We 1 (9-08) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 16, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Dawn Keen at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary September 7 - 13, 2008 Highlights: Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island, TX, at 2:10 a.m. CDT on September 13. Maximum sustained winds were near 110 m.p.h., making Ike the third category 2 hurricane (along with Dolly and Gustav) to strike the U.S. this year. Ike was the sixth consecutive named Atlantic Basin tropical system to make landfall in the U.S. (following Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, and Hanna), breaking the satellite-era record of five storms in a row set on several occasions, most recently in August-September 2004. Ike had a profound effect on the Galveston/Houston area due to flooding (induced by both rainfall and storm surge) and high winds. However, the largest measured storm surge occurred east of the storm's center at Sabine Pass, on the Texas-Louisiana border. Surge values were more than 10 feet above normal on parts of Galveston Island and 12.5 feet above normal at Sabine Pass. In southern Louisiana, sugarcane producers monitored the effects of salt-water intrusion, since storm-surge heights in many cases were similar to those observed with Hurricane Gustav just 2 weeks earlier. Along the Texas coast, the rice harvest was nearly complete, but a portion of the cotton crop was battered by wind and rain. In the lower Mississippi Valley and neighboring areas, cotton, rice, sorghum, and soybeans that were adversely affected by Gustav were subjected to another round of gusty winds and locally heavy rain. Farther north, a moisture-laden cold front preceded Ike's arrival. Moisture associated with former eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Lowell entrained into the cold front contributed to 4- to 10-inch rainfall totals from western Texas into southern Michigan. Locations reporting their wettest day on record included Lubbock, TX (7.46 inches on September 11), and Chicago, IL (6.64 inches on September 13). On the southern Plains, downpours halted winter wheat planting preparations and threatened the quality of sorghum, open-boll cotton, and other unharvested summer crops. In parts of the southern, central, and eastern Corn Belt, crops such as corn, sorghum, and soybeans were subjected to flooding rains or wind gusts as high as 60 to 75 m.p.h., or a combination of both, raising concerns about lodging and crop quality. Elsewhere, chilly weather settled across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest, while warm, dry weather promoted fieldwork and crop development in the West Coast States. Widespread temperatures below 40 degrees F were noted across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest on September 8-9, but immature corn and soybeans escaped the cool spell without injury. Cool weather settled into the Northwest early in the week, followed by several chilly days across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest. Boundary Dam, WA (33 degrees F), opened the week with a daily-record low for September 7. Farther east, Sisseton, SD, noted consecutive daily-record lows of 37 degrees F on September 8 and 9. Other daily-record lows for September 9 included 36 degrees F in Atlantic, IA, and 42 degrees F in St. Joseph, MO. By mid-week, cool weather returned to much of the West, where Boundary Dam (31 degrees F on September 11) posted another daily-record low. In northern Idaho, Porthill (27 and 23 degrees F) notched consecutive daily-record lows on September 11-12. In contrast, record warmth briefly affected areas west of the Oregon Cascades, where records highs for September 11 included 91 degrees F in