We 1 (9-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 9, 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 31 - September 6, 2008 Highlights: Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna became the fourth and fifth consecutive named Atlantic Basin storms to make landfall in the U.S., following Hurricane Dolly (July 23 in Texas), Tropical Storm Edouard (August 5 in Texas), and Tropical Storm Fay (four Florida landfalls from August 18- 23). The last time five consecutive Atlantic storms struck the U.S. was 2004, when Frances, Gaston, Hermine, Ivan, and Jeanne made landfall (not in alphabetical order) between August 29 and September 25. On September 1, Gustav reached the Gulf Coast just south of Houma, LA, as a category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 110 m.p.h. Gustav cut through a portion of Louisiana's sugarcane region, which typically accounts for about half of the nation's sugarcane acreage and about 40 percent of production. The majority of sorghum and nearly half of the rice in Louisiana 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. Later, Hanna reached the Atlantic Coast near the South Carolina-North Carolina border early on September 6 with maximum sustained winds near 70 m.p.h. Cotton bolls were just starting to open in the Southeast, helping to reduce the threat of significant harm to the crop. From September 5-7, Hanna produced gusty winds and dropped as much as 2 to 8 inches of rain from the eastern Carolinas into southern New England. Although Hanna departed quickly, reaching coastal New England by early September 7, Gustav's remnant circulation lingered across the Mid-South on September 2-3 before finally crossing the central Corn Belt on September 4. Local rainfall totals as high as 10 to 20 inches drenched Louisiana and Arkansas and the southwestern half of Mississippi, causing extensive flooding. Much of Missouri received 4 to 6 inches of rain, while widespread 2- to 4-inch totals were reported in Illinois and Michigan. In Gustav's wake, late-developing crops in the central Corn Belt benefited from the boost in topsoil moisture. However, much of the eastern Corn Belt and the upper Mississippi Valley remained unfavorably dry. Farther west, widespread showers on the Plains slowed fieldwork but continued to boost moisture reserves in preparation for the upcoming winter wheat establishment season. In addition, unusually cool weather prevailed on the Plains. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees F below normal across parts of the northern Plains, where readings near the freezing mark (32 degrees F) were reported on September 2-3. Elsewhere, cool weather lingered early in the week across the West, followed by a rapid warming trend. From September 3-7, readings above 100 degrees F were common as far north as California's Sacramento Valley. Following an early-week round of briefly heavy showers across the Intermountain West, dry weather in most areas from the Rockies westward promoted fieldwork and summer crop maturation. Early in the week, Gustav hammered the central Gulf Coast region. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, a wind gust to 117 m.p.h. was recorded at Southwest Pass, LA, on September 1. Other gusts associated with the hurricane included 91 m.p.h. in Baton Rouge, LA, and 74 m.p.h. in Gulfport, MS. At the height of the storm, reportedly 850,000 customers--mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi--lost electrical service. September 1-3 rainfall totaled 11.09 inches in Greenville, MS, while a few totals near 20 inches were reported in Louisiana locations such as Franklin (St. Mary Parish) and Jonesville (Catahoula Parish). Elsewhere in Louisiana, Monroe (7.40 inches on September 2) experienced its wettest September day on record (previously, 7.23 inches on September 15, 1978). In Arkansas, Bismarck set a record for its wettest day (8.50 inches on September 3) and wettest 4-day period (11.50 inches from September 1-4). Rain eventually reached the Midwest, where daily-record amounts for September 4 included 