We 1 (4-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 21, 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 12 - 18, 2009 Highlights: Two more rounds of heavy rain soaked the South, curtailing fieldwork and causing additional lowland flooding. As much as 4 to 10 inches of rain drenched the western and central Gulf Coast regions, but only light showers dampened Florida's parched peninsula. Farther north, significant rain (at least an inch) also fell across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, further delaying the onset of most spring fieldwork. In contrast, mild, mostly dry weather permitted some initial corn planting and other early- season fieldwork across the upper Midwest. Meanwhile, wet weather slowed fieldwork but provided widespread drought relief on the central and southern Plains. Only light rain fell in the Dakotas, but major lowland flooding persisted in several areas, including the Red and James River basins. Elsewhere, heavy snow blanketed parts of the Great Basin, Intermountain West, and central Rockies, while cool weather prevailed for much of the week across the remainder of the West. Toward week's end, however, much warmer weather arrived in the Pacific Coast States and the Desert Southwest, promoting fieldwork and crop development. Prior to the arrival of warm weather in the Northwest, chilly conditions peaked from April 14-16. As needed, Northwestern producers used freeze-protection measures and monitored blooming fruits and other temperature-sensitive crops for signs of injury. Early in the week, torrential rainfall lingered across the Deep South, where Hattiesburg, MS (5.30 inches) netted a daily-record total for April 12. Early-week wetness also affected the Mid-South and the lower Midwest, resulting in record amounts for April 12 in location such as Fort Smith, AR (1.60 inches), and Joplin, MO (1.21 inches). The following day, record amounts for April 13 included 2.82 inches in Pensacola, FL, and 2.30 inches in Alma, GA. Since the beginning of the Southern wet spell on March 24, rainfall (through April 18) has totaled 14.73 inches in Alma and 13.51 inches in Hattiesburg. Meanwhile, a new storm arriving in the Northwest produced daily-record totals for April 12 in Olympia (1.05 inches) and Seattle, WA (0.83 inch). Between storms, hot weather across southern Texas resulted in daily-record highs in Corpus Christi (93 degrees Fahrenheit on April 12) and Harlingen (100 degrees Fahrenheit on April 13). On April 14, highs reached or exceeded the 90-degree mark in Florida locations such as Miami (91 degrees Fahrenheit) and West Palm Beach (90 degrees Fahrenheit). In contrast, Northeastern daily-record lows for April 13 included 18 degrees Fahrenheit in Watertown, NY, and 24 degrees Fahrenheit in Allentown, PA. At mid-week, the Western storm dumped heavy precipitation across the Intermountain region and contributed to low temperatures in the Pacific Coast States. April 14-16 snowfall totaled 8.3 inches in Elko, NV, including a daily-record sum (7.2 inches) on the 15th. In Utah's Wasatch Range, April 14-16 snowfall totaled 39 inches at both Alta (Collins), elevation 9,662 feet, and Brighton Crest, elevation 9,500 feet. On the storm's southern fringe, April 15 wind gusts in Arizona were clocked to 72 miles per hour in Show Low and 63 miles per hour in Winslow. Farther west, daily-record lows in California on April 15 included 27 degrees Fahrenheit in Sandberg, 31 degrees Fahrenheit in Redding, and 33 degrees Fahrenheit in San Luis Obispo. The following day, Western records for April 16 dipped to 13 degrees Fahrenheit at Bryce Canyon Airport, UT; 19 degrees Fahrenheit in Montague, CA; and 28 degrees Fahrenheit in Sedona, AZ. Elsewhere in Arizona, Flagstaff (15 degrees Fahrenheit) posted a daily-record low for April 17. In contrast, Midwestern temperatures soared in advance of the storm's arrival, with La Crosse, WI (72 degrees Fahrenheit), and Rochester, MN (71 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding the 70-degree mark for the first time since November 4. La Crosse received its first measurable precipitation of the month on April 18 (0.03 inch), ending a 17-day dry spell and its longest spring dry spell since 2004. La Crosse also experienced its driest January 1 - April 15 period (2.89 inches, or 50 percent of normal) since 1958, when only 2.51 inches fell. Farther northwest, however, river crests at a few locations in the north-central U.S. were higher than those observed in late March. For example, the James River at Lamoure, ND, crested 3.44 feet above flood stage on April 15, edging the March 27 high-water mark (2.52 feet above flood stage) and the May 1969 former standard (2.20 feet). Farther downstream, the James River at Columbia, SD, climbed 6.61 feet above flood stage on April 20, nipping the March 26 record (6.56 feet above flood stage) and the April 1997 former high-water mark (5.63 feet). Late in the week, heavy rain erupted across the central and southern Plains and the western Gulf Coast region. Denver, CO, received 2.45 inches of precipitation (and 2.6 inches of snow) from April 16-18, but nearby Evergreen, CO, was blanketed by 22.4 inches of snow. Alliance, NE, collected 2.74 inches of rain from April 15-18, aided by daily-record totals on April 16 and 17 (1.11 and 1.08 inches, respectively). Other