Portland and 86 degrees F in Tillamook. Record warmth also prevailed toward week's end around the periphery of Hurricane Ike. A daily record-tying high of 94 degrees F in Tampa, FL, on September 12, was followed the next day by records in Texas locations such as San Antonio (100 degrees F) and Austin (99 degrees F). Prior to Ike's arrival, widespread showers were associated with a pair of cold fronts. By mid-week, the first front stalled across the South, generating locally heavy showers. Tyler, TX (2.49 and 2.85 inches), measured consecutive daily-record amounts on September 8 and 9. Elsewhere in Texas, San Angelo (3.05 inches) received a daily-record total for September 8. Meanwhile, daily-record totals in Tennessee reached 1.28 inches (on September 8) in Knoxville and 1.49 inches (on September 9) in Bristol. Locally heavy showers also dotted the Northeast, where Scranton, PA (1.58 inches on September 9), netted a daily-record amount. Heavy rain lingered along the Mid-Atlantic Coast through September 11, when Norfolk, VA, collected 3.16 inches. Farther west, phenomenally heavy rainfall developed on September 11 on the central and southern High Plains. In fact, September 11 was the wettest day on record in Lubbock, TX (7.46 inches; previously 5.70 inches on June 1, 1967), and Colorado Springs, CO (4.29 inches; previously, 3.98 inches on August 4, 1999). Lubbock's 24-hour total on September 11-12 reached 7.80 inches, shattering its record of 5.82 inches established on October 18-19, 1983. The following day, September 12, featured an all-time-record daily total of 10.31 inches in Wichita, KS (previously, 6.82 inches on June 8, 1923). Wichita also achieved records for its wettest 24-hour period (10.31 inches; previously 7.99 inches on September 6-7, 1911) and wettest September (12.94 inches; previously, 10.69 inches in 1999). From September 8-10, Hurricane Ike grazed southern Florida, where Key West measured 2.31 inches of rain and clocked a wind gust to 60 m.p.h. On September 13, peak gusts in Texas from instrumentation that survived the hurricane's final landfall included 102 m.p.h. at Anahuac Airport (Chambers County), 99 m.p.h. at Sea Rim State Park (Jefferson County), and 92 m.p.h. at Houston's Hobby Airport. After landfall, Ike accelerated northeastward while merging with a cold front, reaching the lower Great Lakes region by the afternoon of September 14. Rainfall records associated with Ike's passage through Missouri on September 14 included 4.58 inches in St. Louis and 4.43 inches in Vichy-Rolla. With Gustav and Ike, Arkansas experienced the passage of two former hurricanes in one season for the first time since 1985, when the remnants of Danny and Elena crossed a portion of the state. High winds were observed east of Ike's center in the Ohio Valley, where peak gusts in Ohio on September 14 reached 75 m.p.h. in Columbus and 74 m.p.h. in Cincinnati. In parts of the Midwest, heavy rain preceded Ike's arrival. On September 13, Chicago, IL (6.64 inches), and South Bend, IN (6.58 inches), set single-day rainfall records. Former records were 6.49 inches (on August 14, 1987) in Chicago and 4.69 inches (on June 25, 1968) in South Bend. The 2-day (September 13-14) rainfall in South Bend reached 10.65 inches, boosting its monthly total (13.65 inches through September 14) to a record-setting level for September (previously, 9.01 inches in 1977) and any month (previously, 10.86 inches in June 1993). In the rain's wake, record crests were noted in several locations, including the Little Calumet River at Munster, IN (5.32 feet above flood stage on September 14; previously, 5.03 feet on November 28, 1990); the Kankakee River at Shelby, IN (4.06 feet above flood stage on September 16; previously, 3.98 