Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

Weekly Weather
and Crop Bulletin
Washington, D.C.

Released August 26, 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
August 17 - 23, 2008
Highlights: Tropical Storm Fay made four landfalls in Florida between August 18 and 23, resulting in a
prolonged period of gusty winds and torrential rainfall. Cities in Florida particularly hard hit by flooding
included Melbourne, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. In addition, tropical storm-force winds buffeted much
of southern Florida on August 19 and the southern Atlantic Coast (north of Fay’s center) on August 2122. Nevertheless, Florida’s major citrus and sugarcane areas escaped Fay’s passage with only minor wind
and flood damage, because maximum sustained winds never topped 65 m.p.h. and flooding rains fell largely
outside major agricultural regions. At week’s end, Fay weakened to a tropical depression over western
Florida and southern Alabama, but continued to produce locally heavy rainfall. In contrast, intensifying
short-term dryness adversely affected pastures and late-developing summer crops in the eastern Corn Belt
and the Mid-Atlantic States. Unfavorable dryness also persisted in parts of the upper Midwest, including
Minnesota and areas along the Iowa-Nebraska border. However, late-week showers in the central Corn
Belt were heaviest in parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan. Farther west, heavy precipitation subsided
across the south-central U.S. by midweek, but not before additional rainfall totaled 4 inches or more in parts
of central Oklahoma and southern and eastern Texas. On the southern Plains, rain hampered fieldwork
but boosted soil moisture in preparation for winter wheat planting. On the northern Plains, spring wheat
harvesting advanced with few delays, despite scattered showers on August 21-22. Elsewhere, hot, dry
weather prevailed in the West, except for isolated showers in the Four Corners region and occasional
precipitation from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. In general, Western conditions favored
fieldwork and crop development, including the opening of cotton bolls in California and Arizona.
Extreme heat continued early in the week in the Northwest, where Pendleton, OR (108 degrees F) posted a
daily-record high for August 17. On the same day, Spokane, WA (103 degrees F) recorded its latest-ever
reading at or above 103 degrees F (previously, 103 degrees F on August 10, 1898). Farther east, triple-digit
readings were noted in Montana locations such as Thompson Falls (104 degrees F on August 18) and
Glasgow (103 degrees F on August 19). In contrast, cool weather settled into both the Northeast and the
Northwest during the second half of the week. Salisbury, MD (46 degrees F), notched a record for August
21, followed the next day by daily-record lows in Oregon locations such as Burns (30 degrees F) and
Pendleton (45 degrees F). Elsewhere in Oregon, Baker closed the week with consecutive daily-record
lows (33 degrees F both days) on August 22-23. High winds preceded and accompanied the surge of cool air
across the nation’s northern tier, with a gust to 55 m.p.h. recorded in Bismarck, ND, on August 22.
Farther south, heavy rain continued early in the week across the south-central U.S., where daily-record
amounts in Texas included 3.57 inches (on August 17) in Corpus Christi and 5.38 inches (on August 18) in
McAllen. Oklahoma City, OK, set an August rainfall record (9.51 inches; previously 8.34 inches in 1906),
aided by a 4.54-inch total on August 18-19. Similarly, the month-to-date rainfall in Waco, TX, climbed to
an August record of 10.05 inches (previously 9.98 inches in 1914), largely due to a 7.24-inch deluge on
August 18-19. Elsewhere in Texas, Wichita Falls collected consecutive daily-record rainfall totals (2.84
and 3.27 inches on August 18 and 19, respectively). Other daily-record totals across the South included
2.15 inches (on August 17) in New Iberia, LA, and 2.65 inches (on August 19) in El Dorado, AR. Locally
heavy showers also dotted the Northwest, where daily records were set in locations such as Astoria, OR
We 1 (8-08)

