We 1 (8-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 26, 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 17 - 23, 2008 Highlights: Tropical Storm Fay made four landfalls in Florida between August 18 and 23, resulting in a prolonged period of gusty winds and torrential rainfall. Cities in Florida particularly hard hit by flooding included Melbourne, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. In addition, tropical storm-force winds buffeted much of southern Florida on August 19 and the southern Atlantic Coast (north of Fay's center) on August 21-22. Nevertheless, Florida's major citrus and sugarcane areas escaped Fay's passage with only minor wind and flood damage, because maximum sustained winds never topped 65 m.p.h. and flooding rains fell largely outside major agricultural regions. At week's end, Fay weakened to a tropical depression over western Florida and southern Alabama, but continued to produce locally heavy rainfall. In contrast, intensifying short-term dryness adversely affected pastures and late-developing summer crops in the eastern Corn Belt and the Mid-Atlantic States. Unfavorable dryness also persisted in parts of the upper Midwest, including Minnesota and areas along the Iowa-Nebraska border. However, late- week showers in the central Corn Belt were heaviest in parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan. Farther west, heavy precipitation subsided across the south-central U.S. by midweek, but not before additional rainfall totaled 4 inches or more in parts of central Oklahoma and southern and eastern Texas. On the southern Plains, rain hampered fieldwork but boosted soil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. On the northern Plains, spring wheat harvesting advanced with few delays, despite scattered showers on August 21- 22. Elsewhere, hot, dry weather prevailed in the West, except for isolated showers in the Four Corners region and occasional precipitation from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. In general, Western conditions favored fieldwork and crop development, including the opening of cotton bolls in California and Arizona. Extreme heat continued early in the week in the Northwest, where Pendleton, OR (108 degrees F) posted a daily-record high for August 17. On the same day, Spokane, WA (103 degrees F) recorded its latest-ever reading at or above 103 degrees F (previously, 103 degrees F on August 10, 1898). Farther east, triple-digit readings were noted in Montana locations such as Thompson Falls (104 degrees F on August 18) and Glasgow (103 degrees F on August 19). In contrast, cool weather settled into both the Northeast and the Northwest during the second half of the week. Salisbury, MD (46 degrees F), notched a record for August 21, followed the next day by daily-record lows in Oregon locations such as Burns (30 degrees F) and Pendleton (45 degrees F). Elsewhere in Oregon, Baker closed the week with consecutive daily-record lows (33 degrees F both days) on August 22-23. High winds preceded and accompanied the surge of cool air across the nation's northern tier, with a gust to 55 m.p.h. recorded in Bismarck, ND, on August 22. Farther south, heavy rain continued early in the week across the south- central U.S., where daily-record amounts in Texas included 3.57 inches (on August 17) in Corpus Christi and 5.38 inches (on August 18) in McAllen. Oklahoma City, OK, set an August rainfall record (9.51 inches; previously 8.34 inches in 1906), aided by a 4.54-inch total on August 18-19. Similarly, the month-to-date rainfall in Waco, TX, climbed to an August record of 10.05 inches (previously 9.98 inches in 1914), largely due to a 7.24-inch deluge on August 18-19. Elsewhere in Texas, Wichita Falls collected consecutive daily- record rainfall totals (2.84 and 3.27 inches on August 18 and 19, respectively). Other daily-record totals across the South included 2.15 inches (on August 17) in New Iberia, LA, and 2.65 inches (on August 19) in El Dorado, AR. Locally heavy showers also dotted the Northwest, where daily records were set in locations such as Astoria, OR (0.79 inch on August 19) and Mullan Pass, ID (1.07 inches on August 20). A few heavy showers fell after