feet on March 24, 1982); and the Illinois River at Morris, IL (8.84 feet above flood stage on September 16; previously, 7.91 feet on July 14, 1957). In Hermann, MO, the Missouri River (10.44 feet above flood stage on September 16) climbed to its ninth- highest level on record, and highest level since May 19, 1995. Near- to above-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, with readings as much as 6 degrees F above normal across the mainland. Nome experienced its warmest first 10 days of September on record, including 8 days with highs of 60 degrees F or greater. Nome's former September record for days at or above 60 degrees F was 6 days in 1968. Alaskan daily-record highs included 65 degrees F (on September 7) in Kotzebue and 62 degrees F (on September 9) in Nome. Heavy precipitation was confined to southern Alaska, where the weekly rainfall total in Yakutat reached 7.61 inches. Farther south, mostly dry weather persisted in Hawaii, although enough rain fell in Lihue, Kauai (0.59 inch on September 12), to result in a daily-record total. Several other locations on Kauai and Oahu received at least 1 to 2 inches of rain on September 12-13. Nevertheless, Lihue's year-to-date rainfall through September 13 stood at just 10.41 inches (43 percent of normal). National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary September 8 - 14, 2008 Corn: Hurricane Ike moved through southern areas of the Corn Belt with a band of heavy rain stretching from eastern Kansas northeastward into the Great Lakes. Temperatures remained below average to the west of the band of rain, but above normal to the east. Ninety-six percent of the corn acreage reached the dough stage, 4 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Progress in all States was within 7 points of normal. Seventy-eight percent of the Nation's acreage reached the dent stage, 17 points behind last year and 11 points behind the 5-year average. Denting was complete in Tennessee and was nearly complete in North Carolina and Texas. In Colorado and Michigan, the crop was reaching the dent stage ahead of the 5-year average. Elsewhere, the crop was developing at or behind the normal pace. Nineteen percent of the corn acreage reached maturity, 39 points behind last year and 25 percentage points behind the 5-year average. In Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, corn development was more than 30 points behind average. Corn was developing to maturity 42 and 52 points behind normal in Illinois and Missouri, respectively. Corn condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent, unchanged from last week. Soybeans: Heavy rains fell from Kansas northeastward to the Great Lakes, dumping more than 6 inches of precipitation across much of the region. Elsewhere, lesser amounts fell over much of the soybean-growing area. Leaf dropping had occurred on 21 percent of the soybean acreage, lagging 27 points behind last year and 20 points behind the 5-year average. Leaf-dropping was occurring behind average in all States except Michigan, where development was 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. In Illinois, Minnesota, and Mississippi, the crop was developing more than 30 points behind normal. Condition of the crop was rated 57 percent good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Winter Wheat: Heavy rains fell from the Low Plains of Texas northward through portions of Oklahoma and Kansas. Producers had planted 11 percent of their winter wheat acreage, 1 point behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Cooler than average temperatures over major winter wheat producing areas of the country kept planting activities behind schedule. In Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas, planting