We 1 (4-10) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released April 13, 2010, 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 4 - 10, 2010 Highlights: Record-setting warmth developed across the eastern one-third of the United States. In fact, weekly temperatures ranged from 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal from the lower Great Lakes region into the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States. In contrast, very chilly weather prevailed across the interior Northwest, where readings ranged from 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal. In addition, cool conditions briefly affected the southern High Plains, where widespread readings below 30 degrees Fahrenheit were noted on April 8. The Northwestern chill required some producers to utilize protective measures for blooming fruit trees and other temperature-sensitive crops. Some of the lowest Northwestern readings were observed on April 4 and 9-10. Between cold outbreaks, widespread rain and snow showers aided winter grains and further improved high-elevation snow packs. Early in the week, precipitation fell as far south as southern California. Farther east, mostly dry weather prevailed on the Plains, except for early- to mid-week precipitation across Nebraska and neighboring areas. On the northern and southern Plains, spring fieldwork advanced with few delays. Meanwhile in the Midwest, rain slowed fieldwork but boosted topsoil moisture in preparation for corn and soybean planting. Weekly rainfall topped 2 inches in many locations from Iowa to Michigan. Elsewhere, scattered showers provided some relief from short-term dryness across the South. However, significant rainfall largely bypassed the central Gulf Coast region, which has trended dry for much of the year to date. Early in the week, cold weather prevailed in the West in advance of a Pacific storm system. Northwestern daily-record lows for April 4 included -6 degrees Fahrenheit in Stanley, Idaho, and 10 degrees Fahrenheit in Burns, Oregon. Farther south, precipitation records in California for April 4 reached 1.77 inches in Crescent City and 1.59 inches in Mount Shasta City. A day later, wind gusts were clocked to 89 miles per hour in Malibu Hills, California; 66 miles per hour in Winslow, Arizona; and 60 miles per hour in Alamosa, Colorado. In the rain's wake, Mount Shasta City posted a daily-record low of 20 degrees Fahrenheit on April 5. Ely, Nevada (7 and 6 degrees Fahrenheit), collected consecutive daily-record lows on April 5-6. Farther east, snowfall in Utah during the first half of the week totaled 50 inches at Alta, elevation 9,662 feet, and 44 inches at Brighton Crest, elevation 9,500 feet. Salt Lake City, Utah, received 2.8 inches of snow from April 3-6. In Montana, daily-record snowfall totals for April 6 included 7.2 inches in Ennis and 3.0 inches in Wisdom. Ennis has received more than 7 inches of snow on a later spring date only four times: April 8, 1988 (9.0 inches); April 30, 1923 (8.0 inches); May 7, 2002 (11.0 inches); and June 17, 1923 (7.3 inches). In Riverton, Wyoming, where 9.6 inches of snow fell from April 5-7, the season-to-date total of 68.1 inches was second only to a 92.0-inch total in 1919-1920. Meanwhile in Nebraska, the first measurable precipitation (1.63 inches on April 6-7) in Broken Bow since March 11 was also its wettest 24-hour period since July 13, 2009, when 2.22 inches fell. Broken Bow also received 3.0 inches of snow. Elsewhere in Nebraska, North Platte (1.45 inches on April 6-7) experienced its wettest 24-hour period since October 12, 2008, when 1.88 inches was observed. Farther east, heavy precipitation spread from the Midwest into the Northeast, while record-setting warmth covered the East. Daily-record rainfall totals for April 6 included 2.63 inches in Waterloo, Iowa, and 1.87 inches in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rain changed to snow in the Great Lakes region, where Green Bay, Wisconsin, received 2.00 inches of precipitation from April 5-8 and 5.8 inches of snow on April 7-8. It was Green Bay's heaviest April snow since April 4-5, 1977, when 11.0 inches fell. Green Bay had recently completed its first March on record without a single flake of snow. In Michigan, daily-record snowfall totals for April 8 included 9.8 inches in Marquette and 7.2 inches in Sault Ste. Marie. Meanwhile, cool air also overspread the southern Plains, following some early-week heat. Childress, Texas, posted