mid-week in the Midwest, where Houghton Lake, MI (2.50 inches on August 23), netted a daily-record sum. Tropical Storm Fay spent much of its life cycle near or over land, which prevented the system from reaching hurricane intensity. After crossing the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Fay hugged the southern coast of Cuba before turning northward across the western part of the island. Fay reached the Florida Keys near Key West on the afternoon of August 18, then made landfall on Cape Romano, south of Naples, FL, before dawn on August 19. Improbably, Fay strengthened during its first 8 hours over land, reaching a maximum intensity (sustained winds near 65 m.p.h.) over Florida's Everglades. Peak winds gusts (on August 18) in the Keys included 55 m.p.h. at Marathon and 51 m.p.h. at Key West, while an unofficial gust to 78 m.p.h. was reported on August 19 in Moore Haven, FL, near Lake Okeechobee. By August 25, the average surface elevation of Lake Okeechobee climbed to 13.63 feet, up 2.29 feet from 1 week earlier. Later, after more than 24 hours over Florida, Fay emerged over the westernmost Atlantic Ocean on August 20. However, Fay soon began to drift westward and made its third Florida landfall on the afternoon of August 21 near Flagler Beach. During this time, exceptionally heavy rain fell in and near Melbourne, FL, with storm totals in excess of 20 inches observed in locations such as Cape Canaveral and Palm Shores. Officially, 19.62 inches of rain fell at the National Weather Service office in Melbourne from August 18-22. Record flooding was noted along the St. Johns River above Lake Harney, where the previous high-water mark had occurred on October 1, 1924. Meanwhile, August 21-22 peak wind gusts along the southern Atlantic Coast included 61 m.p.h. in Jacksonville, FL, 59 m.p.h. in Fort Pulaski, GA, and 51 m.p.h. in Hilton Head, SC. Farther west, another area of record-setting rainfall struck in and near Tallahassee, FL, northeast of Fay's final landfall location (early August 23 near Carrabelle, FL). Tallahassee netted 11.44 inches of rain from August 22-24, while an unofficial nearby total reached 27.50 inches in Thomasville, GA. The St. Marks River near Newport, FL, surged to a record-setting level of 6.88 feet above flood stage on August 25, surpassing the April 1973 high-water mark by 2.07 feet. At week's end, heavy rain began to expand into neighboring states, where daily-record totals for August 23 included 3.67 inches in Montgomery, AL, and 1.61 inches in Meridian, MS. Elsewhere in Mississippi, Fay's remnants dropped 2.10 inches of rain in Jackson, MS, from August 23-25, helping to set an August rainfall record (11.49 inches; previously, 11.39 inches in 1942). Near-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, except for warmer-than-normal conditions in western areas. Most of Alaska's precipitation was confined to the southern half of the state, especially late in the week. On August 23, Annette Island netted a daily-record rainfall of 3.27 inches. Farther south, mild, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii. However, shower activity increased across Hawaii's western islands toward week's end, when August 23- 24 (24-hour) totals on Kauai reached 1.07 inches at Hanalei River and 0.92 inch at Wainiha. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary August 18 - 24, 2008 Corn: Throughout the week, weather across the Corn Belt was mostly dry with temperatures within 3 degrees of normal, except in isolated southern portions of the region. Acreage at or beyond the dough stage reached 68 percent, 20 points behind last year and 14 points behind the 5-year average. Acreage in Pennsylvania and Texas was reaching the dough stage ahead of last year while development in Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania was ahead of the average pace. Elsewhere, progress was delayed. Development to the dough stage was nearly complete in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Twenty-six percent of the corn acreage reached denting, 32 and 21 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively. In Colorado and Pennsylvania, denting was occurring ahead of normal, while elsewhere, progress