was 10 or more points behind normal, while elsewhere; planting was within 7 points of the usual pace. Cotton: The Delta region was spared a direct hit from Hurricane Ike, but did receive some rainfall. Temperatures in the region remained within 4 degrees of normal. West of the Mississippi River cooler than average temperatures remained, as a cold front moved across the western half of the Nation. Boll opening occurred on 40 percent of the cotton acreage, 12 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. In Arkansas and Mississippi, development was 13 and 25 points behind the 5-year average, respectively, while in Louisiana, bolls were opening 1 point ahead of normal. Producers had harvested 7 percent of the cotton crop by week's end, 1 point ahead of last year's pace but 2 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest progress was furthest along in Arizona and Texas. Condition of the cotton crop was rated 47 percent good to excellent, a 2 point decline from the previous week. Sorghum: Major sorghum producing areas of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas received up to 10 inches of rainfall during the week. Ninety-six percent of the sorghum acreage was at or beyond heading, 4 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Heading was complete or nearly complete except in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Seventy-one percent of the acreage was coloring or beyond, 18 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Acreage reaching maturity, at 38 percent, lagged 11 points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Major delays were evident in Illinois, where development was 50 points behind the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 29 percent of the sorghum acreage, 8 points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest in Arkansas was 45 points behind average, while elsewhere; harvest was within 11 points of normal. Fifty-four percent of the crop was rated good to excellent, 1 point better than the previous week. Rice: A quarter of the rice acreage was harvested, 19 points behind last year and 16 points behind the 5-year average. The most significant delays were in Arkansas and Mississippi, where producers were harvesting 20 and 30 points behind the 5-year average, respectively. Rice condition was rated 62 percent good to excellent, 1 point better than a week earlier. Small Grains: Barley producers had harvested 92 percent of the crop, 8 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Other than in Montana, where harvest was 15 points behind the 5-year average, harvest was within 9 points of normal in all States. Spring wheat harvest reached 92 percent complete, 7 points behind last year and 2 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was within 8 points of the average pace in all States. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 100 98 98 94 IL : 98 95 100 100 IN : 97 94 100 100 IA : 92 82 99 99 KS : 100 97 100 100 KY : 100 99 100 100 MI : 93 90 99 93 MN : 97 94 100 97 MO : 95 92 100 100 NE : 97 94 100 99 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 89 82 100 95 OH : 100 92 99 99 PA : 94 90 98 94 SD : 98 93 100 99 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 98 100 100 WI : 84 76 97 91 : 18 Sts: 96 91 100 98 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 80 57 73 72 IL : 77 60 98 96 IN : 77 61 93 89 IA : 71 50 95 92 KS : 94 85 98 97 KY : 93 85 98 96 MI : 78 68 83 71 MN : 81 61 99 87 MO : 81 72 98 98 NE : 85 70 97 91 NC : 99 96 100 99 ND : 55 34 90 80 OH : 83 63 89 85 PA : 70 62 81 76 SD : 81 63 93 87 TN : 100 98 100 100 TX : 95 90 100 98 WI : 48 31 84 69 : 18 Sts: 78 62 95 89 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 34 11 31 26 