 OK : 81 50 55 79 SC : 88 78 79 82 TN : 99 96 98 99 TX : 71 54 72 80 VA : 95 93 98 96 : 15 Sts: 84 74 84 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 15 7 14 8 AZ : 30 20 31 29 AR : 4 1 19 9 CA : 8 3 7 13 GA : 4 1 6 7 KS : 0 0 0 1 LA : 30 16 23 26 MS : 5 2 23 17 MO : 2 0 16 8 NC : 1 0 6 3 OK : 3 0 3 5 SC : 1 0 3 5 TN : 1 0 15 6 TX : 18 17 11 16 VA : 8 0 26 23 : 15 Sts: 12 9 12 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 67 49 90 90 CA : 60 49 69 64 LA : 97 94 99 97 MS : 81 69 99 97 MO : 91 57 89 86 TX : 98 97 99 99 : 6 Sts : 74 60 88 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 1 1 CA : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 35 NA 49 50 MS : 0 NA 1 1 MO : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 55 NA 45 49 : 6 Sts : 8 NA 10 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 95 100 99 CO : 85 77 76 70 IL : 69 47 96 88 KS : 72 54 80 75 LA : 100 99 100 100 MO : 73 60 85 90 NE : 72 42 89 83 NM : 66 60 29 45 OK : 47 37 73 69 SD : 84 60 95 91 TX : 76 75 93 82 : 11 Sts: 75 64 86 80 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 56 95 90 CO : 70 59 20 12 IL : 27 3 41 38 KS : 14 7 18 20 LA : 99 95 92 93 MO : 21 15 36 39 NE : 1 0 10 12 NM : 19 12 10 5 OK : 25 19 19 28 SD : 19 5 32 28 TX : 65 64 79 62 : 11 Sts: 40 35 46 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 8 58 35 CO : 1 0 2 0 IL : 0 0 3 1 KS : 1 0 0 1 LA : 87 67 82 74 MO : 0 0 3 2 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 1 1 OK : 8 6 2 6 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 59 58 57 54 : 11 Sts: 26 24 26 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 22 8 53 40 MN : 39 19 94 74 MT : 29 13 78 53 ND : 56 30 82 67 WA : 50 32 67 63 : 5 Sts : 42 22 75 59 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 91 77 100 99 MN : 57 35 95 82 NE : 95 91 99 98 ND : 57 32 64 59 OH : 100 93 100 94 PA : 91 68 80 76 SD : 81 59 99 95 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 68 43 94 83 : 9 Sts : 74 54 88 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 71% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 18 4 52 38 MN : 15 7 74 57 MT : 37 11 69 48 ND : 33 17 59 49 SD : 66 34 94 91 WA : 51 30 70 67 : 6 Sts : 35 16 67 54 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Peanuts: Percent Pegging, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 17,:Aug 10,:Aug 17,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 88 78 87 88 FL : 99 98 91 98 GA : 99 97 97 99 NC : 100 100 100 99 OK : 98 94 99 99 SC : 100 99 99 98 TX : 100 91 87 95 VA : 100 99 94 97 : 8 Sts : 98 94 94 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 14 33 33 13 IL : 2 4 22 53 19 IN : 4 8 20 49 19 IA : 2 7 22 50 19 KS : 3 9 37 41 10 KY : 1 7 25 48 19 MI : 5 10 29 37 19 MN : 5 6 22 51 16 MO : 4 11 36 39 10 NE : 1 4 19 56 20 NC : 16 24 31 26 3 ND : 3 7 23 52 15 OH : 5 11 27 41 16 PA : 0 4 18 50 28 SD : 1 3 16 50 30 TN : 4 14 32 41 9 TX : 20 14 26 36 4 WI : 4 8 24 47 17 : 18 Sts : 3 7 23 49 18 : Prev Wk : 3 7 23 48 19 Prev Yr : 6 12 24 42 16 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 13 35 36 11 IL : 2 4 28 56 10 IN : 4 8 25 48 15 IA : 2 7 26 49 16 KS : 1 4 27 51 17 KY : 1 6 30 44 19 LA : 5 12 37 40 6 MI : 4 11 27 42 16 MN : 5 5 22 50 18 MS : 5 11 26 44 14 MO : 4 14 38 35 9 NE : 1 3 21 60 15 NC : 3 14 34 42 7 ND : 1 4 15 60 20 OH : 5 13 32 39 11 SD : 0 2 16 52 30 TN : 10 19 30 39 2 WI : 3 7 22 48 20 : 18 Sts : 3 8 27 47 15 : Prev Wk : 3 8 26 48 15 Prev Yr : 6 12 28 41 13 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 2 37 48 12 FL : 0 0 20 52 28 GA : 2 8 35 44 11 NC : 0 1 23 62 14 OK : 0 2 26 66 6 SC : 2 7 35 50 6 TX : 1 6 33 48 12 VA : 0 10 25 50 15 : 8 Sts : 1 5 32 49 13 : Prev Wk : 2 6 35 47 10 Prev Yr : 4 14 34 39 9 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 5 26 51 16 CA : 1 4 29 51 15 LA : 0 2 21 69 8 MS : 0 3 10 49 38 MO : 0 0 4 48 48 TX : 1 1 21 61 16 : 6 Sts : 1 4 23 54 18 : Prev Wk : 1 4 23 53 19 Prev Yr : 0 3 24 54 19 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 planted acres. Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 14 41 39 5 AZ : 0 0 21 65 14 AR : 1 5 34 46 14 CA : 0 1 2 23 74 GA : 6 10 36 39 9 KS : 5 10 30 45 10 LA : 5 14 40 40 1 MS : 5 6 22 53 14 MO : 3 10 23 56 8 NC : 1 6 32 50 11 OK : 5 19 48 27 1 SC : 10 22 41 24 3 TN : 0 8 33 52 7 TX : 10 20 33 29 8 VA : 0 10 41 45 4 : 15 Sts : 6 14 32 37 11 : Prev Wk : 8 14 33 35 10 Prev Yr : 5 13 31 39 12 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 6 39 42 12 CO : 6 15 50 28 1 IL : 0 1 14 69 16 KS : 2 7 26 52 13 LA : 0 7 42 47 4 MO : 1 6 43 45 5 NE : 0 2 22 57 19 NM : 3 13 33 48 3 OK : 3 42 30 21 4 SD : 3 3 18 60 16 TX : 6 16 38 35 5 : 11 Sts : 3 11 32 45 9 : Prev Wk : 4 13 33 43 7 Prev Yr : 2 7 27 51 13 -------------------------------------- Spring Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 1 4 25 66 4 MN : 1 3 15 55 26 MT : 7 15 33 41 4 ND : 6 12 30 41 11 SD : 2 5 23 52 18 WA : 11 33 43 12 1 : 6 Sts : 5 11 28 44 12 : Prev Wk : 5 13 29 42 11 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Barley: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 1 5 21 70 3 MN : 1 3 19 52 25 MT : 2 8 43 39 8 ND : 5 12 34 39 10 WA : 12 17 46 24 1 : 5 Sts : 4 10 34 44 8 : Prev Wk : 3 11 34 43 9 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 2007 planted acres. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 17, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 8 21 36 33 2 :: NJ : 0 0 60 40 0 AZ : 7 15 32 33 13 :: NM : 1 11 26 52 10 AR : 0 12 38 44 6 :: NY : 1 8 18 49 24 CA : 80 20 0 0 0 :: NC : 17 26 27 27 3 CO : 19 29 34 16 2 :: ND : 19 29 30 20 2 CT : 2 3 27 68 0 :: OH : 3 14 33 42 8 DE : 6 45 39 9 1 :: OK : 6 15 41 32 6 FL : 0 5 45 40 10 :: OR : 22 32 34 12 0 GA : 13 25 40 21 1 :: PA : 5 15 34 36 10 ID : 3 18 39 37 3 :: RI : 0 10 30 40 20 IL : 0 2 29 56 13 :: SC : 21 25 34 20 0 IN : 4 11 30 41 14 :: SD : 1 5 21 54 19 IA : 2 8 31 45 14 :: TN : 14 24 37 24 1 KS : 6 9 26 50 9 :: TX : 21 29 34 15 1 KY : 6 19 38 34 3 :: UT : 6 14 27 41 12 LA : 9 21 38 27 5 :: VT : 0 12 15 62 11 ME : 2 12 38 47 1 :: VA : 13 24 41 20 2 MD : 10 14 31 37 8 :: WA : 13 26 23 38 0 MA : 0 0 17 83 0 :: WV : 0 3 23 69 5 MI : 8 28 30 29 5 :: WI : 6 15 38 34 7 MN : 10 13 36 37 4 :: WY : 2 14 42 34 8 MS : 5 14 33 39 9 :: : MO : 1 6 31 54 8 :: 48 Sts : 12 17 31 34 6 MT : 8 25 35 25 7 :: : NE : 1 9 25 52 13 :: Prev Wk: 13 18 30 32 7 NV : 2 16 60 20 2 :: Prev Yr: 18 20 27 27 8 NH : 0 5 26 65 4 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 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_definitions.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- Harvested, Condition Corn- Dough, Dented, Condition Cotton- Setting Bolls, Bolls Opening, Condition Oats- Harvested Pasture and Range- Condition Peanuts- Condition Rice- Headed, Harvested, Condition Sorghum- Headed, Coloring, Mature, Harvested, Condition Soybeans- Blooming, Setting Pods, Condition Spring Wheat- Harvested, 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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