was delayed. Condition of the corn crop was rated 64 percent good to excellent, a 3 point decline from last week and the first weekly decline since mid-June. Soybeans: Weather conditions were mostly dry with normal temperatures throughout the growing region, except in the South and isolated areas along the Mississippi River where needed rainfall was received. Blooming was nearly complete at 97 percent, 2 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Other than a 14 point blooming delay in Missouri, blooming progress remained within 4 points of both last year and the 5-year average in all States. Pod setting had occurred on 88 percent of the Nation's soybean acreage, 7 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. Pod setting was complete in North Dakota, 1 point ahead of the 5-year average, while in Missouri, development was 29 points behind the average pace. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 61 percent good to excellent, 1 point lower than last week's rating. Cotton: Eighty-nine percent of the Nation's acreage was setting bolls, 1 point behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Development was within 9 points of the 5-year average in all States. Boll setting was complete in the Delta, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. Bolls were open on 16 percent of the Nation's cotton acreage, 5 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Bolls were opening at or behind the normal pace in all States except Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas. Condition of the crop was rated 48 percent good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Sorghum: Eighty-four percent of the acreage reached heading, 8 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Forty-six percent of the acreage was coloring, 10 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. In Colorado, the crop was coloring well ahead of last year and normal. All of the acreage in Louisiana had colored, and the majority of the crop had colored in Arkansas, Colorado, and Texas. Twenty-eight percent of the sorghum acreage reached maturity, 1 point behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Maturation in Arkansas was 30 points behind the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 23 percent of the sorghum acreage, 2 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. While harvest was just getting underway in Arkansas and Oklahoma, more than half of the crop had been reaped in Louisiana and Texas. Sorghum condition was rated 53 percent good to excellent, 1 point lower than last week. Rice: Eighty-five percent of the rice acreage was headed, 10 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Heading was nearly complete in Louisiana and Texas. Ten percent of the rice acreage had been harvested, lagging 5 points behind last year's harvest pace and 4 points behind the average pace. A significant delay was evident in Louisiana where harvest progress was 21 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Condition of the crop was rated 72 percent good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Small Grains: Barley producers had harvested 66 percent of the crop, 21 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was delayed in all States when compared with last year and the average. The condition rating of the crop remained unchanged from last week at 52 percent good to excellent. Oat harvest, at 88 percent complete, was 7 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in Ohio and Texas, and was at or behind the normal pace except in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Sixty-one percent of the spring wheat was harvested, 22 points behind last year and 11 points behind the 5-year average. In Idaho, Minnesota, and Washington, harvest progress was 27 or more points behind the normal pace. Condition of the crop was rated 55 percent good to excellent, 1 point lower than last week's rating. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 60 48 67 54 IL : 82 66 97 93 IN : 72 49 92 86 IA : 53 30 82 78 KS : 89 73 96 94 KY : 82 72 94 95 MI : 75 66 79 66 MN : 44 20 89 69 MO : 79 63 95 95 NE : 85 67 92 90 NC : 95 92 99 96 ND : 32 16 86 70 OH : 69 52 83 82 PA : 73 44 68 70 SD : 62 32 82 75 TN : 99 96 100 100 TX : 96 88 94 97 WI : 46 24 75 61 : 18 Sts: 68 49 88 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 26 12 22 19 IL : 29 12 74 63 IN : 22 6 55 46 IA : 13 4 53 40 KS : 53 37 77 70 KY : 54 41 80 76 MI : 18 10 31 22 MN : 8 4 65 36 MO : 46 26 74 80 NE : 42 19 58 51 NC : 78 70 90 85 ND : 2 0 32 25 OH : 20 8 40 32 PA : 39 14 41 34 SD : 12 3 39 29 TN : 88 75 97 96 TX : 82 68 85 86 WI : 4 1 33 17 : 18 Sts: 26 14 58 47 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Blooming, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 93 100 99 IL : 99 93 100 99 IN : 96 92 99 99 IA : 98 96 100 100 KS : 94 86 97 97 KY : 93 85 97 94 LA : 100 99 100 100 MI : 100 100 100 99 MN : 99 99 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 85 76 99 99 NE : 99 96 100 100 NC : 87 79 88 89 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 100 100 100 100 SD : 100 98 100 100 TN : 96 92 99 98 WI : 98 93 100 100 : 18 Sts: 97 94 99 99 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 86 78 98 95 IL : 92 70 98 95 IN : 78 61 96 92 IA : 89 80 98 98 KS : 78 65 79 84 KY : 74 64 84 78 LA : 97 91 100 97 MI : 98 92 99 94 MN : 97 89 99 98 MS : 98 96 100 100 MO : 57 41 84 86 NE : 93 77 96 97 NC : 67 51 65 65 ND : 100 96 100 99 OH : 96 85 100 96 SD : 95 73 94 95 TN : 87 77 90 91 WI : 90 75 96 90 : 18 Sts: 88 75 95 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 81 67 96 95 CA : 80 60 84 80 LA : 99 97 100 99 MS : 88 81 100 99 MO : 93 91 96 93 TX : 99 98 100 100 : 6 Sts : 85 74 95 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 0 5 3 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 44 35 65 65 MS : 1 0 5 4 MO : 0 0 1 1 TX : 66 55 67 67 : 6 Sts : 10 8 15 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 96 91 94 95 AZ : 97 94 100 99 AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 92 90 97 97 GA : 96 95 99 99 KS : 90 80 100 89 LA : 100 96 100 100 MS : 100 98 100 100 MO : 100 100 98 99 NC : 95 93 100 98 OK : 88 81 73 90 SC : 95 88 90 91 TN : 100 99 100 100 TX : 79 71 81 88 VA : 100 95 100 99 : 15 Sts: 89 84 90 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 30 15 26 17 AZ : 45 30 45 42 AR : 7 4 37 21 CA : 12 8 24 22 GA : 11 4 12 15 KS : 0 0 0 3 LA : 45 30 35 39 MS : 12 5 48 34 MO : 4 2 33 15 NC : 8 1 14 8 OK : 5 3 5 10 SC : 3 1 10 11 TN : 3 1 44 17 TX : 19 18 12 18 VA : 10 8 32 31 : 15 Sts: 16 12 21 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 95 85 92 82 IL : 86 69 99 95 KS : 80 72 91 84 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 83 73 89 94 NE : 91 72 97 92 NM : 74 66 40 54 OK : 58 47 83 78 SD : 87 84 99 97 TX : 86 76 94 85 : 11 Sts: 84 75 92 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 87 77 99 96 CO : 81 70 32 20 IL : 31 27 62 53 KS : 24 14 36 33 LA : 100 99 96 97 MO : 34 21 43 53 NE : 17 1 27 29 NM : 28 19 13 8 OK : 28 25 26 37 SD : 34 19 53 43 TX : 66 65 80 64 : 11 Sts: 46 40 56 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 36 16 83 66 CO : 4 1 7 2 IL : 0 0 13 5 KS : 2 1 1 3 LA : 98 87 91 85 MO : 1 0 8 7 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 2 1 OK : 10 8 5 10 SD : 0 0 3 1 TX : 60 59 58 56 : 11 Sts: 28 26 29 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 NA 29 18 CO : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 51 NA 69 56 MO : 0 NA 1 0 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NM : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 1 NA 1 2 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 57 NA 47 52 : 11 Sts: 23 NA 21 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 38 22 70 59 MN : 75 39 99 85 MT : 60 29 87 70 ND : 81 56 93 82 WA : 51 50 82 82 : 5 Sts : 66 42 87 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 97 91 100 100 MN : 82 57 98 91 NE : 99 95 100 100 ND : 77 57 84 78 OH : 100 100 100 98 PA : 96 91 94 90 SD : 97 81 100 99 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 86 68 99 93 : 9 Sts : 88 74 95 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 71% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 24,:Aug 17,:Aug 24,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 33 18 74 62 MN : 45 15 92 73 MT : 61 37 82 68 ND : 62 33 79 68 SD : 91 66 