3.25 inches in Muskegon, MI; 3.06 inches in St. Louis, MO, and 2.78 inches in Peoria, IL. Prior to Gustav's arrival, the warmest weather of the year covered parts of the Midwest. In Michigan, Grand Rapids' warmest day of 2008 occurred on September 2, when the high reached 92 degrees F. Since 1897, Grand Rapids' warmest day of the year has been observed in September only six times. Madison, WI, attained the 90-degree mark for the first time this year on September 2, when the high reached 92 degrees F. In the last century, the only years Madison failed to reach 90 degrees F were 1915, 1924, and 2004. Marquette, MI, reached 90 degrees F for the first time this year on August 31, then attained 90 degrees F again on September 2. Farther west, however, snow accompanied a surge of cold air into the northern Rockies, with accumulations of up to 3 to 5 inches reported in western Montana on August 31 and September 1. On the northern Plains, daily-record rainfall totals for September 1 included 2.50 inches in Fargo, ND, and 1.01 inches in Harlem, MT. The following day, record lows for September 2 in Montana dipped to 30 degrees F in both Choteau and Shelby. In Wyoming, Casper posted consecutive daily-record lows of 32 degrees F on September 2-3. By September 4, daily- record lows on the central High Plains included 36 degrees F in Sidney, NE, and 39 degrees F in Pueblo, CO. In contrast, record heat spread into the East and developed in California. Record highs for September 4 soared to 97 degrees F in Georgetown, DE, and 101 degrees F in Kentfield, CA. The week ended on a hot note in California, where records for September 6 surged to 115 degrees F in Thermal and 107 degrees F in Paso Robles. At week's end, Hanna took aim on the East Coast. In coastal North Carolina, winds gusts on the morning of September 6 were clocked to 72 m.p.h. on Wrightsville Beach, 70 m.p.h. at Cedar Point and 67 m.p.h. in Surf City. A few rainfall totals in excess of 8 inches were noted in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain, while daily-record amounts for September 6 included 3.64 inches in Newark, NJ, and 3.26 inches in New York's Central Park. Mild, mostly dry weather prevailed in both Hawaii and across the Alaskan mainland. On September 1, daily-record highs in Alaska included 67 degrees F in Bethel and 66 degrees F in Nome. However, heavy rain developed at week's end in southern Alaska, where Kodiak (2.58 inches) netted a daily-record sum for September 6. Meanwhile, Fairbanks, AK, collected a rainfall total of 0.02 inch on September 5, representing its first measurable amount since August 17. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary September 1 - 7, 2008 Corn: Portions of the northern Great Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley received significant rainfall during the week. Temperatures in the Corn Belt remained cooler than normal west of the Mississippi and warmer than normal eastward. Corn acreage at or beyond the dough stage reached 91 percent, 7 points behind last year and 5 points behind normal. In Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, progress remained 15, 3, and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. Elsewhere, development was at or behind the normal pace. Development to the dough stage was complete in North Carolina and Tennessee. Sixty-two percent of the acreage reached the dent stage, 25 points behind last year and 17 points behind the 5-year average. Acreage was reaching the dent stage behind the average in all States except Colorado and Michigan. In the central Corn Belt and North Dakota, development to the dent stage was furthest behind. Eleven percent of the corn crop was mature, 27 points behind last year and 17 points behind the 5-year average. Corn condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent, the same as last week. Soybeans: Temperatures were up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than average east of the Mississippi, while to the west, temperatures reached up to 4 degrees warmer than the average. Precipitation