We 1 (9-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 3, 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 24 - 30, 2008 Highlights: Tropical Depression Fay finally dissipated over the Mid-Atlantic region on August 28, ten days after reaching the Florida Keys. Following 1 to 2 feet of rain, parts of Florida and neighboring areas continued to deal with Fay's aftereffects, which included river flooding and standing water in fields and orange groves. Farther north, Fay's rains were mostly beneficial across the previously drought-stricken Southeast, although showers and strong thunderstorms caused local flood and wind damage. The Atlantic Basin remained active after Fay's final landfall on August 23, with Gustav forming south of Haiti on August 25 and Hanna developing northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on August 28. Gustav became the basin's third hurricane on August 25 and battered southern and western Haiti with sustained winds as high as 90 m.p.h. on August 26-27. The system weakened to a tropical storm while traversing southwestern Haiti, but still lashed Jamaica with heavy rain and sustained winds of 65 to 70 m.p.h. on August 28-29. Thereafter, Gustav rapidly strengthened over the northwestern Caribbean Sea, tearing into western Cuba on the evening of August 30 as a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds near 150 m.p.h. Gustav lost some strength while crossing Cuba, but remained a category 3 hurricane until shortly before landfall. During the late-morning hours of September 1, Gustav made landfall just south of Houma, LA, as a category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 110 m.p.h. Gustav cut through Louisiana's sugarcane region, which typically accounts for about half of the nation's sugarcane acreage and about 40 percent of production. A significant portion of sorghum and rice in the hurricane-affected area was already harvested at the time of Gustav's landfall. In the Delta and neighboring areas, cotton bolls that were opening were buffeted by gusty winds and soaked by heavy rain. Meanwhile in the Corn Belt, scattered showers associated with a cold front provided local relief to corn and soybeans that had been stressed by short- term dryness. Despite abundant subsoil moisture, some Midwestern crops have suffered during an August dry spell due to the combination of diminishing topsoil moisture and unusually shallow-rooted plants. Farther west, hot, mostly dry weather across the nation's mid-section promoted spring wheat harvesting on the northern Plains and summer crop maturation on the central and southern Plains. The Plains' weather also favored winter wheat planting preparations and initial planting efforts. Elsewhere, hot, dry weather in California and the Great Basin contrasted with occasional showers in the Desert Southwest and from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. At week's end, monsoon moisture was drawn northward in advance of a cold front, resulting in scattered showers from the Southwest and Intermountain West into the northern Rockies. Late-week rainfall also developed in the Rio Grande Valley, where local flooding occurred. Heavy rain associated with Fay's remnants spread slowly northeastward as the week progressed. Mobile, AL (4.73 inches), collected a daily-record total for August 25, followed the next day by the wettest August day on record in Charlotte, NC (5.36 inches; previously, 4.64 inches during a hurricane's strike on August 28, 1893). Later, daily-record amounts for August 26 included 4.01 inches in Asheville, NC, and 3.93 inches in Crossville, TN. On August 27, Greensboro, NC, experienced its wettest August day (4.94 inches; previously, 4.52 inches associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Jerry on August 27, 1995). It was also the wettest August day on record in Danville, VA, where the 5.81-inch total on August 27 surpassed the 4.52-inch sum associated with the remnants of Hurricane Cleo on August 31, 1964. Elsewhere in Virginia, Richmond netted consecutive daily-record totals on August 28-29 (2.34 and 2.88 inches, respectively). By week's end, locally heavy rain reached the Northeast, where