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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
July 30, 2002
Summary
General dryness slowed crop development and cut moisture reserves in many parts of the Midwest and the Southeast. Corn and soybeans have now entered the critical flowering and reproductive stage, delayed somewhat by late spring plantings. Current subsurface soil moisture reserves are adequate to sustain crop growth. Both corn and soybean crop conditions have deteriorated slightly from last week, due to the heat and moisture stress in the Midwest. Warmer, drier conditions are helping crops in rain-soaked Minnesota. Farmers in parts of the Midwest are reporting occurrences of the Western corn rootworm and Japanese beetles in several fields. Drought conditions continue to prevail in parts of Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. Rice and peanut crops are progressing very well. Cotton crop is setting boll. Some minor problems associated with the earlier wetness are evident in Missouri, and dryness in parts of Virginia.
Crop Condition
During July 11-20, 2002, precipitation was below normal in the Midwest. Showers benefited summer crops in parts of the South and Southeast. Warmer, drier conditions taxed surface soil moisture reserves ; however, adequate subsurface moisture reserves helped crops maintain plant vigor. Drought conditions continue to prevail in parts of central Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia, where subsurface moisture conditions remain deficient. Temperature conditions ranged from slightly below normal in Missouri, southern Illinois, Arkansas, and the Northeast to somewhat above normal conditions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, Ohio, and parts of the Southeast.
Seasonal precipitation analysis for the central Corn Belt (May 1-July 20, 2002) shows dryness in western Iowa, parts of northeastern Illinois, and Ohio. The southern half of Missouri, south-central Illinois, and western Indiana continue to show a surplus. Seasonal precipitation analysis for the southeastern United States (including Virginia) shows significant precipitation deficits in parts of Georgia, northern and northwestern parts of South Carolina, most of North Carolina with the exception of the Delmarva Peninsula, and Virginia. Excessively wet conditions in peninsular Florida are due to the earlier heavy rain.
A comparison of the satellite derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the period July 1-15 shows that vegetation conditions during 2002 are slightly inferior to those during both 2000 and 2001 in parts of Georgia, North and South Carolina due to the drought. Vegetation conditions in eastern Indiana and western Ohio are somewhat poorer than during both 2000 and 2002, due to the recent moisture stress. Florida is recovering from the earlier heavy rains.
According to NASS, as of July 22, 2002, about half the corn crop is in the silking stage, with some 7 percent in the dough stage in the South and Southeast. Delays in silking, due to late planting, are evident in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. About 25-30 percent of the corn crop is reportedly in the poor to very poor condition in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Pennsylvania; with more extreme conditions in Ohio and North Carolina. About 59 percent of the soybean crop is in the bloom stage, with another 16 percent in pod set. Some significant delays in soybean blooming are evident in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and Louisiana. About 25-35 percent of the soybean crop is in poor to very poor condition in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan. Farmers in parts of northern Illinois and Indiana are reporting damage from the western corn rootworm, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers and grasshoppers. The cotton crop is setting bolls (59 percent), with some minor delays in parts of Missouri due to the earlier wetness. The rice crop is in excellent condition with about 35 percent in the heading stage. The peanut crop is progressing well, with some 80 percent of the crop in the pegging stage. Most of the winter wheat has already been harvested. Nearly all of the spring wheat crop in Minnesota has reached the heading stage, with about 24 percent of the crop reported to be in poor-very poor condition.
