We 1 (10-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 15, 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 October 5 - 11, 2008 Highlights: Showers swept across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast, causing temporary fieldwork delays but boosting moisture reserves for winter grain emergence and establishment. Wet conditions lingered along the southern Atlantic Coast for much of the week, but warm, dry weather overspread most areas from the central and southern Plains into the East. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 9 degrees F above normal in the western Corn Belt. Another week without a widespread freeze greatly benefited maturing Midwestern summer crops, which had been highly vulnerable to an early-season cold outbreak. Meanwhile, Midwestern showers provided much-needed moisture for newly planted soft red winter wheat in the Ohio Valley. On the central and southern Plains, mid- to late-week warmth and dryness promoted winter wheat planting and emergence, and allowed harvesting of corn, cotton, peanuts, and sorghum to advance northward. In the Southeast, harvest continued for the aforementioned crops, along with rice and soybeans. Late in the week, a winter-like storm brought markedly colder weather to the northern Plains and the West, along with widespread rain and snow. Significant accumulations of wind-driven snow were reported across the northern Intermountain West and the northern Plains, where fieldwork came to a standstill and livestock stress increased. Elsewhere on the Plains, storm- total rainfall locally ranged from 2 to 4 inches. Late-week temperatures plunged below 20 degrees F across parts of the northern High Plains. Early in the week, locally heavy showers dotted the nation's mid-section. Childress, TX (2.20 inches), collected a daily-record amount for October 5, followed the next day by records in Kearney, NE (3.67 inches), and Fort Smith, AR (2.77 inches). By October 7, rain spread across the South and Midwest, resulting in daily-record totals in locations such as Pine Bluff, AR (4.56 inches); Melbourne, FL (2.91 inches); Tupelo, MS (2.68 inches); and Rochester, MN (1.62 inches). Rochester's total represented its ninth-wettest October day on record and wettest October day since 1997, when 1.81 inches fell on October 12. Similarly, the 3.01-inch total on October 8 in Huntsville, AL, marked its wettest October day since October 25, 1997. It was also Huntsville's wettest day during any month since December 6, 2004, when 3.07 inches fell. In Georgia, Atlanta's 1.80-inch total on October 8 ended a 25-day spell (September 13 - October 7) without measurable rainfall. Atlanta last experienced a longer dry spell (28 days) in October-November 2001. Farther west, record-setting warmth developed in southern California in advance of a winter-like storm. El Cajon, CA (98 and 101 degrees F), notched consecutive daily-record highs on October 7-8. Other daily-record highs in California on October 8 included 103 degrees F in Riverside and 99 degrees F in Santa Ana. Two days later, however, much colder air swept into the West on northwesterly wind gusts that reached 70 m.p.h. on southern California's Whitaker Peak. In the Pacific Northwest, the week ended (on October 10-11) with consecutive daily-record lows in locations such as Astoria, OR (34 and 32 degrees F), and Quillayute, WA (31 and 29 degrees F). Other daily-record lows for October 11 included 25 degrees F in Pendleton, OR; 26 degrees F in Bellingham, WA; and 31 degrees F in Sandberg, CA. Meanwhile, heavy precipitation developed across parts of the northern Plains and northern Intermountain West. Grand Forks, ND (1.16 inches) collected a daily-record