New York's LaGuardia Airport received a daily-record total (1.89 inches) for August 30. By month's end, Fay was largely responsible for record-high August rainfall totals in Florida locations such as Melbourne (21.06 inches; previously, 19.05 inches in 1995), Vero Beach (18.91 inches; previously, 18.26 inches in 1981), and Tallahassee (16.52 inches; previously, 15.73 inches in 1977). It was also Melbourne's wettest month on record, edging the September 1948 standard of 20.23 inches. Florida's Lake Okeechobee posted a record-setting 1-week rise, with the average surface elevation climbing 2.29 feet during the week ending August 26. The previous record of 1.72 feet was set during the week ending October 6, 1951. Farther west, it was the wettest August in Jackson, MS (11.51 inches; previously, 11.39 inches in 1942), while a streak of 21 consecutive months (November 2006 - July 2008) with below-normal precipitation came to an end in Huntsville, AL. With a 2.19-inch rainfall total on August 25, Huntsville also recorded its wettest day since November 15, 2006, when 2.31 inches fell. Elsewhere, an early-week chill across the northern Plains and the Midwest was replaced by late-week heat, while much of the West experienced several days of hot weather. On August 24, Grand Forks, ND (39 degrees F), posted a daily-record low. The following day, record lows in Wisconsin for August 25 included 31 degrees F in Minocqua, 32 degrees F in Merrill, and 34 degrees F in Rhinelander. By week's end, however, daily-record highs in North Dakota for August 30 soared to 101 degrees F in Dickinson and 100 degrees F in Bismarck. In the Midwest, Rockford, IL, experienced its first June-August period on record without 90-degree heat, but reached 90 degrees F for the first time this year on September 1. Farther west, triple-digit heat was noted early in the week as far north as Montana, where both Miles City and Billings collected daily-record highs of 103 degrees F on August 25. Later, August 28 featured daily-record highs in California locations such as Red Bluff (110 degrees F), Paso Robles (107 degrees F), and San Jose (101 degrees F). A day later, records for August 29 included 107 degrees F in Modesto, CA, and 100 degrees F in Reno, NV. Toward week's end, heavy rain developed in the Rio Grande Valley and neighboring areas. Among the hardest-hit locations was Del Rio, TX, where the 6.09-inch rainfall on August 29 represented its second-wettest August day behind the Tropical Storm Charley- fueled 17.03-inch deluge on August 23, 1998. Both Alaska and Hawaii experienced relatively tranquil weather, with generally light precipitation. Alaska trended toward the cool side, with temperatures as much as 5 degrees F below normal. In western Alaska, Nome registered consecutive lows of 29 degrees F on August 28-29, then completed an unusually dry month (0.56 inch, or 17 percent of normal; driest August since 1971). In Hawaii, Hilo (on the Big Island) received just 3.72 inches of rain (38 percent of normal) during August. During a brief period of heavier showers, Piihonua (also on the Big Island) netted 1.18 inches in a 24-hour period on August 27-28. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary August 25 - 31, 2008 Corn: Dryness continued during the week in the Corn Belt as temperatures remained within 2 degrees Fahrenheit of normal, other than a 4-degree difference in some isolated areas. Corn at or beyond the dough stage reached 83 percent, 12 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Major advancement was evident in Colorado, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Acreage in Colorado was reaching dough 9 points ahead of last year and 22 points ahead of normal, while in North Dakota, development was 37 points behind last year and 24 points behind the 5-year average. All other States were within 15 points of average, but mostly behind. Development to the denting stage, at 45 percent, was 30 points behind last year and 20 points behind the 5-year average. In Michigan, 29 percent of the acreage moved into the dent stage during the week. Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania corn was denting ahead of the average pace, but all other States remained behind. In Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and North Dakota, corn acreage was developing to the dent stage 30 or more points behind the 5-year average. Six percent of the Nation's acreage reached maturity, 15 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. While progress in the Ohio Valley was slightly ahead of normal, all remaining States were at or behind the average pace. Corn condition ratings declined 3 points to 61 percent good to excellent. Soybeans: Most of the Nation's soybean growing area remained dry. Warmer than normal temperatures prevailed in the northern Great Plains, with southern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota getting up to 6 degrees above normal. In the central Corn Belt and Delta, temperatures were slightly cooler than average. Nationwide, development to pod-setting reached 94 percent, 4 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Other than a 25-point delay in Missouri, all States were within 4 points of average. Pod-setting was complete in Michigan, North Dakota, and Ohio, and nearly complete in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Four percent of the soybean acreage was dropping leaves by week's end, 8 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Delays of 32 and 16 points were evident in Mississippi and Arkansas, respectively, however the rest of the soybean-producing States were within 10 points of the 5-year average. Condition ratings declined 4 points to 57 percent good to excellent. Cotton: Ninety-four percent of the Nation's cotton acreage was setting bolls by week's end, 2 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. While boll-setting was 10 points ahead of average in Kansas, development was within 5 points of the 5-year average, elsewhere. Bolls were opening on 21 percent of the Nation's acreage, 11 points behind last year and 7 points behind the 5-year average. In Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, and Louisiana, bolls were opening ahead of the 5-year average. Elsewhere, development was behind, and in Mississippi and Virginia, bolls were opening more than 25 points behind the 5-year average. Cotton condition was rated 50 percent good to excellent, a 2 point improvement from the previous week. Sorghum: Heading of the sorghum crop, at 88 percent complete, was 8 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Sorghum heading ranged from 16 points ahead of normal in New Mexico to 17 points behind average in Oklahoma. Heading was complete in the Delta. Sorghum coloring reached 55 percent, 13 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Thirty percent of the sorghum acreage reached maturity, 4 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Progress in all States except Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas was behind the normal pace. A quarter of the Nation's acreage had been harvested, 2 points behind last year but equal to the average pace. Harvest was active in the Delta and on the southern Great Plains, and was most advanced in Louisiana and Texas. Sorghum condition, at 51 percent good to excellent, declined 2 points from the previous week. Rice: Ninety-four percent of the rice acreage was heading, 3 points behind last year and normal. Heading was complete in Louisiana and Texas. Producers had harvested 12 percent of the rice acreage, 11 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Other than in Texas, where rice growers reaped 14 percent of the crop during the week, progress was slow and remained behind the normal pace. The lag was most significant in Louisiana, where progress was 30 points behind the 5-year average. Rice condition was rated 70 percent good to excellent, 2 points below last week. Small Grains: Barley producers had harvested 79 percent of their crop, 16 points behind last year's pace and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Progress was 22 points behind in Idaho and 30 points behind in Washington, when compared with the 5-year average. Elsewhere, producers were reaping the crop within 8 points of the average pace. Oat harvest reached 96 complete, 3 points behind last year and the same as the 5-year average. Harvest was within 1 point of normal in all States except Minnesota, where progress was 3 points behind. Harvest was complete in several States, and was within 10 points of completion elsewhere. Eighty one percent of the spring wheat crop was harvested, 12 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Major delays were evident in Idaho and Washington, where harvest progress was 26 points behind the 5-year average. Progress was near the normal pace in all other States. