We 1 (12-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released December 1, 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 22 - 28, 2009 Highlights: The corn harvest and other late-season Midwestern fieldwork continued at a sluggish pace, in part due to 1- to 2-inch rainfall totals across much of Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. Conditions for corn and final soybean harvesting were somewhat more favorable in other parts of the Corn Belt, including the Dakotas and the Ohio Valley. Farther south, harvest activities neared completion in the lower Mississippi Valley, but moderately heavy rain continued to hamper cotton harvesting and other autumn fieldwork in the Atlantic Coast States. In Florida, however, rain eased irrigation requirements and aided cool-season pastures. Meanwhile on the Plains, previously delayed fieldwork-including corn, cotton, sorghum, and sunflower harvesting-advanced under mild, mostly dry conditions. In parts of western Texas, a recent drying trend was a concern for winter grains. Elsewhere, occasionally heavy precipitation continued in the Pacific Northwest, while late-week showers dotted the nation's southwestern quadrant. For much of the week, however, cotton harvesting and other late-season fieldwork advanced with few delays in California and the Southwest. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees F above normal in the upper Midwest, but generally ranged from 2 to 6 degrees F below normal in the lower Southeast. Early in the week, unsettled weather continued across the Northwest and the Intermountain West. On November 22, snowfall totals included 10.0 inches in Alta, UT, and 3.2 inches in Spokane, WA. A few days later, unfavorable wetness returned to parts of the Midwest. In Iowa, daily-record rainfall totals were established on November 24 in locations such as Dubuque (1.31 inches) and Des Moines (0.91 inch). By November 25, rain swept into the lower Southeast, where daily-record amounts in Florida reached 5.05 inches in Key West and 1.21 inches in Gainesville. On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, another round of heavy precipitation in the Northwest resulted in a daily- record rainfall of 1.34 inches in Seattle, WA. Elsewhere in western Washington, Quillayute's November rainfall totaled 26.55 inches (179 percent of normal). At week's end, mild, dry weather prevailed across the nation's mid-section, while stormy weather affected both the East and West Coast States. On November 28, wind gusts to 53 m.p.h. were clocked in Vacaville, CA, and Albany, NY. Late-week snowfall accumulations were reported as far south as southern California, where 4 inches fell in Frazier Park. With a November 28 rainfall total of 0.21 inch, Barstow-Daggett, CA, experienced its first measurable precipitation since July 19 and wettest day since February 7. Meanwhile, at least a foot of snow fell in parts of northern New England, where Diamond Pond, NH, received 13.0 inches. In contrast, November snowfall totaled just 4.6 inches (20 percent of normal) in Marquette, MI. Warmth lingered early in the week across the lower Southeast, where Miami, FL (87 degrees F), posted a daily record-tying high for November 23. Later, seasonably cold air settled across the Mid-South and the Southeast. Jackson, MS (32 degrees F on November 26), experienced its first autumn freeze 17 days later than the normal date of November 9 and just 11 days earlier than the record-late date of December 7, 1973. St. Louis, MO, having avoided an official freeze during the October cold snap, set a record for its latest first freeze (31 degrees F on November 27). The previous record-late first freeze in St. Louis occurred on November 26, 1902. Similarly, Des Moines, IA (27 degrees F on November 26), set a record for its latest sub-30-degree temperature (previously, November 16, 1983) and latest sub-28-degree reading (previously, November 24, 1958). Farther west, however, record-setting warmth expanded from the Pacific Northwest to the central Plains. Bellingham, WA (59 degrees F), notched a daily-record high for November 25, followed 2 days later by records in locations such as Hill City, KS (76 degrees F), and Imperial, NE (73 degrees F). Bitterly cold weather persisted across western Alaska, where temperatures averaged more than 10 degrees F below normal in some locations, while mild, occasionally stormy conditions returned to parts of the mainland. In Anchorage, the weekly snowfall of 9.3 inches boosted the November total to 14.1 inches (124 percent of normal). In Fairbanks, however, where temperatures rebounded from -33 to 30 degrees F between November 22 and 27, November snowfall totaled 7.4 inches (54 percent of normal) and the season- to-date sum stood at just 12.9 inches (45 percent). Farther south, locally heavy showers returned to Hawaii. On November 25-26, 24-hour totals topped 6 inches in locations such as Oahu's Manoa Lyon Arboretum (6.85 inches) and Kapahi, Kauai (6.07 inches). On November 26-27, 24-hour totals reached 4.76 inches at West Wailuaiki, Maui, and 4.42 inches on the Big Island at Pahoa. Elsewhere on the Big Island, Hilo's November rainfall totaled 23.60 inches (151 percent of normal). National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary November 23 - 29, 2009 Highlights: Warmer than normal temperatures blanketed much of the country during the week, with recordings in areas of the Great Lakes as many as 15 degrees above average. In contrast, areas in the Great Basin and along the Gulf Coast experienced cooler than normal temperatures. Unseasonably warm, dry weather throughout much of the Great Plains promoted crop harvesting and fall fieldwork, while additional precipitation in areas of the northern Corn Belt slowed harvest. Corn: Above average temperatures and mostly dry weather across much of the major corn-producing regions allowed harvest to advance rapidly in several areas during the week. Nationally, 79 percent of the crop was harvested by November 29, fifteen points behind last year and 18 points, or over 3 weeks, behind the 5-year average. The most significant progress was evident in North Dakota where