rainfall total for October 11. In Idaho, Boise (1.7 inches on October 10) noted its earliest measurable snowfall on record, previously established with a 1.2-inch total on October 12, 1969. Billings, MT, measured 9.3 inches of snow during the last 3 days of the week en route to an October 9-13 storm total of 12.9 inches. Elsewhere in Montana, Glasgow (storm total of 13.6 inches from October 11-13), received more snow (12.8 inches) on October 12 than any other entire October on record. Previously, Glasgow's daily and monthly record for October was 11.5 inches, all of which fell on October 12, 1924. In contrast, the week ended on a warm note in the East, where London, KY (86 degrees F), noted a daily-record high on October 11. In Hawaii, where drought continued to gradually intensify, showers remained light and mostly confined to windward locations. Farther north, stormy weather engulfed southern Alaska, especially late in the week. Cold air trailed the storminess into western Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F below normal. On October 9, King Salmon (1.31 inches) netted a daily-record rainfall, while Bethel (4.0 inches) received a daily-record snowfall. The following day, snowfall records for October 10 were set in locations such as McGrath (4.2 inches) and Bethel (1.3 inches). Very heavy precipitation overspread southeastern Alaska on October 11, when daily-record totals reached 6.42 inches in Port Alexander and 3.37 inches in Pelican. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary October 6 - 12, 2008 Corn: Throughout much of the Corn Belt, precipitation levels remained below 2 inches for the week. However, portions of the Great Plains States received slightly larger amounts. Average temperatures throughout the Corn Belt ranged between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with the cooler temperatures in the northwestern portions of the region. Eighty-six percent of the acreage was mature, 11 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Development was complete in North Carolina and Tennessee, and was nearly complete in Kentucky. Development was at or behind the 5-year average pace in all States except Pennsylvania. Harvest was 21 percent complete, 29 points behind last year and 20 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was most active in the southern Corn Belt. Harvest progress was behind both last year and normal in nearly all States. In Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri, producers faced delays of 43, 30, and 38 points, respectively, when compared with normal. Corn condition ratings improved 1 point during the week to 62 percent good to excellent. Soybeans: Temperatures in soybean-producing areas varied from 75 degrees in the Southeast to as low as 45 degrees in the northern Great Plains. A band of precipitation stretching from Arkansas eastward, brought more than 2 inches of rainfall to many areas. Development of soybean acreage to the leaf-dropping stage reached 91 percent, 5 points behind last year and the 5-year average. The greatest weekly progress was in Missouri, where 21 percent of the crop advanced to the leaf-dropping stage. Harvest of the crop was complete on 51 percent of the acreage, 10 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Producers were harvesting their crop at or behind the average pace in all States except Kansas, Louisiana, and Ohio. Harvest was most active during the week in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. The crop was rated 57 percent good to excellent, unchanged from last week. Winter Wheat: One to two inches of rain fell across much of the Great Plains, aiding newly seeded winter wheat. Producers had planted 