(0.79 inch on August 19) and Mullan Pass, ID (1.07 inches on August 20). A few heavy showers fell after
mid-week in the Midwest, where Houghton Lake, MI (2.50 inches on August 23), netted a daily-record
sum.
Tropical Storm Fay spent much of its life cycle near or over land, which prevented the system from reaching
hurricane intensity. After crossing the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Fay hugged the southern coast of
Cuba before turning northward across the western part of the island. Fay reached the Florida Keys near
Key West on the afternoon of August 18, then made landfall on Cape Romano, south of Naples, FL, before
dawn on August 19. Improbably, Fay strengthened during its first 8 hours over land, reaching a maximum
intensity (sustained winds near 65 m.p.h.) over Florida’s Everglades. Peak winds gusts (on August 18) in
the Keys included 55 m.p.h. at Marathon and 51 m.p.h. at Key West, while an unofficial gust to 78 m.p.h.
was reported on August 19 in Moore Haven, FL, near Lake Okeechobee. By August 25, the average
surface elevation of Lake Okeechobee climbed to 13.63 feet, up 2.29 feet from 1 week earlier.
Later, after more than 24 hours over Florida, Fay emerged over the westernmost Atlantic Ocean on
August 20. However, Fay soon began to drift westward and made its third Florida landfall on the afternoon
of August 21 near Flagler Beach. During this time, exceptionally heavy rain fell in and near Melbourne,
FL, with storm totals in excess of 20 inches observed in locations such as Cape Canaveral and Palm
Shores. Officially, 19.62 inches of rain fell at the National Weather Service office in Melbourne from
August 18-22. Record flooding was noted along the St. Johns River above Lake Harney, where the
previous high-water mark had occurred on October 1, 1924. Meanwhile, August 21-22 peak wind gusts
along the southern Atlantic Coast included 61 m.p.h. in Jacksonville, FL, 59 m.p.h. in Fort Pulaski, GA,
and 51 m.p.h. in Hilton Head, SC. Farther west, another area of record-setting rainfall struck in and near
Tallahassee, FL, northeast of Fay’s final landfall location (early August 23 near Carrabelle, FL).
Tallahassee netted 11.44 inches of rain from August 22-24, while an unofficial nearby total reached 27.50
inches in Thomasville, GA. The St. Marks River near Newport, FL, surged to a record-setting level of
6.88 feet above flood stage on August 25, surpassing the April 1973 high-water mark by 2.07 feet. At
week’s end, heavy rain began to expand into neighboring states, where daily-record totals for August 23
included 3.67 inches in Montgomery, AL, and 1.61 inches in Meridian, MS. Elsewhere in Mississippi,
Fay’s remnants dropped 2.10 inches of rain in Jackson, MS, from August 23-25, helping to set an August
rainfall record (11.49 inches; previously, 11.39 inches in 1942).
Near-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, except for warmer-than-normal conditions in western areas.
Most of Alaska’s precipitation was confined to the southern half of the state, especially late in the week. On
August 23, Annette Island netted a daily-record rainfall of 3.27 inches. Farther south, mild, mostly dry
weather prevailed in Hawaii. However, shower activity increased across Hawaii’s western islands toward
week’s end, when August 23-24 (24-hour) totals on Kauai reached 1.07 inches at Hanalei River and 0.92
inch at Wainiha.
National Weather Summary provided by USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board.
For more information, call (202) 720-2397.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

2

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

National Agricultural Summary
August 18 - 24, 2008
Corn: Throughout the week, weather across the Corn Belt was mostly dry with temperatures
within 3 degrees of normal, except in isolated southern portions of the region. Acreage at or
beyond the dough stage reached 68 percent, 20 points behind last year and 14 points behind the
5-year average. Acreage in Pennsylvania and Texas was reaching the dough stage ahead of last
year while development in Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania was ahead of the average pace.
Elsewhere, progress was delayed. Development to the dough stage was nearly complete in
North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Twenty-six percent of the corn acreage reached denting,
32 and 21 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively. In Colorado and
Pennsylvania, denting was occurring ahead of normal, while elsewhere, progress was delayed.
Condition of the corn crop was rated 64 percent good to excellent, a 3 point decline from last week
and the first weekly decline since mid-June.
Soybeans: Weather conditions were mostly dry with normal temperatures throughout the growing
region, except in the South and isolated areas along the Mississippi River where needed rainfall was
received. Blooming was nearly complete at 97 percent, 2 points behind last year and the
5-year average. Other than a 14 point blooming delay in Missouri, blooming progress remained
within 4 points of both last year and the 5-year average in all States. Pod setting had occurred on
88 percent of the Nation’s soybean acreage, 7 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal.
Pod setting was complete in North Dakota, 1 point ahead of the 5-year average, while in Missouri,
development was 29 points behind the average pace. Condition of the soybean crop was rated
61 percent good to excellent, 1 point lower than last week’s rating.
Cotton: Eighty-nine percent of the Nation’s acreage was setting bolls, 1 point behind last year and
5 points behind the 5-year average. Development was within 9 points of the 5-year average in all
States. Boll setting was complete in the Delta, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. Bolls were open
on 16 percent of the Nation’s cotton acreage, 5 points behind last year and 3 points behind the
5-year average. Bolls were opening at or behind the normal pace in all States except Alabama,
Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas. Condition of the crop was rated 48 percent good to excellent,
unchanged from the previous week.
Sorghum: Eighty-four percent of the acreage reached heading, 8 points behind last year and
2 points behind the 5-year average. Forty-six percent of the acreage was coloring, 10 points behind
last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. In Colorado, the crop was coloring well ahead of
last year and normal. All of the acreage in Louisiana had colored, and the majority of the crop had
colored in Arkansas, Colorado, and Texas. Twenty-eight percent of the sorghum acreage reached
maturity, 1 point behind last year but the same as the 5-year average. Maturation in Arkansas was
30 points behind the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 23 percent of the sorghum acreage,
2 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of normal. While harvest was just getting underway in
Arkansas and Oklahoma, more than half of the crop had been reaped in Louisiana and Texas.
Sorghum condition was rated 53 percent good to excellent, 1 point lower than last week.
Rice: Eighty-five percent of the rice acreage was headed, 10 points behind last year and 8 points
behind the 5-year average. Heading was nearly complete in Louisiana and Texas. Ten percent of
the rice acreage had been harvested, lagging 5 points behind last year’s harvest pace and 4 points
behind the average pace. A significant delay was evident in Louisiana where harvest progress was
Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