consecutive daily-record highs of 94 degrees Fahrenheit on April 4-5. By April 8, lows in Texas included 22 degrees Fahrenheit (not a daily record) in Dalhart and 27 degrees Fahrenheit in Midland. Warmth persisted, however, in the East. In Maine, Caribou notched five consecutive daily-record highs (68, 82, 73, 66, and 62 degrees Fahrenheit) from April 2-6. Portland, Maine (85 degrees Fahrenheit on April 7), tied for its second-highest April reading on record, behind only 92 degrees Fahrenheit on April 28, 2009. Columbia, South Carolina, posted consecutive daily-record highs (91 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit) on April 5-6, topping the 90-degree mark both days. Other readings above 90 degrees Fahrenheit included Augusta, Georgia (91 degrees Fahrenheit on April 5 and 6); Richmond, Virginia (93 degrees Fahrenheit on April 6 and 7); Allentown, Pennsylvania (92 degrees Fahrenheit on April 7); and Newark, New Jersey (92 degrees Fahrenheit on April 7). New York's Central Park (92 degrees Fahrenheit on April 7) set a record for its earliest reading of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (previously, 90 degrees Fahrenheit on April 8, 1991). For only the second time on record, along with 1927, Central Park reached the 90-degree mark before Phoenix, Arizona. Toward week's end, another surge of cold air arrived in the West. In Oregon, Redmond (12 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit) and Pendleton (27 and 24 degrees Fahrenheit) closed the week with consecutive daily-record lows on April 9-10. Stanley, Idaho (-4 and -3 degrees Fahrenheit), also ended the week with a pair of records. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary April 5 - April 11, 2010 Highlights: With the exception of portions of southern Texas, abnormally warm temperatures prevailed across much of the country east of the Rocky Mountains, with locations in the northern Atlantic Coast States reaching as many as 18 degrees above normal. Elsewhere, average temperature recordings in areas of the Interior and Pacific Northwest were as many as 10 degrees below normal. While much of the Nation experienced relatively dry weather during the week, several areas along the Pacific Coast, in the Great Lakes region, and in the central Rocky Mountains and Great Plains accumulated precipitation totaling 400 percent or more above normal. Corn: Producers had planted 3 percent of the Nation's intended corn acreage for the 2010 crop season, slightly ahead of last year, but 1 percentage point behind the 5-year average. Planting was underway in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota, 4 of the 5 largest corn-producing States, with progress slightly ahead of normal in Iowa and Minnesota. In Illinois, overall progress was 3 percentage points behind the 5-year average, but slightly ahead of progress from the previous 3 years. Winter Wheat: Nationally, 65 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 23 percentage points better than conditions from this time last year. Optimal weather conditions in Kansas during the week allowed for an improvement in crop conditions, with slightly more of the winter wheat rated as excellent. Cotton: Planting advanced to 6 percent complete by April 11, slightly behind last year and 3 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Planting began in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas during the week, while planting in the Northern Low Plains had yet to begin. Abnormally cool overnight temperatures left much of the crop in the Coastal Bend area of Texas lacking the heat units needed for seed germination and crop emergence. Elsewhere, aided by mostly above average temperatures and dry conditions, producers in areas of the Delta and Southeast began planting their crop during the week. Sorghum: Producers planted 4 percent of the sorghum crop during the week, leaving progress, at 20 percent complete, slightly behind both last year and the 5-year average. The most progress was evident in the Delta, where producers in Arkansas and Louisiana utilized 5 or more days suitable for fieldwork to plant 18 percent of their crop during the week. Rice: Seeding advanced to 23 percent complete by week's end, 3 percentage points ahead of last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Seeding began in Missouri during the week, but overall progress remained slightly behind normal. Ideal seeding conditions allowed for double-digit progress in the Delta and