73 percent of the winter wheat crop, 4 points ahead of last year's planting pace but the same as the 5-year average. Major planting efforts were evident in Indiana and Ohio, where more than one-fifth of the crop was planted during the week. With 46 percent of the wheat crop emerged, development is 7 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Cotton: Cotton bolls were open on 83 percent of the acreage, 4 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Cotton was fully developed in Arizona and Louisiana. One-fourth of the Nation's cotton had been harvested, 9 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Producers were harvesting well behind the average pace in Mississippi, where progress trailed the 5-year average by 33 points. Harvest had not begun in Kansas and was just getting underway in California, but was in full swing elsewhere. The cotton crop was rated 48 percent good to excellent, a 2 point decline from last week. Sorghum: Ninety-three percent of the sorghum crop was coloring, 7 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Development to the coloring stage was at or behind the average pace in all States except Colorado and Illinois. In Kansas and Texas, coloring had occurred on 95 and 90 percent of the acreage, respectively. Sixty-eight percent of the acreage was mature, 22 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. Forty-three percent of the crop was harvested, 18 points behind last year's harvest pace and 8 points behind the average. In Illinois and South Dakota, harvest was more than 40 points behind schedule. Harvest was complete in Louisiana and nearly complete in Arkansas. Condition of the crop was rated 55 percent good to excellent, 1 point better than last week. Rice: Seventy-nine percent of the rice crop was harvested, 8 points behind last year and 9 points behind the average. Harvest was complete in Texas and behind the average pace elsewhere. Peanuts: Forty-one percent of the peanut crop was harvested, 10 points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Harvest was most advanced in Florida, where 65 percent of the crop was harvested. Harvest was 11 points behind normal in Alabama and North Carolina. Condition of the crop was rated 70 percent good to excellent, a 5 point improvement from the previous week's rating. Other Crops: Forty-five percent of the sugarbeet crop was harvested, 8 points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Michigan sugarbeet producers were harvesting their crop 3 points ahead of the average, while elsewhere, harvest was behind the normal pace. Sunflower harvest was 7 percent complete, 13 points behind last year and 14 points behind the 5-year average. Major activity during the week was limited to Colorado and Kansas, where 11 and 7 percent of the crop was reaped during the week, respectively. Harvest was ahead of the average pace in Colorado but behind in Kansas and the Dakotas. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 88 77 97 92 IL : 88 77 100 99 IN : 88 78 97 94 IA : 84 66 99 99 KS : 92 84 100 99 KY : 99 97 100 99 MI : 87 80 96 89 MN : 83 70 100 96 MO : 91 79 100 100 NE : 79 63 95 93 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 75 63 96 88 OH : 87 82 90 87 PA : 91 78 90 85 SD : 83 75 94 95 TN : 100 98 100 100 TX : 93 89 100 99 WI : 80 51 93 85 : 18 Sts: 86 73 97 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 34 26 35 25 IL : 20 10 80 63 IN : 26 15 54 38 IA : 7 3 33 27 KS : 45 34 79 75 KY : 77 60 94 83 MI : 15 8 25 18 MN : 5 3 41 24 MO : 41 30 82 79 NE : 14 9 34 29 NC : 84 78 95 93 ND : 1 0 23 18 OH : 24 15 22 19 PA : 35 28 38 41 SD : 11 6 32 24 TN : 91 85 99 95 TX : 76 68 92 89 WI : 8 5 27 19 : 18 Sts: 21 14 50 