3

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

21 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Condition of the crop was rated 72 percent good
to excellent, unchanged from the previous week.
Small Grains: Barley producers had harvested 66 percent of the crop, 21 points behind last year
and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was delayed in all States when compared with last
year and the average. The condition rating of the crop remained unchanged from last week at
52 percent good to excellent.
Oat harvest, at 88 percent complete, was 7 points behind last year and 3 points behind the
5-year average. Harvest was complete in Ohio and Texas, and was at or behind the normal pace
except in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Sixty-one percent of the spring wheat was harvested, 22 points behind last year and 11 points
behind the 5-year average. In Idaho, Minnesota, and Washington, harvest progress was 27 or more
points behind the normal pace. Condition of the crop was rated 55 percent good to excellent, 1
point lower than last week’s rating.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

4

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Corn: Percent Dough,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

CO
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
MI
MN
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
PA
SD
TN
TX
WI

60
82
72
53
89
82
75
44
79
85
95
32
69
73
62
99
96
46

Percent

48
66
49
30
73
72
66
20
63
67
92
16
52
44
32
96
88
24

Percent

20032007
Avg.
Percent

67
97
92
82
96
94
79
89
95
92
99
86
83
68
82
100
94
75

88
49
68
18 Sts
1
These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn
acreage.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

State

Corn: Percent Dented,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

54
93
86
78
94
95
66
69
95
90
96
70
82
70
75
100
97
61

CO
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
MI
MN
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
PA
SD
TN
TX
WI

82

26
29
22
13
53
54
18
8
46
42
78
2
20
39
12
88
82
4

Percent

12
12
6
4
37
41
10
4
26
19
70
0
8
14
3
75
68
1

Percent

20032007
Avg.
Percent

22
74
55
53
77
80
31
65
74
58
90
32
40
41
39
97
85
33

58
14
26
18 Sts
1
These 18 States planted 91% of last year's corn
acreage.

5

19
63
46
40
70
76
22
36
80
51
85
25
32
34
29
96
86
17
47

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Soybeans: Percent Blooming,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AR
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
MI
MN
MS
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
SD
TN
WI

98
99
96
98
94
93
100
100
99
100
85
99
87
100
100
100
96
98

Percent

93
93
92
96
86
85
99
100
99
100
76
96
79
100
100
98
92
93

Percent

100
100
99
100
97
97
100
100
100
100
99
100
88
100
100
100
99
100

20032007
Avg.

State

Percent

Percent

99
99
99
100
97
94
100
99
100
100
99
100
89
100
100
100
98
100

AR
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
MI
MN
MS
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
SD
TN
WI

99
99
94
97
18 Sts
1
These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean
acreage.

State

Rice: Percent Headed,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AR
CA
LA
MS
MO
TX

81
80
99
88
93
99

Percent

67
60
97
81
91
98

Percent

96
84
100
100
96
100

6 Sts
85
74
95
1
These 6 States planted 100% of last year's rice
acreage.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
86
92
78
89
78
74
97
98
97
98
57
93
67
100
96
95
87
90

Percent

78
70
61
80
65
64
91
92
89
96
41
77
51
96
85
73
77
75

Percent

20032007
Avg.
Percent

95
95
92
98
84
78
97
94
98
100
86
97
65
99
96
95
91
90

98
98
96
98
79
84
100
99
99
100
84
96
65
100
100
94
90
96

94
95
75
88
18 Sts
1
These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean
acreage.