received across much of the major soybean-producing area ranged from a half-inch to four inches; however, larger amounts fell in the Delta. Pod-setting had occurred on 97 percent of the acreage, 2 points behind last year and the average. Pod-setting was within 5 points of normal, except in Missouri, where development was 18 points behind the 5-year average. Ten percent of the Nation's acreage was dropping leaves, 17 points behind last year and 11 points behind the average. Progress was at or behind normal in all States except Michigan. Major producing areas were facing significant delays. Condition of the crop was rated 57 percent good to excellent, the same as the previous week. Cotton: Significant rain fell throughout the Delta, while elsewhere only limited precipitation was received. Average temperature across the major cotton States ranged from 65 degrees in the Texas Plains, to 85 degrees in South Texas and parts of Georgia. Ninety-seven percent of the National cotton acreage was setting bolls, 2 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. In most States, boll-setting was complete. Bolls were opening on 29 percent of the acreage, 14 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. Crop condition ratings declined 1 point from last week to 49 percent good to excellent. Sorghum: Major sorghum areas received rainfall during the week, and temperatures ranged from up to 10 degrees below average in the Oklahoma panhandle and much of Kansas to 2 degrees above normal in portions of southern Texas. Ninety-three percent of the crop reached heading, 5 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. The 10-point delay in Oklahoma was the most significant delay when compared with other States. Sorghum acreage reaching coloring, at 64 percent, was 16 points behind last year and 4 points behind the average. Kansas sorghum was developing 11 points behind and Oklahoma sorghum was delayed 12 points, while in Texas, the crop was coloring 2 points ahead of the average. Sorghum acres mature reached 34 percent, 6 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. In Kansas and Oklahoma, development was 7 and 5 points behind normal, respectively. However, in Texas, acreage was coloring 4 points ahead of normal. Twenty-eight percent of the acreage was harvested, 5 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Harvest in Texas was 65 percent complete, and was just getting underway in Oklahoma. Harvest had not begun in Kansas. The sorghum condition rating improved 2 points from last week, reaching 53 percent good to excellent. Rice: Up to 10 inches of rain was received in the Delta during the week and temperatures remained cooler than average. In the Sacramento Valley, it was up to 8 degrees warmer than normal with little to no rainfall during the week. Ninety-eight percent of the rice crop reached heading, 1 point behind the previous year but 4 points ahead of the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 14 percent of the acreage, 19 points behind last year and 15 points behind the 5-year average. Though harvest was yet to begin in California and Missouri, it was just underway in Arkansas and Mississippi and was active in Louisiana and Texas. Condition of the rice crop was rated 61 percent good to excellent. This was down 9 points from the previous week, mainly due to excessive rainfall from Hurricane Gustav. Small Grains: Barley producers had harvested 85 percent of the crop, 13 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest in North Dakota was 2 points ahead of the 5-year average, however in Idaho and Montana harvest progress was 20 and 16 points behind, respectively. Spring wheat harvest reached 87 percent complete, 11 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Progress in Minnesota and North Dakota was within 1 point of normal; however, significant delays existed in the Northwest. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 98 93 93 83 IL : 95 91 100 99 IN : 94 89 99 97 IA : 82 75 97 96 KS : 97 91 100 99 KY : 99 93 100 99 MI : 90 85 93 87 MN : 94 73 100 95 MO : 92 85 100 100 NE : 94 92 99 98 NC : 100 97 100 100 ND : 82 58 98 90 OH : 92 78 94 95 PA : 90 86 92 87 SD : 93 83 99 96 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 98 97 100 100 WI : 76 61 92 84 : 18 Sts: 91 83 98 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 57 42 52 51 IL : 60 48 96 88 IN : 61 42 85 77 IA : 50 33 87 82 KS : 85 68 96 92 KY : 85 78 97 92 MI : 68 47 69 58 MN : 61 24 94 76 MO : 72 57 95 95 NE : 70 63 89 83 NC : 96 88 99 97 ND : 34 14 76 65 OH : 63 44 76 70 PA : 62 50 67 64 SD : 63 36 82 72 TN : 98 95 100 100 TX : 90 89 100 96 WI : 31 20 67 52 : 18 Sts: 62 45 87 79 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 11 4 8 10 IL : 4 2 61 37 IN : 8 0 36 24 IA : 3 1 34 24 KS : 28 15 56 54 KY : 61 29 82 68 MI : 10 4 17 11 MN : 2 0 26 13 MO : 17 9 71 70 NE : 5 2 23 16 NC : 84 67 93 87 ND : 1 0 15 13 OH : 10 5 8 8 PA : 25 18 32 24 SD : 2 1 20 13 TN : 58 38 99 83 TX : 66 65 79 78 WI : 5 0 14 7 : 18 Sts: 11 6 38 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 93 100 99 CA : 95 90 94 73 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 97 95 100 100 MO : 99 97 100 100 TX : 100 100 100 100 : 6 Sts : 98 94 99 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 2 27 19 CA : 0 0 7 4 LA : 48 45 79 83 MS : 8 2 35 29 MO : 0 0 17 8 TX : 90 80 84 88 : 6 Sts : 14 12 33 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 98 94 100 99 IL : 100 95 100 100 IN : 97 93 100 100 IA : 99 95 100 100 KS : 93 88 98 98 KY : 92 88 98 95 LA : 100 99 100 100 MI : 100 100 100 99 MN : 99 99 100 100 MS : 100 99 100 100 MO : 80 69 98 98 NE : 99 96 100 100 NC : 85 76 82 87 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 100 100 100 100 SD : 100 99 100 100 TN : 97 93 99 99 WI : 100 98 100 100 : 18 Sts: 97 94 99 99 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 8 5 33 30 IL : 2 0 29 18 IN : 18 6 35 25 IA : 5 1 20 18 KS : 9 1 25 24 KY : 7 3 17 11 LA : 52 39 68 55 MI : 11 2 5 8 MN : 5 0 36 22 MS : 40 29 70 71 MO : 2 1 13 11 NE : 3 0 5 9 NC : 6 3 15 9 ND : 12 5 37 28 OH : 20 9 22 20 SD : 26 12 34 38 TN : 23 12 57 33 WI : 5 0 11 10 : 18 Sts: 10 4 27 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 100 99 99 100 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 95 94 99 99 GA : 98 96 100 100 KS : 100 100 100 94 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 100 NC : 100 96 100 100 OK : 99 98 99 99 SC : 100 97 100 98 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 95 89 97 97 VA : 100 100 100 100 : 15 Sts: 97 94 99 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 53 44 54 46 AZ : 70 60 66 67 AR : 28 18 71 56 CA : 25 20 47 39 GA : 37 19 28 42 KS : 15 10 1 12 LA : 65 57 72 69 MS : 39 25 81 71 MO : 28 16 83 43 NC : 35 11 67 44 OK : 29 11 15 29 SC : 19 7 36 32 TN : 25 11 87 46 TX : 21 20 24 27 VA : 31 18 63 60 : 15 Sts: 29 21 43 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 67 53 93 87 MN : 95 92 100 93 MT : 76 75 99 92 ND : 97 93 100 95 WA : 75 62 99 98 : 5 Sts : 85 79 98 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 75 54 96 91 MN : 87 84 100 88 MT : 82 80 96 90 ND : 87 81 97 88 SD : 100 97 100 100 WA : 83 67 98 98 : 6 Sts : 87 81 98 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 100 99 100 95 IL : 100 94 100 99 KS : 92 86 99 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 88 97 99 NE : 99 98 100 98 NM : 82 81 48 71 OK : 80 68 93 90 SD : 97 93 100 100 TX : 93 87 99 93 : 11 Sts: 93 88 98 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 93 100 99 CO : 91 87 50 44 IL : 39 37 88 84 KS : 52 40 74 63 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 52 38 69 79 NE : 45 30 78 67 NM : 43 38 38 28 OK : 45 39 51 57 SD : 67 54 88 79 TX : 73 67 89 71 : 11 Sts: 64 55 80 68 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 79 66 98 89 CO : 20 10 18 14 IL : 0 0 59 38 KS : 5 3 7 12 LA : 100 99 99 97 MO : 10 3 28 32 NE : 0 0 6 5 NM : 1 1 4 4 OK : 20 16 15 25 SD : 2 0 17 11 TX : 66 61 76 62 : 11 Sts: 34 30 40 37 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 7, :Aug 31,:Sep 7, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 3 75 58 