We 1 (11-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released November 24, 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 November 15 - 21, 2009 Highlights: A series of cold fronts slammed into the Pacific Northwest, generating heavy precipitation and high winds. However, only light precipitation fell east of the Cascades. In southern California and the Southwest, dry weather favored cotton harvesting and other autumn fieldwork. Meanwhile on the northern Plains, unusually warm, dry conditions promoted winter wheat development and summer crop harvesting. Some rain and snow fell on the central Plains, but dry weather across the remainder of the Nation's mid-section favored harvest activities for crops such as corn, cotton, and sorghum. Farther east, wet weather returned to the middle Mississippi Valley, hampering corn and late-season soybean harvesting. Across the upper Midwest, however, fieldwork advanced with few delays. Elsewhere, scattered showers caused only minor fieldwork delays from the Delta into the Southeast, while late-week rain developed in the western Gulf Coast region. In southern Texas, the rain fell in areas still suffering from lingering hydrological drought. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the Nation's northern tier from northern Montana to northern Maine. Unusual warmth also covered much of the Corn Belt, where readings ranged from 2 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. In contrast, near- to below-normal temperatures prevailed from California into the Southeast. Chilly conditions persisted early in the week across the Southwest, where daily-record lows for November 16 included 4 degrees Fahrenheit in Springerville, Arizona, and 7 degrees Fahrenheit in Roosevelt, Utah. The following day, however, record-setting warmth arrived across the northern High Plains and the Northwest. Records for November 17 reached 71 degrees Fahrenheit in Havre, Montana, and 67 degrees Fahrenheit in Walla Walla, Washington. Havre posted another daily-record high (65 degrees Fahrenheit) on November 20. At week's end, however, cool conditions returned to the Far West, where the Oakland Airport in central California registered a daily-record low of 38 degrees Fahrenheit on November 21. Farther east, Rochester, Minnesota, experienced its warmest November 1-21 period since 2001. During the first 3 weeks of November, Rochester's average temperature of 44.0 degrees Fahrenheit was more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. During the same period, Rochester's precipitation totaled just 0.14 inch (less than 10 percent of normal). Heavy rain subsided by Sunday in New England, where Portland, Maine (5.03 inches on November 14), had experienced its wettest November day on record (previously, 4.70 inches on November 10, 1990). Farther west, heavy precipitation hammered the Pacific Northwest. Weekly rainfall totaled 14.91 inches in Quillayute, Washington, aided by a daily-record total of 3.31 inches on November 16. Similarly in Oregon, more than one-third (2.71 inches) of Astoria's 7.31-inch weekly total fell on November 16. Snow fell at higher elevations, with a late-week depth of 91 inches reported at Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Oregon's Mt. Hood. High winds accompanied the precipitation, resulting in a gust to 92 miles per hour on November 16 on the Oregon coast at Cape Blanco. Two days later, a gust to 107 miles per hour was clocked at an automated weather station in western Washington's Olympic Mountains on Hurricane Ridge. Meanwhile, a slow-moving storm dropped snow on parts of the central Plains and unwelcome rain in the central Corn Belt. November 13-15 snowfall totals reached 9.3 inches in Denver, Colorado, and 6.5 inches in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Concordia, Kansas, received a daily-record snowfall (3.5 inches) on November 16. Daily-record rainfall totals for November 16 included 1.72 inches in St. Louis, Missouri, and 1.53 inches in Ottumwa, Iowa. By November 19, heavy rain shifted into the East, where Buffalo, NY (1.49 inches), netted a daily-record sum. Toward week's end, a separate area of heavy rain developed over the western Gulf Coast region and drifted northeastward. On November 20, daily-record amounts in Texas reached 2.45 inches in both Galveston and Corpus Christi. In Rockport, Texas, rainfall totaled 9.94 inches in a 24-hour period on November 19-20. Bitterly cold, dry air settled across the Alaskan mainland, where Bettles notched five daily-record lows during the week. Bettles' lowest reading, -47 degrees Fahrenheit, occurred on November 21. Other daily records included -20 degrees Fahrenheit (on November 17) in King Salmon and -38 degrees Fahrenheit (on November 20) in McGrath. Alaskan weekly temperatures averaged more than 30 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in a few locations. Snow blanketed parts of the Aleutian Islands, where Cold Bay (3.3 inches) received a daily-record amount for November 20. Farther south, heavy rain subsided in Hawaii, although Hilo (on the Big Island) received an additional 5.15 inches during the week. Hilo's November 1-21 rainfall reached 19.11 inches (174 percent of normal). National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary November 16 - 22, 2009 Highlights: Temperatures across much of the northern half of the country were above average during the week, while areas in California, the Southwest, and along the Gulf Coast experienced temperatures well below normal. Wet conditions continued in areas of the Pacific Northwest and returned to much of the Corn Belt and the eastern half of Texas where precipitation totals exceeded 800 percent of normal during the week. Corn: Nationally, harvest advanced 14 points during the week leaving progress, at 68 percent, 19 points behind last year and 26 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was most active in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where producers combined 21 percent or more of their crop. Despite the active harvest pace in these