99 98 WA : 56 51 85 83 : 6 Sts : 61 35 83 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 14 34 34 11 IL : 1 4 21 53 21 IN : 3 9 24 45 19 IA : 2 8 25 49 16 KS : 2 7 34 47 10 KY : 1 9 30 43 17 MI : 11 11 28 34 16 MN : 6 8 24 52 10 MO : 4 12 32 42 10 NE : 2 5 18 54 21 NC : 22 28 30 17 3 ND : 3 6 24 51 16 OH : 6 14 32 38 10 PA : 1 7 27 50 15 SD : 1 4 16 51 28 TN : 3 16 35 40 6 TX : 20 14 26 36 4 WI : 4 11 23 48 14 : 18 Sts : 4 8 24 48 16 : Prev Wk : 3 7 23 49 18 Prev Yr : 6 10 25 43 16 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 11 34 37 14 IL : 1 5 26 55 13 IN : 4 10 27 44 15 IA : 2 8 27 48 15 KS : 1 5 27 52 15 KY : 2 10 34 40 14 LA : 4 12 36 43 5 MI : 8 18 25 35 14 MN : 4 6 25 52 13 MS : 6 10 27 42 15 MO : 4 14 37 36 9 NE : 1 5 22 59 13 NC : 5 18 40 29 8 ND : 1 4 14 59 22 OH : 7 15 35 36 7 SD : 0 2 17 55 26 TN : 13 20 31 34 2 WI : 2 7 27 49 15 : 18 Sts : 3 9 27 47 14 : Prev Wk : 3 8 27 47 15 Prev Yr : 6 11 28 41 14 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 1 33 51 14 FL : 0 0 12 60 28 GA : 2 7 30 48 13 NC : 0 7 26 58 9 OK : 0 2 23 69 6 SC : 0 4 36 57 3 TX : 0 6 31 52 11 VA : 0 11 22 60 7 : 8 Sts : 1 5 28 53 13 : Prev Wk : 1 5 32 49 13 Prev Yr : 6 17 35 35 7 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 5 26 51 18 CA : 1 4 29 51 15 LA : 0 4 24 60 12 MS : 0 3 12 48 37 MO : 0 1 9 44 46 TX : 1 1 21 61 16 : 6 Sts : 0 4 24 52 20 : Prev Wk : 1 4 23 54 18 Prev Yr : 0 3 27 50 20 -------------------------------------- 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 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 14 39 39 6 AZ : 0 1 19 62 18 AR : 1 6 35 44 14 CA : 0 1 6 31 62 GA : 5 10 33 42 10 KS : 5 10 30 45 10 LA : 5 13 42 39 1 MS : 6 7 26 42 19 MO : 3 8 25 56 8 NC : 2 13 35 40 10 OK : 4 16 48 30 2 SC : 9 13 46 30 2 TN : 0 8 34 53 5 TX : 10 18 34 31 7 VA : 0 8 46 40 6 : 15 Sts : 6 13 33 37 11 : Prev Wk : 6 14 32 37 11 Prev Yr : 6 14 31 37 12 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 6 40 41 12 CO : 4 15 50 30 1 IL : 0 3 19 66 12 KS : 1 6 29 52 12 LA : 0 11 44 42 3 MO : 1 5 42 46 6 NE : 0 3 20 55 22 NM : 0 7 65 26 2 OK : 3 18 33 41 5 SD : 1 5 23 56 15 TX : 6 16 38 35 5 : 11 Sts : 3 10 34 44 9 : Prev Wk : 3 11 32 45 9 Prev Yr : 2 7 27 51 13 -------------------------------------- Spring Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 1 4 26 64 5 MN : 0 1 14 58 27 MT : 5 17 36 37 5 ND : 6 14 29 37 14 SD : 2 5 23 52 18 WA : 11 33 43 12 1 : 6 Sts : 5 12 28 41 14 : Prev Wk : 5 11 28 44 12 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Barley: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 24, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 1 7 22 66 4 MN : 1 2 23 53 21 MT : 2 8 41 42 7 ND : 5 12 34 39 10 WA : 12 17 46 24 1 : 5 Sts : 4 10 34 44 8 : Prev Wk : 4 10 34 44 8 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 24, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 9 20 35 30 6 :: NJ : 0 5 65 30 0 AZ : 8 32 32 22 6 :: NM : 5 12 35 36 12 AR : 0 6 35 49 10 :: NY : 1 3 15 58 23 CA : 80 20 0 0 0 :: NC : 19 32 28 18 3 CO : 15 28 38 17 2 :: ND : 19 31 29 19 2 CT : 2 3 19 56 20 :: OH : 8 19 37 33 3 DE : 16 56 22 5 1 :: OK : 3 12 37 40 8 FL : 5 5 25 55 10 :: OR : 20 24 38 18 0 GA : 11 22 36 27 4 :: PA : 7 12 38 37 6 ID : 3 19 41 34 3 :: RI : 0 15 30 35 20 IL : 1 5 33 56 5 :: SC : 18 23 36 22 1 IN : 8 16 33 34 9 :: SD : 0 5 26 54 15 IA : 3 9 31 48 9 :: TN : 23 31 28 17 1 KS : 5 10 25 51 9 :: TX : 12 24 38 22 4 KY : 14 26 37 22 1 :: UT : 6 15 24 48 7 LA : 2 15 41 37 5 :: VT : 0 15 31 43 11 ME : 1 2 11 85 1 :: VA : 23 28 36 12 1 MD : 12 19 38 25 6 :: WA : 5 48 21 25 1 MA : 0 0 66 34 0 :: WV : 0 14 43 42 1 MI : 20 28 27 17 8 :: WI : 13 25 27 32 3 MN : 12 19 36 31 2 :: WY : 1 15 42 34 8 MS : 3 13 30 42 12 :: : MO : 2 9 32 47 10 :: 48 Sts : 12 18 31 33 6 MT : 9 28 36 20 7 :: : NE : 2 12 29 49 8 :: Prev Wk: 12 17 31 34 6 NV : 7 20 50 21 2 :: Prev Yr: 17 19 28 28 8 NH : 0 1 27 51 21 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Corn- Dough, Dented, Mature, 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- Setting Pods, Dropping Leaves, Condition Spring Wheat- Harvested 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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