We 1 (4-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 14, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Julie Schmidt at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary April 5 - 11, 2009 Highlights: Wet weather temporarily returned to California, aiding pastures and winter grains but failing to significantly improve water-supply prospects. Meanwhile, near- to above-normal temperatures returned to the Northwest, following 2 weeks of very cool weather. Farther east, cold, dry weather prevailed on the northern Plains, while freezes (from April 5-7) threatened jointing to heading winter wheat from Kansas into Texas. Weekly temperatures generally averaged 4 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal from the Dakotas southward into Oklahoma and northern Texas. Toward week's end, rain across the southern half of the Plains slowed fieldwork but provided much-needed moisture for drought-stressed pastures and winter grains. Prior to the arrival of the rain, several wind-driven fires consumed a few hundred buildings across Oklahoma and Texas. Meanwhile, a pair of slow moving storms hampered spring fieldwork across the central and eastern Corn Belt. Weekly rainfall totaled 2 inches or more in parts of Indiana and southern Illinois. In contrast, favorably dry weather prevailed across the upper Midwest. Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms struck the South on April 9-10, causing local wind and hail damage and spawning isolated tornadoes. Rainfall topped 2 inches in an area centered on the southern Appalachians, but unfavorably dry conditions persisted across Florida's peninsula. Early in the week, chilly air settled across the West, where daily-record lows for April 5 included -5 degrees Fahrenheit in Arizona at the Grand Canyon's South Rim; 1 degree Fahrenheit in Rawlins, WY; 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Pocatello, ID; and 24 degrees Fahrenheit in Lancaster, CA. Lancaster's low also established a monthly record, previously set with a reading of 25 degrees Fahrenheit on April 2, 1975. Farther east, Sidney, NE (13 and 8 degrees Fahrenheit), opened the week with consecutive daily record lows on April 5-6. Chilly conditions mostly peaked across the central and southern Plains on April 7, when lows dipped to 6 degrees Fahrenheit in Valentine, NE; 11 degrees Fahrenheit in Russell, KS; and 22 degrees Fahrenheit in both Oklahoma City, OK, and Dalhart, TX. Elsewhere in Texas, Waco (26 degrees Fahrenheit) and Austin-Bergstrom (28 degrees Fahrenheit) both attained monthly record lows on April 7. Previously, records had been 27 degrees Fahrenheit (on April 3, 1975) in Waco and 30 degrees Fahrenheit (on April 14, 2008) at Austin-Bergstrom. For Austin, it was also the latest hard freeze (reading of 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower), previously established with a low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit on March 28, 1955. Just 2 days later, however, temperatures soared across central and southern Texas, reaching daily record levels in San Antonio (99 degrees Fahrenheit) and Austin- Bergstrom (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Before rain arrived on the southern Plains at week's end, a rash of wildfires charred more than 200,000 acres of vegetation and consumed more than 300 buildings in Oklahoma and Texas. Among the most devastating fires were the 27,000-acre Montague County Complex (131 structures) near Saint Jo, TX; the 28,000-acre Cement Mountain Complex (65 structures) near Graham, TX; and the 3,500-acre Choctaw Fire (50 structures) near Midwest City, OK. Snow ended early in the week across the north-central U.S., where April 4-5 snowfall totals reached 10.3 inches in Mitchell, SD, and 4.1 inches in North Platte, NE. Meanwhile, Midwestern showers resulted in daily record rainfall totals for April 5 in Indiana locations such as Indianapolis (1.87 inches) and Fort Wayne (1.77 inches). Snow lingered for several days in the Appalachians and the lower Great Lakes region, where Flint, MI, received 5.0 inches from April 5-7. Isolated locations, including Barnes Corners, NY (17 inches), and Mt. Leconte, TN (14 inches), received storm-total snowfall in excess of a foot. By April 8, Tallahassee, FL, posted a low of 31 degrees Fahrenheit, while daily record lows were established in locations such as Montgomery, AL (32 degrees Fahrenheit), and Gainesville, FL (34 degrees Fahrenheit). Farther west, the arrival of another strong spring storm resulted in the seventh-wettest day (2.08 inches on April 8) during the last 90 years in Jerome, ID. The following day, North Platte, NE, received another 3.4 inches of snow, while Sacramento, CA (0.77 inch), netted a daily record rainfall. As the storminess shifted eastward, preliminary reports indicated that nearly 100 tornadoes were spotted on April 9-10 from the southeastern Plains to Georgia and the Carolinas. Deadly tornadoes struck Mena, AR (three fatalities on April 9); Murfreesboro, TN (two