IL : 16 4 81 58 IN : 19 8 54 42 IA : 11 3 61 45 KS : 41 28 78 72 KY : 74 61 90 80 MI : 16 10 38 23 MN : 6 2 61 31 MO : 30 17 82 82 NE : 9 5 41 30 NC : 95 84 99 93 ND : 2 1 39 28 OH : 18 10 25 19 PA : 32 25 48 36 SD : 7 2 37 28 TN : 76 58 100 92 TX : 67 66 84 83 WI : 8 5 30 19 : 18 Sts: 19 11 58 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 12 8 42 38 IL : 7 2 52 39 IN : 32 18 57 48 IA : 16 5 46 44 KS : 21 9 37 39 KY : 16 7 41 24 LA : 57 52 76 67 MI : 28 11 21 25 MN : 18 5 71 49 MS : 51 40 81 82 MO : 5 2 24 24 NE : 13 3 22 27 NC : 11 6 18 14 ND : 30 12 66 52 OH : 37 20 47 41 SD : 43 26 56 59 TN : 36 23 69 45 WI : 27 5 33 34 : 18 Sts: 21 10 48 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 NA 1 1 CA : 5 NA 7 2 CO : 34 NA 19 30 ID : 14 NA 21 14 IL : 1 NA 1 1 IN : 0 NA 0 1 KS : 5 NA 6 9 MI : 2 NA 2 4 MO : 0 NA 1 1 MT : 7 NA 23 21 NE : 18 NA 30 31 NC : 0 NA 0 1 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 11 NA 10 17 OR : 15 NA 12 8 SD : 18 NA 29 28 TX : 8 NA 7 20 WA : 35 NA 47 39 : 18 Sts: 11 NA 12 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 16 5 38 36 CA : 4 0 13 9 LA : 73 48 88 90 MS : 20 8 62 50 MO : 6 0 38 19 TX : 91 90 91 93 : 6 Sts : 25 14 44 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 61 53 68 63 AZ : 80 70 76 78 AR : 60 28 84 73 CA : 41 25 51 48 GA : 53 37 39 56 KS : 16 15 11 20 LA : 84 65 84 83 MS : 58 39 88 83 MO : 46 28 92 60 NC : 57 35 82 62 OK : 41 29 30 44 SC : 39 19 51 44 TN : 45 25 94 61 TX : 22 21 31 34 VA : 54 31 78 70 : 15 Sts: 40 29 52 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 NA 4 4 AZ : 15 NA 9 5 AR : 0 NA 8 4 CA : 0 NA 0 0 GA : 1 NA 0 2 KS : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 5 NA 1 11 MS : 0 NA 4 9 MO : 0 NA 18 4 NC : 0 NA 1 0 OK : 0 NA 0 0 SC : 0 NA 0 0 TN : 0 NA 4 2 TX : 14 NA 8 16 VA : 0 NA 0 0 : 15 Sts: 7 NA 6 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 15 States harvested 99% of last year's cotton acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 85 67 99 94 MN : 99 95 100 96 MT : 81 76 100 96 ND : 100 97 100 97 WA : 95 75 100 100 : 5 Sts : 92 85 100 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 91 75 99 97 MN : 97 87 100 91 MT : 86 82 99 94 ND : 91 87 99 93 SD : 100 100 100 100 WA : 96 83 100 100 : 6 Sts : 92 87 99 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 100 100 100 98 IL : 100 100 100 99 KS : 95 92 100 98 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 96 99 100 NE : 100 99 100 99 NM : 86 82 86 90 OK : 89 80 95 94 SD : 100 97 100 100 TX : 96 93 100 96 : 11 Sts: 96 93 100 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 97 100 100 CO : 96 91 74 60 IL : 52 39 95 90 KS : 63 52 85 75 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 61 52 80 88 NE : 68 45 91 81 NM : 49 *45 60 47 OK : 59 45 67 68 SD : 85 67 93 87 TX : 75 73 95 76 : 11 Sts: 71 64 89 77 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 89 79 100 95 CO : 41 20 36 25 IL : 5 0 82 55 KS : 10 5 17 21 LA : 100 100 100 99 MO : 23 10 38 47 NE : 1 0 12 13 NM : 2 1 5 5 OK : 25 20 17 30 SD : 5 2 33 24 TX : 67 66 84 66 : 11 Sts: 38 34 49 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 2003- State:Sep 14,:Sep 7, :Sep 14,: 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 28 10 85 73 CO : 3 0 4 1 IL : 0 0 16 6 KS : 0 0 2 6 LA : 86 74 92 93 MO : 4 1 12 15 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 11 8 6 13 SD : 0 0 2 1 TX : 66 65 79 62 : 11 Sts: 29 28 37 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 5 11 30 32 22 IL : 3 6 25 52 14 IN : 3 11 31 43 12 IA : 3 9 25 48 15 KS : 3 8 30 49 10 KY : 2 10 21 39 28 MI : 7 14 29 35 15 MN : 5 9 24 52 10 MO : 4 15 34 38 9 NE : 2 4 17 55 22 NC : 25 26 30 15 4 ND : 2 6 23 55 14 OH : 9 19 37 29 6 PA : 1 13 22 45 19 SD : 2 4 17 51 