daily-record amounts included 1.09 inches (on April 16) in Lubbock, TX, and 1.44 inches (on April 17) in Dodge City, KS. Extremely heavy rain developed over eastern Texas, where record-setting totals for April 18 included 4.70 inches in Beaumont-Port Arthur and 5.15 inches at Houston's Hobby Airport. Nearly half (2.52 inches) of Houston's rain fell in a 35-minute period, and nearby 24-hour totals on April 17-18 exceeded 10 inches at a few locations near League City, TX. Cold weather (more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in a few locations) in western Alaska contrasted with near-normal temperatures across the remainder of the state. On April 12, St. Paul Island (0 degrees Fahrenheit) posted a daily-record low. Meanwhile, precipitation was mostly confined to southern Alaska, where Kodiak's weekly total reached 3.39 inches (including 4.0 inches of snow). Farther south, cool, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii. During the first 18 days of April, temperatures averaged 3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal at both Lihue, Kauai, and Hilo, on the Big Island. In fact, Lihue last experienced an above-normal daily average temperature on February 13, and during an ongoing, 9-week (February 15-April 18) cool spell had normal daily readings only on March 22, 25, and April 3. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary April 13 - 19, 2009 Highlights: Strong rain and snow storms dumped tremendous amounts of precipitation in parts of the central Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, as well as throughout most of eastern Texas, the Delta, and the Southeast, leaving producers in some of these locations struggling to plant spring crops. In Colorado, a spring storm increased the snowpack by 10 percent, to 111 percent of the average. The majority of the Corn Belt received 1 to 2 inches of precipitation, pushing the weekly total between 200 and 400 percent of normal. The remainder of the United States was mostly dry. Below normal temperatures prevailed across much of the country. Conversely, warmer than normal temperatures coupled with a mostly dry week in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions allowed producers in some locations to plant crops at a quickened pace. Corn: Nationwide, 5 percent of the 2009 corn crop was planted, 1 point ahead of last year, but 9 points, or slightly more than a week, behind the 5-year average. Planting was underway in Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska, with 6 percent, 1 percent, and 3 percent of the crop in the ground, respectively. However, because wet fields delayed the start of spring fieldwork, progress remained behind normal in all three States. Winter Wheat: Heading advanced to 14 percent, 7 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of normal. Heading in California, at 90 percent, was nearing completion, ahead of last year's and the normal pace. Arkansas's crop showed the most increase, advancing 25 points during the week. Heading was evident in 1 percent of the fields in Kansas, the largest wheat-producing State. Overall, 43 percent of the United States winter wheat crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 42 percent a week ago and 45 percent last year. Conditions in Texas continued to decline, with nearly three-quarters of winter wheat stands rated in very poor or poor condition. Russian aphids, green bugs, and freezing temperatures negatively impacted the crop. Cotton: Nationally, producers have planted 11 percent of their cotton acreage for the 2009 crop season, 3 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Another week of wet weather slowed progress across the Delta and kept planting in much of the Southeast from getting underway. As rainfall helped to improve field conditions, producers in Texas had 17 percent of their crop planted by week's end, just slightly behind last year and the normal pace. Producers in California planted the largest percentage of acreage during the week, but overall progress lagged last year and the average by 33 and 16 points, respectively. Sorghum: Producers had planted 26 percent of this year's sorghum acreage by week's end, 2 points behind last year, but on par with the 5-year average. Planting had yet to begin in Kansas, the largest sorghum-producing State. In Texas, producers planted 7 percent of their crop during the week, leaving progress, at 59 percent, 4 points behind 2008, but 4 points ahead of normal. Rice: Twenty-nine percent of 2009's rice acreage was seeded compared with 26 percent last year and 39 percent for the 5-year average. In Arkansas, producers planted 10 percent of their acreage during the week, advancing progress to 24 percent, 10 points ahead of the previous year, but 14 points behind the 5-year average. Planting in Louisiana reached 65 percent, but lagged last year and the average by 11 and 8 points, respectively. Emergence, at 11 percent, was 3 points behind last year and 7 points behind the average. The crop showed the most significant development in Texas, advancing 19 points during the week. Small Grains: Nationally, 6 percent of the spring wheat crop was seeded, 13 points behind last year's pace and 15 points, or more than a week behind normal. Favorable weather conditions allowed noteworthy increases to be made