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 93% of last year's corn acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 40 29 56 36 KS : 10 3 25 26 ND : 4 1 14 17 SD : 5 1 22 24 : 4 Sts : 7 3 20 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 86% of last year's sunflower acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 12 2 26 23 MI : 15 11 21 12 MN : 59 38 63 63 ND : 60 44 69 66 : 4 Sts : 45 30 53 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 84% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 67 52 80 80 IL : 91 80 100 98 IN : 95 89 97 97 IA : 94 84 98 99 KS : 88 76 90 92 KY : 91 81 94 93 LA : 96 89 99 94 MI : 97 93 98 96 MN : 100 98 100 100 MS : 92 86 99 99 MO : 69 48 89 92 NE : 97 87 99 99 NC : 56 43 59 61 ND : 100 98 100 100 OH : 100 100 100 98 SD : 100 98 100 100 TN : 90 80 95 89 WI : 97 93 99 96 : 18 Sts: 91 83 96 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 29 19 54 52 IL : 45 22 81 70 IN : 55 38 63 56 IA : 68 37 67 79 KS : 46 21 39 42 KY : 31 18 45 35 LA : 80 70 89 79 MI : 42 20 42 46 MN : 67 46 81 74 MS : 77 60 85 90 MO : 20 9 42 40 NE : 62 32 47 66 NC : 5 2 8 7 ND : 60 37 70 76 OH : 54 36 57 51 SD : 56 42 55 64 TN : 34 24 51 41 WI : 38 18 39 45 : 18 Sts: 51 31 61 61 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 8 6 17 19 CA : 15 13 18 9 CO : 97 88 93 96 ID : 82 67 80 79 IL : 25 10 62 49 IN : 47 24 60 47 KS : 79 64 67 75 MI : 54 39 70 64 MO : 18 7 35 34 MT : 93 82 88 91 NE : 92 85 95 94 NC : 6 5 6 11 OH : 65 39 67 52 OK : 75 59 63 73 OR : 54 35 73 61 SD : 90 76 93 93 TX : 70 54 63 68 WA : 82 73 88 88 : 18 Sts: 73 59 69 73 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 1 3 5 CA : 0 0 0 2 CO : 74 54 68 76 ID : 31 17 34 32 IL : 6 3 15 11 IN : 8 1 20 11 KS : 51 31 34 44 MI : 15 5 31 23 MO : 6 2 13 12 MT : 56 28 50 49 NE : 77 53 73 76 NC : 1 0 0 2 OH : 18 4 25 13 OK : 49 28 32 49 OR : 5 3 44 26 SD : 62 42 67 60 TX : 46 26 33 41 WA : 60 47 59 62 : 18 Sts: 46 28 39 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 93 84 95 95 AZ : 100 98 98 99 AR : 99 94 100 97 CA : 80 73 93 87 GA : 92 87 83 90 KS : 75 65 67 63 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 96 92 100 99 MO : 97 92 100 95 NC : 94 88 100 97 OK : 94 90 89 90 SC : 89 82 96 86 TN : 97 96 100 97 TX : 70 63 77 74 VA : 93 90 100 93 : 15 Sts: 83 77 87 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 27 10 34 33 AZ : 28 25 24 21 AR : 38 16 60 51 CA : 3 2 17 11 GA : 19 10 11 21 KS : 0 0 0 4 LA : 70 45 58 68 MS : 35 13 69 68 MO : 37 21 76 46 NC : 14 6 32 20 OK : 10 2 7 14 SC : 13 5 31 21 TN : 42 23 60 39 TX : 20 19 24 24 VA : 19 10 39 23 : 15 Sts: 25 16 34 31 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 79 65 91 92 CA : 60 53 59 67 LA : 98 95 100 99 MS : 86 72 98 96 MO : 76 59 94 87 TX : 100 99 100 100 : 6 Sts : 79 69 87 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 37 24 30 48 FL : 65 56 51 58 GA : 44 29 24 43 NC : 31 20 51 42 OK : 18 16 25 16 SC : 44 28 45 45 TX : 25 12 24 20 VA : 35 4 61 40 : 8 Sts : 41 27 31 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 100 100 100 98 IL : 100 100 100 99 KS : 95 90 100 97 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 92 99 100 NE : 99 96 100 100 NM : 76 72 100 84 OK : 81 76 91 94 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 90 84 100 94 : 11 Sts: 93 89 100 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 88 78 83 70 IL : 75 65 98 97 KS : 56 41 85 72 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 73 57 86 91 NE : 60 34 95 91 NM : 25 19 39 28 OK : 39 37 66 68 SD : 74 61 99 94 TX : 77 71 97 81 : 11 Sts: 68 57 90 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Oct 12,:Oct 5, :Oct 12,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 