fatalities on April 10); and Beech Island, SC (one fatality on April 10). At week's end, one area of rain moved into the East, while a second batch of showers arrived on the southern Plains. Daily record rainfall totals for April 11 reached 1.13 inches in Salisbury, MD, and 1.04 inches in Borger, TX. Farther west, 4.0 inches of snow blanketed Flagstaff, AZ, on April 11. Cool weather and scattered showers prevailed in Hawaii. Some of the heaviest rain fell on Oahu, where 24-hour (April 10-11) totals reached 4.24 inches at the Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge and 2.89 inches at the Wilson Tunnel. On the Big Island, Hilo (high of 69 degrees Fahrenheit on April 10) failed to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit for only the third time on record in April, along with April 11, 1999, and April 17, 1963. Meanwhile in Alaska, generally light precipitation accompanied near-normal temperatures. Some of the most significant precipitation fell across southern Alaska, where Kodiak's weekly total of 1.48 inches included 10.6 inches of snow. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary April 6 - 12, 2009 Highlights: Storms continued to pound much of the Corn Belt and Southeast, dropping up to 4 inches of rainfall on already soggy ground in some locations and further delaying the start of spring fieldwork. In contrast, unfavorably dry conditions persisted in Florida and much of Texas, driving producer's reliance on irrigation water even higher. Warm temperatures prevailed in New England and across the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Rocky Mountains, with average readings 9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in Washington. Conversely, the remainder of the Nation had temperatures at or below normal during the week, with average recordings falling to 11 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in South Dakota and Nebraska. Corn: Nationally, producers have planted 2 percent of their corn acreage for the 2009 crop season, equaling progress made during this same week last year, but 4 points behind the 5-year average. Due to cool, wet conditions that have pushed the start of spring fieldwork back to a slower than normal pace, planting was not yet underway in Iowa, Illinois, or Nebraska, the three largest corn-producing States. Winter Wheat: Heading was evident in 9 percent of this year's winter wheat acreage. Development was 5 points ahead of the previous year and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. Fields in Texas and Oklahoma had progressed well ahead of last year and the 5-year average, while winter wheat in Kansas had not yet begun to put on heads. Overall, winter wheat conditions declined slightly from a week ago, with 42 percent of the crop rated in good to excellent condition. In Texas, 67 percent of the crop was rated in very poor or poor condition due to a severe lack of rainfall, freezing temperatures, and insect infestations. Cotton: Nationwide, 8 percent of the cotton acreage was planted, 2 and 3 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively. Producers in Texas had 12 percent of their crop in the ground, slightly behind last year and the 5-year average, as many tried to make up time lost to weather conditions that prohibited fieldwork earlier in the season. Soggy fields kept producers out of their fields throughout most of the Southeast. Sorghum: Producers had planted 23 percent of the Nation's sorghum acreage by April 12. Progress was 3 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Producers in Texas had 52 percent of their acreage planted, 7 points behind 2008, but on par with the 5-year average. Due to heavy rainfall received earlier, planting in Louisiana, at 14 percent, was over a week behind normal. Rice: Twenty-two percent of this year's rice acreage was planted, 7 points ahead of last year, but 3 points behind the 5-year average. In Arkansas, producers were able to plant 13 percent of their crop during the week to leave progress, at 14 percent, well ahead of the previous year's pace, but 6 points behind the average. Nationally, the crop was 7 percent emerged, 1 point behind last year and 3 points behind normal. Development was at or behind the 5-year average in all States except Texas, where emergence was 3 points ahead of normal. Small Grains: Two percent of the spring wheat acreage had been seeded, behind last year's and the normal pace by 6 and 9 points, respectively. Producers in the northwestern States of Washington, Idaho, and Montana were kept from fieldwork by snow-covered and abnormally wet fields. Nationally, producers had sown 3 percent of this year's barley acreage. Progress lagged last year by 9 points and was 10 points behind the 5-year average. In North Dakota, the largest barley producing State, seeding was not yet underway. In Idaho and Washington, 10 and 13 percent of the acreage was sown, respectively; however, producers were significantly behind last year and normal. Thirty-seven percent of