26 TN : 3 15 34 42 6 TX : 16 16 26 38 4 WI : 7 15 32 39 7 : 18 Sts : 4 9 26 47 14 : Prev Wk : 4 9 26 47 14 Prev Yr : 5 9 23 46 17 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 4 13 33 37 13 IL : 3 6 28 53 10 IN : 5 12 36 38 9 IA : 3 9 28 47 13 KS : 0 4 24 52 20 KY : 5 15 27 35 18 LA : 20 32 38 10 0 MI : 9 16 30 35 10 MN : 3 7 25 49 16 MS : 6 13 32 37 12 MO : 5 16 36 34 9 NE : 2 6 23 55 14 NC : 2 13 32 43 10 ND : 1 5 15 61 18 OH : 10 21 39 25 5 SD : 1 4 21 51 23 TN : 9 17 33 37 4 WI : 7 15 30 39 9 : 18 Sts : 4 10 29 45 12 : Prev Wk : 4 10 29 44 13 Prev Yr : 6 11 27 43 13 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 2 1 26 54 17 FL : 0 0 29 55 16 GA : 2 4 29 53 12 NC : 0 2 28 60 10 OK : 0 2 22 70 6 SC : 0 4 23 63 10 TX : 1 4 31 61 3 VA : 0 12 45 34 9 : 8 Sts : 1 3 29 56 11 : Prev Wk : 1 3 28 56 12 Prev Yr : 7 13 32 37 11 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 9 30 45 14 CA : 0 5 21 60 14 LA : 6 22 39 27 6 MS : 0 4 11 48 37 MO : 0 1 9 49 41 TX : 3 3 28 50 16 : 6 Sts : 2 9 27 46 16 : Prev Wk : 2 8 29 44 17 Prev Yr : 0 3 26 51 20 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 planted acres. Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 3 12 38 41 6 AZ : 0 2 16 67 15 AR : 1 10 35 42 12 CA : 0 0 5 40 55 GA : 4 10 44 35 7 KS : 5 10 30 45 10 LA : 24 30 39 7 0 MS : 7 10 23 42 18 MO : 3 8 23 57 9 NC : 2 11 33 44 10 OK : 4 12 39 35 10 SC : 5 11 49 33 2 TN : 0 8 33 52 7 TX : 9 18 33 31 9 VA : 0 19 48 25 8 : 15 Sts : 6 14 33 36 11 : Prev Wk : 6 14 31 37 12 Prev Yr : 7 14 30 37 12 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 9 41 38 12 CO : 4 13 44 37 2 IL : 3 2 17 61 17 KS : 2 8 28 51 11 LA : 0 11 44 42 3 MO : 1 7 39 45 8 NE : 0 3 23 56 18 NM : 0 32 33 34 1 OK : 1 14 31 50 4 SD : 3 4 24 53 16 TX : 5 14 36 40 5 : 11 Sts : 3 11 32 46 8 : Prev Wk : 3 11 33 44 9 Prev Yr : 2 7 26 50 15 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 planted acres. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States, Week Ending Sep 14, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 4 15 32 40 9 :: NJ : 0 0 70 30 0 AZ : 2 23 33 30 12 :: NM : 3 8 24 48 17 AR : 0 2 25 54 19 :: NY : 0 5 23 59 13 CA : 81 19 0 0 0 :: NC : 10 14 37 34 5 CO : 8 20 39 26 7 :: ND : 17 26 32 22 3 CT : 0 3 26 59 12 :: OH : 17 28 32 21 2 DE : 35 48 13 3 1 :: OK : 2 7 32 50 9 FL : 5 5 25 55 10 :: OR : 23 32 34 11 0 GA : 4 12 43 38 3 :: PA : 13 28 40 15 4 ID : 3 22 42 30 3 :: RI : 0 10 30 40 20 IL : 2 6 30 54 8 :: SC : 6 21 37 35 1 IN : 11 24 37 25 3 :: SD : 1 9 25 50 15 IA : 4 13 32 42 9 :: TN : 11 25 38 25 1 KS : 4 8 25 54 9 :: TX : 8 15 38 32 7 KY : 29 29 29 12 1 :: UT : 9 14 29 41 7 LA : 6 12 46 33 3 :: VT : 0 29 28 40 3 ME : 0 0 16 67 17 :: VA : 8 23 42 25 2 MD : 3 23 41 30 3 :: WA : 10 28 38 22 2 MA : 0 0 25 75 0 :: WV : 3 16 40 40 1 MI : 13 28 31 24 4 :: WI : 11 31 34 22 2 MN : 12 24 33 29 2 :: WY : 2 13 44 34 7 MS : 2 4 32 50 12 :: : MO : 1 6 30 54 9 :: 48 Sts : 11 16 31 35 7 MT : 7 20 38 29 6 :: : NE : 3 11 27 52 7 :: Prev Wk: 11 17 32 34 6 NV : 11 20 44 24 1 :: Prev Yr: 16 18 27 31 8 NH : 0 0 31 57 12 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 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, 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- Harvested Corn- Dented, Mature, Harvested, Condition Cotton- Bolls Opening, Harvested, Condition Pasture and Range- Condition Peanuts- Harvested, Condition Rice- Harvested, Condition Sorghum- Coloring, Mature, Harvested, Condition Soybeans- Dropping Leaves, Condition Spring Wheat- Harvested Sugarbeets- Harvested Winter Wheat- Planted 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 on the worldwide Internet. For 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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