87 100 98 CO : 28 18 28 20 IL : 10 5 88 57 KS : 17 10 34 31 LA : 100 97 100 100 MO : 37 28 54 61 NE : 5 2 21 26 NM : 0 0 8 4 OK : 25 24 41 38 SD : 8 5 61 49 TX : 71 70 91 70 : 11 Sts: 43 39 61 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 4 11 31 29 25 IL : 1 4 23 52 20 IN : 5 12 29 40 14 IA : 3 8 25 50 14 KS : 3 9 28 49 11 KY : 1 11 31 35 22 MI : 5 11 34 38 12 MN : 5 9 22 53 11 MO : 4 14 34 39 9 NE : 2 4 18 54 22 NC : 21 26 33 18 2 ND : 3 7 23 53 14 OH : 9 20 36 28 7 PA : 0 8 21 49 22 SD : 1 3 17 59 20 TN : 3 15 34 42 6 TX : 16 16 26 38 4 WI : 5 12 32 41 10 : 18 Sts : 4 9 25 47 15 : Prev Wk : 4 9 26 47 14 Prev Yr : 4 8 23 46 19 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 11 32 38 16 IL : 1 4 22 59 14 IN : 6 13 34 37 10 IA : 3 9 27 47 14 KS : 0 3 24 52 21 KY : 7 18 29 27 19 LA : 16 25 38 20 1 MI : 10 15 33 34 8 MN : 4 10 29 50 7 MS : 6 12 32 37 13 MO : 5 15 35 35 10 NE : 1 5 24 56 14 NC : 2 8 34 47 9 ND : 2 6 20 62 10 OH : 10 22 39 24 5 SD : 1 5 29 50 15 TN : 8 17 31 37 7 WI : 5 13 35 39 8 : 18 Sts : 4 10 29 45 12 : Prev Wk : 4 10 29 45 12 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 10 37 44 7 AZ : 0 1 20 62 17 AR : 1 10 29 45 15 CA : 0 5 10 75 10 GA : 4 15 43 32 6 KS : 5 10 25 50 10 LA : 30 37 26 7 0 MS : 7 11 26 44 12 MO : 3 6 26 55 10 NC : 1 6 29 51 13 OK : 4 11 35 39 11 SC : 5 14 49 28 4 TN : 1 7 30 53 9 TX : 10 16 33 31 10 VA : 0 10 45 39 6 : 15 Sts : 7 13 32 38 10 : Prev Wk : 7 13 30 39 11 Prev Yr : 6 14 26 40 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. Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 1 23 56 19 FL : 0 0 27 62 11 GA : 2 5 27 47 19 NC : 0 1 19 59 21 OK : 0 2 20 72 6 SC : 0 3 30 56 11 TX : 1 3 26 69 1 VA : 0 9 38 46 7 : 8 Sts : 1 3 26 55 15 : Prev Wk : 2 4 29 52 13 Prev Yr : 6 12 31 40 11 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 9 43 35 12 CO : 11 26 34 24 5 IL : 0 2 10 62 26 KS : 2 8 25 52 13 LA : 0 11 44 42 3 MO : 2 9 38 43 8 NE : 1 4 19 53 23 NM : 0 1 48 45 6 OK : 2 13 28 53 4 SD : 3 5 23 54 15 TX : 5 14 36 40 5 : 11 Sts : 3 11 31 45 10 : Prev Wk : 3 10 33 44 10 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Oct 12, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 18 34 40 6 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 3 23 32 28 14 :: NM : 4 12 45 34 5 AR : 0 2 26 59 13 :: NY : 0 4 32 55 9 CA : 80 15 5 0 0 :: NC : 4 14 26 49 7 CO : 8 20 47 21 4 :: ND : 22 31 25 18 4 CT : 4 3 44 44 5 :: OH : 13 30 31 23 3 DE : 7 29 52 11 1 :: OK : 2 7 32 49 10 FL : 2 10 35 50 3 :: OR : 16 28 34 22 0 GA : 11 21 48 19 1 :: PA : 33 15 27 24 1 ID : 2 25 41 32 0 :: RI : 0 20 30 40 10 IL : 1 5 33 52 9 :: SC : 4 19 44 32 1 IN : 12 27 39 19 3 :: SD : 2 11 32 46 9 IA : 3 12 32 42 11 :: TN : 18 35 32 14 1 KS : 4 10 28 50 8 :: TX : 10 22 36 28 4 KY : 45 29 18 8 0 :: UT : 11 19 29 36 5 LA : 3 11 48 37 1 :: VT : 0 14 40 46 0 ME : 1 4 16 58 21 :: VA : 8 24 36 30 2 MD : 1 14 36 44 5 :: WA : 12 23 44 21 0 MA : 0 0 0 100 0 :: WV : 19 34 39 8 0 MI : 12 19 32 32 5 :: WI : 7 21 41 28 3 MN : 10 15 33 39 3 :: WY : 3 11 44 36 6 MS : 3 4 34 55 4 :: : MO : 1 6 31 52 10 :: 48 Sts : 13 17 32 33 5 MT : 14 18 35 29 4 :: : NE : 3 12 28 49 8 :: Prev Wk: 13 16 31 34 6 NV : 24 38 30 8 0 :: Prev Yr: 18 18 28 30 6 NH : 2 5 50 35 8 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Corn- Mature, Harvested, Condition Cotton- Bolls Opening, Harvested, Condition Pasture and Range- Condition Peanuts- Harvested, Condition Rice- Harvested Sorghum- Coloring, Mature, Harvested, Condition Soybeans- Dropping Leaves, Harvested Sugarbeets- Harvested Sunflowers- Harvested Winter Wheat- Planted, Emerged, Condition ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. 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