Texas. Emergence was evident in 4 percent of the Nation's rice fields by April 11, compared with 6 percent last year and 8 percent for the 5-year average. Cool overnight temperatures in the rice-producing areas of Louisiana and Texas hampered emergence, leaving overall progress 15 and 20 percentage points behind the average, respectively. Small Grains: Nationwide, 47 percent of the oat crop was seeded by April 11, twelve percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Warm temperatures promoted increased fieldwork in areas of the Corn Belt and Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, where producers seeded 26 percent or more of their crop during the week. Overall, emergence had advanced to 28 percent complete by week's end, equaling progress from both last year and the 5-year average. Other Crops: Sugarbeet planting was underway in the 4 major producing States, with 17 percent of the 2010 crop in the ground by April 11, thirteen percentage points ahead of last year and 9 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. An abnormally mild winter led to early fieldwork in Michigan where 78 percent of the crop was planted by week's end, well ahead of both last year and the average. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 NA 2 2 IL : 1 NA 0 4 IN : 1 NA 0 1 IA : 1 NA 0 0 KS : 7 NA 5 7 KY : 10 NA 2 12 MI : 1 NA 0 1 MN : 1 NA 0 0 MO : 9 NA 5 16 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 34 NA 12 25 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 1 NA 0 1 PA : 3 NA 1 1 SD : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 15 NA 4 21 TX : 48 NA 59 61 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 18 Sts: 3 NA 2 4 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 0 0 2 AZ : 30 25 24 22 AR : 0 0 0 0 CA : 20 15 18 28 GA : 1 0 0 1 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 5 0 4 3 MS : 0 0 0 1 MO : 1 0 0 0 NC : 0 0 0 0 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 0 0 2 1 TN : 0 0 0 0 TX : 9 6 11 14 VA : 0 0 0 1 : 15 Sts: 6 4 7 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 19 1 4 16 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 43 25 12 29 MO : 1 0 0 1 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 2 0 4 1 OK : 0 0 1 2 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 48 37 51 52 : 11 Sts: 20 16 21 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 32 NA 17 35 MI : 78 NA 9 13 MN : 1 NA 0 0 ND : 1 NA 0 0 : 4 Sts : 17 NA 4 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 84% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 55 28 31 30 MN : 34 7 3 3 NE : 43 15 29 43 ND : 0 0 0 2 OH : 30 4 33 18 PA : 41 14 23 22 SD : 10 2 0 14 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 35 0 9 7 : 9 Sts : 47 33 35 37 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 64% of last year's oat acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 3 NA 1 3 MN : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 6 NA 2 9 ND : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 1 NA 2 1 PA : 3 NA 6 3 SD : 0 NA 0 1 TX : 100 NA 100 100 WI : 0 NA 0 0 : 9 Sts : 28 NA 28 28 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 64% of last year's oat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 19 8 12 15 CA : 0 0 0 1 LA : 66 50 56 56 MS : 13 10 13 12 MO : 7 0 6 8 TX : 53 35 80 64 : 6 Sts : 23 14 20 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2005- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 NA 0 2 CA : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 15 NA 21 30 MS : 3 NA 1 2 MO : 0 NA 0 0 TX : 22 NA 45 42 : 6 Sts : 4 NA 6 8 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States Week Ending Apr 11, 2010 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 6 46 39 8 CA : 0 0 5 20 75 CO : 0 4 24 59 13 ID : 0 0 16 74 10 IL : 7 23 34 34 2 IN : 0 3 29 55 13 KS : 1 4 26 56 13 MI : 2 6 20 57 15 MO : 12 19 39 27 3 MT : 1 6 42 46 5 NE : 0 4 32 58 6 NC : 4 16 43 34 3 OH : 1 2 25 53 19 OK : 1 3 25 61 10 OR : 0 4 41 45 10 SD : 0 2 26 62 10 TX : 2 8 32 46 12 WA : 3 7 23 52 15 : 18 Sts : 1 5 29 53 12 : Prev Wk : 1 5 29 52 13 Prev Yr : 11 14 33 36 6 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2009 planted acreage. 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 approximately 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/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 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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