in Idaho and Washington, where producers seeded 22 and 14 percent of their crop, respectively, during the week. However, seeding remained behind the average pace in both States. By week's end, 9 percent of this year's barley crop had been sown. Progress lagged 2008 by 11 points and was 12 points behind the 5-year average pace. Saturated fields kept producers in North Dakota from beginning to seed their crop. Seeding was over a week behind normal in Montana and 1 week behind normal in Idaho, the second and third largest barley-producing States, respectively. Forty-eight percent of the Nation's oat acreage was sown by April 19, 7 points ahead of last year, but 4 points behind the average pace. As fields dried out, producers in Iowa made the biggest push in planting progress, seeding 35 percent of the crop during the week. In North Dakota, the second largest oat-producing State, soggy fields kept producers from seeding any of their acreage. Emergence was apparent in 31 percent of the crop compared with 30 percent last year and 33 percent for the 5-year average. Other Crops: Producers had planted 18 percent of their sugarbeet crop, 4 points ahead of last year's pace, but 8 points behind normal. Planting was slightly more than a week behind normal in Minnesota and North Dakota, the two largest sugarbeet-producing States. Producers in Idaho planted 37 percent of their crop during the week; however, progress remained well behind the normal pace. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 8 2 6 6 IL : 1 0 1 23 IN : 0 0 0 9 IA : 6 0 0 10 KS : 8 5 7 23 KY : 4 2 10 37 MI : 2 0 1 5 MN : 0 0 0 3 MO : 7 5 4 42 NE : 3 0 2 6 NC : 37 13 39 54 ND : 0 0 1 2 OH : 2 0 0 7 PA : 1 1 8 6 SD : 0 0 1 1 TN : 11 4 15 51 TX : 60 59 62 66 WI : 1 0 0 1 : 18 Sts: 5 2 4 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 0 0 3 11 AZ : 35 25 38 35 AR : 1 0 4 6 CA : 45 20 78 61 GA : 0 0 1 3 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 7 5 16 13 MS : 0 0 1 8 MO : 1 0 2 5 NC : 0 0 3 3 OK : 0 0 0 1 SC : 4 2 0 3 TN : 0 0 0 2 TX : 17 12 19 18 VA : 0 0 0 4 : 15 Sts: 11 8 14 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 24 14 14 38 CA : 3 0 2 3 LA : 65 58 76 73 MS : 17 15 29 33 MO : 11 7 2 27 TX : 91 82 82 76 : 6 Sts : 29 22 26 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 0 1 10 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 35 25 56 55 MS : 4 1 4 11 MO : 0 0 0 4 TX : 67 48 70 62 : 6 Sts : 11 7 14 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 4 6 34 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 1 KS : 0 0 0 1 LA : 17 14 57 50 MO : 0 0 0 6 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 5 4 0 0 OK : 1 1 2 5 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 59 52 63 55 : 11 Sts: 26 23 28 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 39 14 18 43 CA : 90 70 80 81 CO : 1 0 0 1 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 1 0 0 3 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 0 0 0 5 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 9 4 38 27 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 31 16 10 29 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 44 33 22 28 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 14 9 7 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 87% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 55 18 58 75 MI : 70 9 32 56 MN : 0 0 1 11 ND : 0 0 3 7 : 4 Sts : 18 4 14 26 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 84% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 70 35 13 60 MN : 22 3 2 21 NE : 55 30 54 72 ND : 0 0 12 10 OH : 42 36 18 38 PA : 45 27 50 44 SD : 6 0 28 44 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 35 10 3 25 : 9 Sts : 48 37 41 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 65% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 3 1 3 16 MN : 0 0 0 2 NE : 15 2 13 25 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 17 2 1 5 PA : 12 7 4 9 SD : 0 0 4 11 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 0 0 0 1 : 9 Sts : 31 29 30 33 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 65% of last year's oat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 31 10 38 40 MN : 3 1 0 7 MT : 8 3 29 29 ND : 0 0 9 7 WA : 23 13 33 58 : 5 Sts : 9 3 20 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 81% of last year's barley acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Apr 19,:Apr 12,:Apr 19,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 40 18 36 51 MN : 4 0 2 9 MT : 6 2 25 20 ND : 0 0 14 12 SD : 11 2 31 50 WA : 44 30 55 71 : 6 Sts : 6 2 19 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 19, 2009 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 7 35 52 6 CA : 0 5 10 35 50 CO : 2 8 26 48 16 ID : 0 0 19 74 7 IL : 1 7 27 56 9 IN : 1 2 21 56 20 KS : 4 12 40 40 4 MI : 2 4 28 51 15 MO : 0 8 39 48 5 MT : 2 5 37 47 9 NE : 1 4 27 59 9 NC : 0 2 20 65 13 OH : 1 6 25 51 17 OK : 30 30 28 12 0 OR : 2 20 47 28 3 SD : 2 5 33 50 10 TX : 49 25 16 9 1 WA : 6 10 33 44 7 : 18 Sts : 13 14 30 36 7 : Prev Wk : 11 14 33 36 6 Prev Yr : 8 13 34 37 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 Peanuts - Planted Rice - Planted, Emerged Sorghum - Planted Soybeans - Planted Spring Wheat - Planted, Emerged 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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