the Nation's oat acreage was sown by the end of the week, 3 points ahead of last year's pace, but 4 points behind the average. Texas producers had finished seeding their fields, while seeding in the Dakotas was behind and had yet to begin. Emergence was evident in 29 percent of the crop, equaling last year's development, but just slightly behind normal. Other Crops: Producers had planted 4 percent of the sugarbeet acreage, behind last year and the average by 1 and 8 points, respectively. Significant delays were seen in Idaho and Michigan. In Idaho, the largest delays were seen in the south-central and eastern areas of the state, where many fields were still covered with snow. Planting had yet to begin in Minnesota and North Dakota due to saturated fields. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 2 NA 3 2 IL : 0 NA 0 7 IN : 0 NA 0 2 IA : 0 NA 0 1 KS : 5 NA 4 11 KY : 2 NA 1 21 MI : 0 NA 0 2 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 5 NA 2 24 NE : 0 NA 0 1 NC : 13 NA 14 33 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 0 NA 0 1 PA : 1 NA 1 2 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 4 NA 5 34 TX : 59 NA 58 62 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 2 NA 2 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 0 1 4 AZ : 25 20 24 21 AR : 0 0 0 1 CA : 20 9 50 39 GA : 0 0 0 1 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 5 0 1 3 MS : 0 0 0 2 MO : 0 0 0 0 NC : 0 0 0 0 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 2 0 0 1 TN : 0 0 0 0 TX : 12 6 15 16 VA : 0 0 0 1 : 15 Sts: 8 4 10 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 1 1 21 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 14 3 38 34 MO : 0 0 0 2 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 4 2 0 0 OK : 1 0 1 3 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 52 43 59 52 : 11 Sts: 23 19 26 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 14 NA 7 22 CA : 70 NA 65 63 CO : 0 NA 0 0 ID : 0 NA 0 0 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 0 NA 0 1 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MO : 0 NA 0 0 MT : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 4 NA 16 10 OH : 0 NA 0 0 OK : 16 NA 2 10 OR : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 33 NA 12 17 WA : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 9 NA 4 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 87% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 14 1 2 20 CA : 0 0 1 1 LA : 58 41 61 61 MS : 15 1 7 15 MO : 7 0 0 9 TX : 82 68 73 64 : 6 Sts : 22 11 15 25 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 0 3 CA : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 25 NA 33 38 MS : 1 NA 2 3 MO : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 48 NA 54 45 : 6 Sts : 7 NA 8 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 35 8 4 39 MN : 3 0 0 9 NE : 30 21 36 53 ND : 0 0 3 2 OH : 36 27 7 17 PA : 27 24 24 23 SD : 0 0 10 24 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 10 0 0 10 : 9 Sts : 37 32 34 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 65% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 1 NA 0 4 MN : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 2 NA 5 12 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 2 NA 0 1 PA : 7 NA 1 3 SD : 0 NA 0 3 TX : 100 NA 100 100 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 9 Sts : 29 NA 29 30 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 65% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 10 NA 29 31 MN : 1 NA 0 3 MT : 3 NA 14 17 ND : 0 NA 3 2 WA : 13 NA 32 46 : 5 Sts : 3 NA 12 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 18 NA 25 39 MN : 0 NA 0 3 MT : 2 NA 9 9 ND : 0 NA 5 4 SD : 2 NA 11 28 WA : 30 NA 44 60 : 6 Sts : 2 NA 8 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 12,:Apr 5, :Apr 12,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 18 9 35 51 MI : 9 6 1 25 MN : 0 0 0 1 ND : 0 0 0 1 : 4 Sts : 4 2 5 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 84% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 12, 2009 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 6 32 56 6 CA : 0 5 15 50 30 CO : 3 11 30 46 10 ID : 0 1 19 74 6 IL : 1 8 25 58 8 IN : 0 1 23 58 18 KS : 4 15 44 33 4 MI : 1 3 24 57 15 MO : 1 7 41 44 7 MT : 1 6 33 51 9 NE : 1 3 30 58 8 NC : 0 2 30 58 10 OH : 1 5 23 51 20 OK : 22 28 34 14 2 OR : 1 13 42 37 7 SD : 1 6 35 47 11 TX : 44 23 21 11 1 WA : 5 10 37 40 8 : 18 Sts : 11 14 33 36 6 : Prev Wk : 10 12 35 37 6 Prev Yr : 7 13 33 39 8 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2008 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, Friday, 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 - Planted Corn - Planted Cotton - Planted Oats - Planted, Emerged Rice - Planted, Emerged Sorghum - Planted Spring Wheat - Planted Sugarbeets - Planted Winter Wheat - Headed, 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. For free 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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