20032007
Avg.

State

Percent

Rice: Percent Harvested,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

95
80
99
99
93
100

AR
CA
LA
MS
MO
TX

93

0
0
44
1
0
66

Percent

0
0
35
0
0
55

Percent

20032007
Avg.
Percent

5
0
65
5
1
67

6 Sts
10
8
15
1
These 6 States harvested 100% of last year's rice
acreage.

6

3
0
65
4
1
67
14

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AL
AZ
AR
CA
GA
KS
LA
MS
MO
NC
OK
SC
TN
TX
VA

96
97
100
92
96
90
100
100
100
95
88
95
100
79
100

Percent

91
94
100
90
95
80
96
98
100
93
81
88
99
71
95

Percent

94
100
100
97
99
100
100
100
98
100
73
90
100
81
100

20032007
Avg.
Percent

95
99
100
97
99
89
100
100
99
98
90
91
100
88
99

94
90
84
89
15 Sts
1
These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton
acreage.

State

Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AL
AZ
AR
CA
GA
KS
LA
MS
MO
NC
OK
SC
TN
TX
VA

Percent

15
30
4
8
4
0
30
5
2
1
3
1
1
18
8

30
45
7
12
11
0
45
12
4
8
5
3
3
19
10

Percent

26
45
37
24
12
0
35
48
33
14
5
10
44
12
32

20032007
Avg.
Percent

17
42
21
22
15
3
39
34
15
8
10
11
17
18
31

19
21
12
16
15 Sts
1
These 15 States planted 99% of last year's cotton
acreage.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Sorghum: Percent Headed,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AR
CO
IL
KS
LA
MO
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX

100
95
86
80
100
83
91
74
58
87
86

Percent

99
85
69
72
100
73
72
66
47
84
76

Percent

100
92
99
91
100
89
97
40
83
99
94

20032007
Avg.

State

Percent

Percent

100
82
95
84
100
94
92
54
78
97
85

AR
CO
IL
KS
LA
MO
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX

86
92
75
84
11 Sts
1
These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum
acreage.

State

Sorghum: Percent Mature,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

AR
CO
IL
KS
LA
MO
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX

36
4
0
2
98
1
0
0
10
0
60

Percent

16
1
0
1
87
0
0
0
8
0
59

Percent

83
7
13
1
91
8
0
2
5
3
58

87
81
31
24
100
34
17
28
28
34
66

Percent

77
70
27
14
99
21
1
19
25
19
65

Percent

99
32
62
36
96
43
27
13
26
53
80

20032007
Avg.
Percent

96
20
53
33
97
53
29
8
37
43
64

49
56
40
46
11 Sts
1
These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum
acreage.

20032007
Avg.

State

Percent

Sorghum: Percent Harvested,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

66
2
5
3
85
7
0
1
10
1
56

AR
CO
IL
KS
LA
MO
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX

28
29
26
28
11 Sts
1
These 11 States planted 95% of last year's sorghum
acreage.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

Sorghum: Percent Coloring,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007

1
0
0
0
51
0
0
0
1
0
57

Percent

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

Percent

29
0
0
0
69
1
0
0
1
0
47

20032007
Avg.
Percent

18
0
0
0
56
0
0
0
2
0
52

22
21
NA
23
11 Sts
1
These 11 States harvested 96% of last year's sorghum
acreage.

8

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Barley: Percent Harvested,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007
Percent

ID
MN
MT
ND
WA

38
75
60
81
51

Percent

Percent

22
39
29
56
50

20032007
Avg.

State

Oats: Percent Harvested,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
2008
2008
2007

Percent

70
99
87
93
82

Percent

59
85
70
82
82

IA
MN
NE
ND
OH
PA
SD
TX
WI

5 Sts
66
42
87
75
1
These 5 States harvested 85% of last year's barley
acreage.

Percent

97
82
99
77
100
96
97
100
86

91
57
95
57
100
91
81
100
68

Percent

20032007
Avg.
Percent

100
98
100
84
100
94
100
100
99

88
74
95
9 Sts
1
These 9 States harvested 71% of last year's oat
acreage.