States, overall progress remained over 2 weeks behind normal. Wet weather in Illinois and Missouri held the harvest pace to single digits during the week. Soybeans: Producers had harvested 94 percent of the 2009 soybean acreage by week's end, 3 points behind both last year and the 5-year average. The most significant harvest delay was evident in Kansas where overall progress was 13 points, or over 2 weeks, behind normal. Winter Wheat: Seeding in the 2010 winter wheat crop advanced slowly during the week. With 93 percent of the crop in the ground, progress was 5 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Producers in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana used over 3 days suitable for fieldwork to finish seeding their crop during the week. Emergence advanced to 84 percent complete by November 22, seven points behind last year and 6 points behind the average. Despite evidence of rapid emergence in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri during the week, overall progress remained 29 points or more behind normal in theses States. Overall, 64 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but down slightly from last year. Cotton: Seventy-two percent of the Nation's cotton crop was harvested by week's end, 1 point behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Progress was behind normal in all estimating States except Arizona and Texas. Sorghum: With three-quarters of the sorghum crop harvested, progress was 12 points behind last year and 15 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was most active in the central Great Plains and Missouri where 11 percent or more of the crop was combined during the week. Other Crops: Harvest was active across much of the major peanut-producing regions, with progress advancing 10 points during the week. At 88 percent complete, harvest was 10 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. The most significant delay remained evident in Alabama where progress was over 1 month behind normal. Sunflower harvest was most active in the Great Plains during the week, with producers in Kansas and the Dakotas harvesting 10 percent or more of their crop. Nationally, 80 percent of the sunflower crop was harvested by November 22, three points behind last year and 13 points behind the 5-year average. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 71 64 93 93 IL : 60 52 94 98 IN : 73 63 96 96 IA : 78 59 84 94 KS : 84 80 92 97 KY : 98 95 100 100 MI : 60 35 88 87 MN : 66 43 90 96 MO : 76 72 87 95 NE : 65 48 80 92 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 21 8 50 83 OH : 76 58 93 91 PA : 71 60 84 89 SD : 40 27 73 91 TN : 99 98 100 100 TX : 98 97 99 99 WI : 59 38 81 87 : 18 Sts: 68 54 87 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 82 97 96 IL : 95 90 100 99 IN : 97 93 99 98 IA : 98 96 100 100 KS : 83 82 93 96 KY : 92 81 99 94 LA : 99 96 100 100 MI : 98 94 100 98 MN : 97 92 100 100 MS : 98 94 100 100 MO : 87 83 90 94 NE : 99 97 100 100 NC : 53 45 54 57 ND : 92 80 97 99 OH : 99 97 100 98 SD : 95 93 100 100 TN : 87 76 98 94 WI : 94 88 100 99 : 18 Sts: 94 89 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 60 49 94 90 AZ : 75 70 64 70 AR : 81 71 100 97 CA : 91 81 84 92 GA : 56 44 79 81 KS : 14 5 33 47 LA : 96 89 99 100 MS : 94 85 98 99 MO : 78 69 100 94 NC : 76 63 87 88 OK : 44 35 54 65 SC : 78 60 79 82 TN : 82 59 99 95 TX : 70 58 55 58 VA : 67 66 80 86 : 15 Sts: 72 60 73 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 64 54 88 87 IL : 81 74 90 96 KS : 70 59 84 92 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 81 68 88 95 NE : 68 44 75 93 NM : 100 70 90 70 OK : 80 68 67 78 SD : 86 79 89 96 TX : 77 76 91 88 : 11 Sts: 75 68 87 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 59 50 100 93 FL : 96 93 99 99 GA : 88 78 97 97 NC : 98 90 100 100 OK : 93 78 94 91 SC : 100 99 100 100 TX : 98 81 95 91 VA : 100 100 100 100 : 8 Sts : 88 78 98 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 70 65 93 97 KS : 63 53 84 91 ND : 86 60 88 94 SD : 79 59 70 90 : 4 Sts : 80 59 83 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 86% of last year's sunflower acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 52 93 89 CA : 83 70 53 44 CO : 100 99 100 100 ID : 100 100 100 100 IL : 89 77 100 100 IN : 90 85 100 99 KS : 95 93 100 100 MI : 100 95 100 99 MO : 61 54 92 92 MT : 100 99 100 100 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 61 52 72 78 OH : 99 95 100 99 OK : 95 93 100 98 OR : 100 100 100 100 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 91 87 95 94 WA : 100 100 100 100 : 18 Sts: 93 90 98 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 87% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 22,:Nov 15,:Nov 22,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 47 26 81 76 CA : 59 40 29 29 CO : 96 94 99 100 ID : 96 92 97 96 IL : 67 45 98 97 IN : 66 55 97 95 KS : 88 82 94 96 MI : 96 83 100 94 MO : 44 33 74 81 MT : 90 88 99 97 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 40 24 40 48 OH : 81 76 100 96 OK : 85 82 99 92 OR : 95 82 67 83 SD : 100 95 100 100 TX : 80 73 85 80 WA : 95 91 84 94 : 18 Sts: 84 77 91 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 87% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Nov 22, 2009 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 6 21 46 24 3 CA : 0 0 10 55 35 CO : 0 4 14 55 27 ID : 0 0 19 72 9 IL : 3 18 37 38 4 IN : 2 4 51 39 4 KS : 1 3 24 57 15 MI : 1 5 25 57 12 MO : 1 6 61 31 1 MT : 2 5 48 42 3 NE : 0 1 28 59 12 NC : 6 7 25 59 3 OH : 0 2 31 53 14 OK : 0 1 19 49 31 OR : 0 0 46 46 8 SD : 0 3 23 66 8 TX : 4 10 41 41 4 WA : 0 3 23 62 12 : 18 Sts : 1 5 30 51 13 : Prev Wk : 1 5 30 52 12 Prev Yr : 2 6 27 52 13 -------------------------------------- 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/index .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 - Harvested Cotton - Harvested Peanuts - Harvested Sorghum - Harvested Soybeans - 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. 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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