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 93 60 84 71 IL : 91 82 99 97 IN : 89 72 97 94 IA : 75 53 91 90 KS : 91 89 99 97 KY : 93 82 100 99 MI : 85 75 86 79 MN : 73 44 98 86 MO : 85 79 99 98 NE : 92 85 96 95 NC : 97 95 100 98 ND : 58 32 95 82 OH : 78 69 89 90 PA : 86 73 83 81 SD : 83 62 92 88 TN : 100 99 100 100 TX : 97 96 99 99 WI : 61 46 86 74 : 18 Sts: 83 68 95 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 42 26 36 32 IL : 48 29 89 78 IN : 42 22 74 64 IA : 33 13 72 64 KS : 68 53 90 81 KY : 78 54 94 89 MI : 47 18 48 39 MN : 24 8 84 59 MO : 57 46 87 89 NE : 63 42 75 69 NC : 88 78 95 92 ND : 14 2 57 47 OH : 44 20 61 52 PA : 50 39 53 49 SD : 36 12 63 51 TN : 95 88 99 99 TX : 89 82 96 92 WI : 20 4 51 34 : 18 Sts: 45 26 75 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 NA 2 4 IL : 2 NA 36 19 IN : 0 NA 21 12 IA : 1 NA 13 9 KS : 15 NA 35 35 KY : 29 NA 74 57 MI : 4 NA 6 4 MN : 0 NA 10 4 MO : 9 NA 49 53 NE : 2 NA 8 6 NC : 67 NA 82 72 ND : 0 NA 8 5 OH : 5 NA 6 3 PA : 18 NA 21 14 SD : 1 NA 5 4 TN : 38 NA 94 68 TX : 65 NA 71 72 WI : 0 NA 4 2 : 18 Sts: 6 NA 21 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 81 98 98 CA : 90 80 90 89 LA : 100 99 100 100 MS : 95 88 100 100 MO : 97 93 99 98 TX : 100 99 100 100 : 6 Sts : 94 85 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 0 15 8 CA : 0 0 1 1 LA : 45 44 73 75 MS : 2 1 16 13 MO : 0 0 6 3 TX : 80 66 76 80 : 6 Sts : 12 10 23 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 94 86 100 97 IL : 95 92 99 98 IN : 93 78 99 97 IA : 95 89 100 99 KS : 88 78 91 91 KY : 88 74 91 87 LA : 99 97 100 99 MI : 100 98 100 97 MN : 99 97 100 99 MS : 99 98 100 100 MO : 69 57 93 94 NE : 96 93 99 99 NC : 76 67 76 76 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 100 96 100 99 SD : 99 95 99 99 TN : 93 87 95 96 WI : 98 90 99 95 : 18 Sts: 94 88 98 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 99 96 97 98 AZ : 100 97 100 100 AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 94 92 98 98 GA : 96 96 100 100 KS : 100 90 100 90 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 100 NC : 96 95 100 100 OK : 98 88 91 96 SC : 97 95 97 96 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 89 79 92 94 VA : 100 100 100 100 : 15 Sts: 94 89 96 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 44 30 39 29 AZ : 60 45 57 53 AR : 18 7 56 37 CA : 20 12 36 29 GA : 19 11 19 27 KS : 10 0 0 7 LA : 57 45 52 53 MS : 25 12 69 55 MO : 16 4 62 27 NC : 11 8 41 24 OK : 11 5 8 16 SC : 7 3 23 21 TN : 11 3 71 32 TX : 20 19 17 21 VA : 18 10 45 44 : 15 Sts: 21 16 32 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 99 95 99 90 IL : 94 86 100 98 KS : 86 80 96 90 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 88 83 92 97 NE : 98 91 100 96 NM : 81 74 44 65 OK : 68 58 90 85 SD : 93 87 100 99 TX : 87 86 97 89 : 11 Sts: 88 84 96 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 93 87 100 98 CO : 87 81 41 32 IL : 37 31 82 71 KS : 40 24 57 47 LA : 100 100 99 99 MO : 38 34 54 68 NE : 30 17 56 47 NM : 38 28 25 17 OK : 39 28 33 45 SD : 54 34 78 60 TX : 67 66 81 67 : 11 Sts: 55 46 68 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 66 36 95 80 CO : 10 4 11 6 IL : 0 0 30 18 KS : 3 2 3 5 LA : 99 98 97 92 MO : 3 1 16 18 NE : 0 0 1 1 NM : 1 0 3 3 OK : 16 10 10 18 SD : 0 0 9 4 TX : 61 60 66 59 : 11 Sts: 30 28 34 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 1 59 40 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 2 1 KS : 0 0 0 1 LA : 68 51 84 72 MO : 0 0 4 2 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 3 1 2 5 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 60 57 58 55 : 11 Sts: 25 23 27 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 