producers combined 19 percent of their crop during the week. Despite the active harvest pace in recent weeks, overall progress remained over 3 weeks behind normal in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and over 5 weeks behind normal in Illinois. Soybeans: Harvest was winding down in many of the 18 major soybean-producing States, with producers in Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin completing harvest during the week. Overall, 96 percent of the Nation's crop was harvested by week's end, 2 points behind both last year and the 5-year average. The most significant delay remained in North Carolina where above average precipitation in recent weeks had slowed harvest. Winter Wheat: Producers had seeded 96 percent of the winter wheat crop, 2 points behind both last year and the 5-year average. Emergence reached 89 percent by week's end, 5 points behind last year and 4 points behind the average. Despite double-digit emergence in Arkansas and Indiana, overall progress remained over 19 points behind normal. Overall, 63 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from ratings last week. Cotton: Harvest advanced 11 points during the week, leaving progress, at 83 percent, 2 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the 5-year average. Overall progress in Alabama, Georgia, and Kansas remained 2 weeks or more behind normal despite producers utilizing over 4 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest 11 percent or more of their crop during the week. Sorghum: Eighty-seven percent of the sorghum crop was harvested by November 29, six points behind both last year and the 5-year average. Above average temperatures and mostly dry weather allowed producers in Kansas and Texas, the 2 largest sorghum-producing States, to harvest 9 and 17 percent of their crop during the week, respectively. Other Crops: The Nation's peanut harvest advanced to 92 percent complete by week's end, 7 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was complete or ahead of normal in all estimating States except Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Sunflower producers had harvested 90 percent of their crop, 1 point behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest neared completion in the Dakotas, but overall progress was behind normal in all estimating States. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 79 71 96 96 IL : 72 60 98 99 IN : 84 73 99 98 IA : 87 78 93 97 KS : 89 84 96 99 KY : 99 98 100 100 MI : 76 60 94 93 MN : 78 66 96 98 MO : 85 76 88 97 NE : 78 65 90 96 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 40 21 68 89 OH : 85 76 98 96 PA : 81 71 89 92 SD : 58 40 86 96 TN : 99 99 100 100 TX : 100 98 100 100 WI : 67 59 98 95 : 18 Sts: 79 68 94 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 91 100 98 IL : 96 95 100 100 IN : 99 97 100 99 IA : 99 98 100 100 KS : 90 83 97 97 KY : 99 92 100 99 LA : 100 99 100 100 MI : 100 98 100 99 MN : 99 97 100 100 MS : 99 98 100 100 MO : 93 87 91 95 NE : 100 99 100 100 NC : 56 53 62 67 ND : 96 92 100 100 OH : 100 99 100 100 SD : 97 95 100 100 TN : 96 87 99 99 WI : 100 94 100 99 : 18 Sts: 96 94 98 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 73 60 99 94 AZ : 78 75 69 75 AR : 96 81 100 98 CA : 95 91 96 97 GA : 67 56 87 87 KS : 28 14 48 58 LA : 98 96 99 100 MS : 96 94 100 100 MO : 86 78 100 97 NC : 80 76 93 92 OK : 50 44 64 71 SC : 90 78 89 88 TN : 92 82 100 99 TX : 83 70 66 68 VA : 85 67 88 92 : 15 Sts: 83 72 81 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 70 64 94 92 IL : 91 81 96 98 KS : 79 70 92 95 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 88 81 89 96 NE : 78 68 92 98 NM : 100 100 99 81 OK : 85 80 78 87 SD : 93 86 94 98 TX : 94 77 95 91 : 11 Sts: 87 75 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 64 59 100 96 FL : 98 96 100 99 GA : 93 88 100 99 NC : 100 98 100 100 OK : 95 93 99 94 SC : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 98 96 94 VA : 100 100 100 100 : 8 Sts : 92 88 99 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sunflower: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 80 70 95 99 KS : 71 63 91 95 ND : 93 86 95 97 SD : 93 79 81 95 : 4 Sts : 90 80 91 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 86% of last year's sunflower acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2004- State:Nov 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 91 77 97 94 CA : 87 83 59 51 CO : 100 100 100 100 ID : 100 100 100 100 IL : 92 89 100 100 IN : 93 90 100 100 KS : 96 95 100 100 MI : 100 100 100 100 MO : 69 61 93 95 MT : 100 100 100 100 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 69 61 86 86 OH : 100 99 100 100 OK : 99 95 100 99 OR : 100 100 100 100 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 94 91 97 96 WA : 100 100 100 100 : 18 Sts: 96 93 98 98 -------------------------------------- 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 29,:Nov 22,:Nov 29,: 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 65 47 90 86 CA : 68 59 34 35 CO : 99 96 99 100 ID : 99 96 100 99 IL : 70 67 100 99 IN : 78 66 99 97 KS : 92 88 97 98 MI : 100 96 100 96 MO : 53 44 76 88 MT : 92 90 99 98 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 49 40 58 61 OH : 95 81 100 99 OK : 93 85 100 95 OR : 100 95 96 95 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 84 80 88 83 WA : 96 95 98 98 : 18 Sts: 89 84 94 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 87% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Nov 29, 2009 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 10 64 18 3 CA : 0 0 5 50 45 CO : 0 4 14 56 26 ID : 0 0 16 76 8 IL : 2 17 37 42 2 IN : 2 4 48 41 5 KS : 1 4 27 53 15 MI : 1 5 25 57 12 MO : 0 10 47 41 2 MT : 0 2 50 42 6 NE : 0 1 31 58 10 NC : 1 7 26 65 1 OH : 1 2 28 59 10 OK : 0 1 20 52 27 OR : 0 0 53 39 8 SD : 0 3 23 64 10 TX : 4 10 41 41 4 WA : 3 6 29 51 11 : 18 Sts : 1 5 31 50 13 : Prev Wk : 1 5 30 51 13 Prev Yr : NA NA NA NA NA -------------------------------------- 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 Sunflowers - Harvested Winter Wheat - 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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