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 7 2 KS : 0 0 1 3 LA : 74 68 90 85 MO : 1 0 7 6 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 8 3 4 9 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 65 60 71 59 : 11 Sts: 28 25 33 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 7 13 30 36 14 IL : 2 4 22 55 17 IN : 4 12 27 43 14 IA : 3 9 27 47 14 KS : 2 8 32 48 10 KY : 1 6 28 40 25 MI : 10 13 32 31 14 MN : 6 9 22 53 10 MO : 4 13 33 40 10 NE : 2 4 19 54 21 NC : 21 24 31 21 3 ND : 2 7 24 54 13 OH : 9 19 37 28 7 PA : 1 10 26 44 19 SD : 1 5 15 51 28 TN : 3 15 34 42 6 TX : 16 16 26 38 4 WI : 6 12 35 39 8 : 18 Sts : 4 9 26 47 14 : Prev Wk : 4 9 26 46 15 Prev Yr : 6 10 23 44 17 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 14 34 36 13 IL : 3 5 25 54 13 IN : 7 12 35 36 10 IA : 2 9 29 46 14 KS : 0 4 28 50 18 KY : 3 14 31 37 15 LA : 20 22 33 25 0 MI : 7 19 31 30 13 MN : 5 8 23 53 11 MS : 5 11 30 39 15 MO : 5 15 36 36 8 NE : 2 6 23 56 13 NC : 3 12 34 43 8 ND : 1 5 17 57 20 OH : 9 22 39 26 4 SD : 1 3 18 51 27 TN : 9 18 32 38 3 WI : 5 11 36 40 8 : 18 Sts : 4 10 29 44 13 : Prev Wk : 4 10 29 44 13 Prev Yr : 6 11 27 42 14 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 1 29 52 16 FL : 0 0 17 69 14 GA : 2 4 30 52 12 NC : 0 3 34 55 8 OK : 0 3 26 65 6 SC : 0 4 19 66 11 TX : 1 4 25 58 12 VA : 0 10 40 44 6 : 8 Sts : 1 3 28 56 12 : Prev Wk : 1 5 31 50 13 Prev Yr : 6 13 34 37 10 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 8 31 44 15 CA : 1 5 30 50 14 LA : 6 22 39 27 6 MS : 0 3 12 47 38 MO : 0 0 7 48 45 TX : 3 3 28 50 16 : 6 Sts : 2 8 29 44 17 : Prev Wk : 0 5 25 51 19 Prev Yr : 0 3 25 52 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 Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 13 38 41 6 AZ : 0 1 19 64 16 AR : 1 10 33 44 12 CA : 0 1 4 25 70 GA : 4 13 42 34 7 KS : 5 10 25 50 10 LA : 22 24 34 20 0 MS : 6 8 24 43 19 MO : 3 8 24 57 8 NC : 2 10 28 52 8 OK : 4 13 38 34 11 SC : 4 16 36 40 4 TN : 0 7 33 53 7 TX : 9 18 32 31 10 VA : 0 19 40 35 6 : 15 Sts : 6 14 31 37 12 : Prev Wk : 5 14 31 38 12 Prev Yr : 6 14 28 39 13 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 7, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 9 40 38 12 CO : 4 13 45 37 1 IL : 3 2 16 58 21 KS : 1 8 30 50 11 LA : 0 11 44 42 3 MO : 1 5 38 49 7 NE : 1 4 21 52 22 NM : 0 31 33 35 1 OK : 2 17 29 48 4 SD : 3 4 22 55 16 TX : 5 14 36 40 5 : 11 Sts : 3 11 33 44 9 : Prev Wk : 4 11 34 43 8 Prev Yr : 2 7 26 51 14 -------------------------------------- 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 Sep 7, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 4 16 33 39 8 :: NJ : 0 0 70 30 0 AZ : 3 25 33 29 10 :: NM : 5 9 36 39 11 AR : 0 3 28 55 14 :: NY : 0 9 19 57 15 CA : 80 20 0 0 0 :: NC : 10 23 35 28 4 CO : 10 23 40 24 3 :: ND : 19 31 31 17 2 CT : 0 3 26 59 12 :: OH : 17 30 34 18 1 DE : 35 50 10 5 0 :: OK : 2 8 36 46 8 FL : 5 5 20 50 20 :: OR : 22 30 35 13 0 GA : 6 16 39 37 2 :: PA : 13 35 30 20 2 ID : 3 23 44 28 2 :: RI : 0 15 35 30 20 IL : 3 4 34 51 8 :: SC : 9 21 36 33 1 IN : 14 25 33 25 3 :: SD : 1 9 27 48 15 IA : 4 15 34 40 7 :: TN : 13 26 36 24 1 KS : 4 9 30 49 8 :: TX : 9 19 38 28 6 KY : 21 29 33 16 1 :: UT : 4 12 29 46 9 LA : 6 17 41 34 2 :: VT : 0 14 34 50 2 ME : 1 1 20 77 1 :: VA : 10 21 47 22 0 MD : 10 23 39 22 6 :: WA : 13 25 25 35 2 MA : 0 0 42 58 0 :: WV : 1 11 44 41 3 MI : 22 28 28 19 3 :: WI : 16 27 33 23 1 MN : 12 20 32 33 3 :: WY : 2 14 44 34 6 MS : 0 3 44 44 9 :: : MO : 2 7 32 52 7 :: 48 Sts : 11 17 32 34 6 MT : 4 20 39 32 5 :: : NE : 4 11 29 49 7 :: Prev Wk: 12 18 31 33 6 NV : 9 19 47 24 1 :: Prev Yr: 18 18 26 30 8 NH : 2 1 15 73 9 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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- Bolls Opening, Harvested, Condition Pasture and Range- Condition Peanuts- Harvested, Condition Rice- Harvested, Condition Sorghum- Headed, Coloring, Mature, Harvested, Condition Soybeans- Dropping Leaves, Condition Spring Wheat- Harvested Winter Wheat- Planted ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. 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