53 38 85 75 MN : 92 75 100 90 MT : 75 60 95 83 ND : 93 81 98 89 WA : 62 51 92 92 : 5 Sts : 79 66 95 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 97 100 100 MN : 93 82 100 96 NE : 100 99 100 100 ND : 90 77 96 89 OH : 100 100 100 100 PA : 99 96 99 98 SD : 100 97 100 100 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 98 86 100 98 : 9 Sts : 96 88 99 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 71% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Aug 31,:Aug 24,:Aug 31,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 54 33 88 80 MN : 84 45 98 82 MT : 80 61 91 81 ND : 81 62 92 80 SD : 97 91 100 100 WA : 67 56 94 93 : 6 Sts : 81 61 93 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 7 30 44 15 IL : 3 5 24 52 16 IN : 4 10 27 43 16 IA : 2 9 26 48 15 KS : 4 9 36 42 9 KY : 1 11 29 42 17 MI : 14 13 31 27 15 MN : 4 8 24 52 12 MO : 4 12 37 38 9 NE : 2 4 18 54 22 NC : 23 24 31 18 4 ND : 4 8 22 49 17 OH : 7 16 33 35 9 PA : 1 8 24 47 20 SD : 1 4 17 52 26 TN : 3 15 35 41 6 TX : 16 16 26 38 4 WI : 8 17 26 41 8 : 18 Sts : 4 9 26 46 15 : Prev Wk : 4 8 24 48 16 Prev Yr : 6 10 25 44 15 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 13 33 36 13 IL : 3 7 28 52 10 IN : 6 12 33 37 12 IA : 2 8 28 48 14 KS : 1 4 27 49 19 KY : 3 16 38 33 10 LA : 6 15 38 36 5 MI : 10 19 31 33 7 MN : 3 6 26 51 14 MS : 6 8 27 41 18 MO : 4 15 39 34 8 NE : 2 7 25 53 13 NC : 4 15 35 36 10 ND : 2 5 16 53 24 OH : 6 17 39 32 6 SD : 1 2 22 52 23 TN : 11 19 32 35 3 WI : 10 19 21 43 7 : 18 Sts : 4 10 29 44 13 : Prev Wk : 3 9 27 47 14 Prev Yr : 6 11 27 43 13 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 1 31 52 15 FL : 0 4 21 56 19 GA : 1 7 33 48 11 NC : 0 5 37 45 13 OK : 0 2 24 70 4 SC : 0 3 28 58 11 TX : 1 5 28 53 13 VA : 0 12 30 54 4 : 8 Sts : 1 5 31 50 13 : Prev Wk : 1 5 28 53 13 Prev Yr : 7 12 35 37 9 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 6 27 51 16 CA : 1 5 30 50 14 LA : 0 6 30 51 13 MS : 0 3 14 46 37 MO : 0 0 5 47 48 TX : 1 1 21 61 16 : 6 Sts : 0 5 25 51 19 : Prev Wk : 0 4 24 52 20 Prev Yr : 0 3 26 51 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 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 12 40 40 6 AZ : 0 1 19 62 18 AR : 0 7 39 39 15 CA : 0 1 4 25 70 GA : 4 10 36 43 7 KS : 5 10 25 50 10 LA : 5 16 40 38 1 MS : 6 8 21 42 23 MO : 3 8 25 56 8 NC : 1 9 36 45 9 OK : 3 14 40 34 9 SC : 4 15 43 34 4 TN : 0 7 33 53 7 TX : 9 20 31 31 9 VA : 0 12 40 45 3 : 15 Sts : 5 14 31 38 12 : Prev Wk : 6 13 33 37 11 Prev Yr : 6 13 29 39 13 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Aug 31, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 7 42 39 12 CO : 2 8 55 34 1 IL : 0 8 20 68 4 KS : 3 9 29 48 11 LA : 0 11 44 42 3 MO : 1 6 39 48 6 NE : 0 3 23 54 20 NM : 0 7 63 29 1 OK : 1 16 28 51 4 SD : 3 6 21 53 17 TX : 6 16 38 35 5 : 11 Sts : 4 11 34 43 8 : Prev Wk : 3 10 34 44 9 Prev Yr : 2 7 28 50 13 -------------------------------------- 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 31, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 4 17 37 34 8 :: NJ : 0 5 70 25 0 AZ : 3 25 33 29 10 :: NM : 3 11 35 39 12 AR : 0 3 32 56 9 :: NY : 1 4 16 59 20 CA : 80 20 0 0 0 :: NC : 17 23 30 26 4 CO : 10 23 38 26 3 :: ND : 21 32 29 16 2 CT : 0 4 31 50 15 :: OH : 7 25 36 29 3 DE : 48 32 14 5 1 :: OK : 2 9 36 46 7 FL : 0 5 20 65 10 :: OR : 21 30 32 17 0 GA : 8 15 38 37 2 :: PA : 9 21 40 27 3 ID : 3 21 42 31 3 :: RI : 0 15 35 30 20 IL : 3 7 38 46 6 :: SC : 11 21 37 30 1 IN : 12 24 33 24 7 :: SD : 1 7 23 56 13 IA : 4 13 33 43 7 :: TN : 14 25 35 24 2 KS : 7 10 28 47 8 :: TX : 11 23 39 23 4 KY : 24 28 31 16 1 :: UT : 5 13 27 42 13 LA : 4 16 41 36 3 :: VT : 0 0 28 62 10 ME : 1 1 7 70 21 :: VA : 16 26 42 15 1 MD : 14 19 35 26 6 :: WA : 4 49 23 24 0 MA : 0 0 53 47 0 :: WV : 1 7 53 37 2 MI : 27 40 18 12 3 :: WI : 23 33 26 16 2 MN : 11 23 37 28 1 :: WY : 1 13 45 35 6 MS : 3 9 33 40 15 :: : MO : 2 9 34 49 6 :: 48 Sts : 12 18 31 33 6 MT : 4 26 31 29 10 :: : NE : 5 12 28 47 8 :: Prev Wk: 12 18 31 33 6 NV : 8 20 50 21 1 :: Prev Yr: 17 18 27 30 8 NH : 1 2 22 58 17 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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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