State

91

Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested,
Selected States 1
Week Ending
20032007
Aug 24,
Aug 17,
Aug 24,
Avg.
2008
2008
2007
Percent

ID
MN
MT
ND
SD
WA

100
91
100
78
98
90
99
100
93

Percent

33
45
61
62
91
56

18
15
37
33
66
51

Percent

74
92
82
79
99
85

Percent

62
73
68
68
98
83

6 Sts
61
35
83
72
1
These 6 States harvested 99% of last year's spring
wheat acreage.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

9

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Corn: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G

Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G
EX

EX

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

7
1
3
2
2
1
11
6
4
2
22
3
6
1
1
3
20
4

14
4
9
8
7
9
11
8
12
5
28
6
14
7
4
16
14
11

34
21
24
25
34
30
28
24
32
18
30
24
32
27
16
35
26
23

34
53
45
49
47
43
34
52
42
54
17
51
38
50
51
40
36
48

11
21
19
16
10
17
16
10
10
21
3
16
10
15
28
6
4
14

AR
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
MI
MN
MS
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
SD
TN
WI

18 Sts

4

8

24

48

16

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

3
6

7
10

23
25

49
43

18
16

CO
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
MI
MN
MO
NE
NC
ND
OH
PA
SD
TN
TX
WI

Peanuts: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G
Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

AL
FL
GA
NC
OK
SC
TX
VA

1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0

1
0
7
7
2
4
6
11

33
12
30
26
23
36
31
22

51
60
48
58
69
57
52
60

14
28
13
9
6
3
11
7

8 Sts

1

5

28

53

13

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

1
6

5
17

32
35

49
35

13
7

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

4
1
4
2
1
2
4
8
4
6
4
1
5
1
7
0
13
2

11
5
10
8
5
10
12
18
6
10
14
5
18
4
15
2
20
7

34
26
27
27
27
34
36
25
25
27
37
22
40
14
35
17
31
27

37
55
44
48
52
40
43
35
52
42
36
59
29
59
36
55
34
49

14
13
15
15
15
14
5
14
13
15
9
13
8
22
7
26
2
15

18 Sts

3

9

27

47

14

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

3
6

8
11

27
28

47
41

15
14

Rice: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G

EX

Percent

Percent

EX

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

AR
CA
LA
MS
MO
TX

0
1
0
0
0
1

5
4
4
3
1
1

26
29
24
12
9
21

51
51
60
48
44
61

18
15
12
37
46
16

6 Sts

0

4

24

52

20

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

1
0

4
3

23
27

54
50

18
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.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

10

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G

EX

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

2
0
1
0
5
5
5
6
3
2
4
9
0
10
0

14
1
6
1
10
10
13
7
8
13
16
13
8
18
8

39
19
35
6
33
30
42
26
25
35
48
46
34
34
46

39
62
44
31
42
45
39
42
56
40
30
30
53
31
40

6
18
14
62
10
10
1
19
8
10
2
2
5
7
6

15 Sts

6

13

33

37

11

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

6
6

14
14

32
31

37
37

11
12

AL
AZ
AR
CA
GA
KS
LA
MS
MO
NC
OK
SC
TN
TX
VA

State

Spring Wheat: Crop Condition
by Percent, Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
VP
P
F
G
Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

ID
MN
MT
ND
SD
WA

1
0
5
6
2
11

4
1
17
14
5
33

26
14
36
29
23
43

64
58
37
37
52
12

5
27
5
14
18
1

6 Sts

5

12

28

41

14

5
NA

11
NA

28
NA

44
NA

12
NA

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

AR
CO
IL
KS
LA
MO
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX

1
4
0
1
0
1
0
0
3
1
6

6
15
3
6
11
5
3
7
18
5
16

40
50
19
29
44
42
20
65
33
23
38

41
30
66
52
42
46
55
26
41
56
35

12
1
12
12
3
6
22
2
5
15
5

11 Sts

3

10

34

44

9

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

3
2

11
7

32
27

45
51

9
13

Barley: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G

EX

Percent

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
State
VP
P
F
G
EX

EX

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

ID
MN
MT
ND
WA

1
1
2
5
12

7
2
8
12
17

22
23
41
34
46

66
53
42
39
24

4
21
7
10
1

5 Sts

4

10

34

44

8

4
NA

10
NA

34
NA

44
NA

8
NA

Prev Wk
Prev Yr

VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent.
National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 planted acres.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

11

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

AL
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH

Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent,
Selected States,
Week Ending Aug 24, 2008
F
G
EX
State
VP
P

VP

P

Percent

Percent

9
8
0
80
15
2
16
5
11
3
1
8
3
5
14
2
1
12
0
20
12
3
2
9
2
7
0

20
32
6
20
28
3
56
5
22
19
5
16
9
10
26
15
2
19
0
28
19
13
9
28
12
20
1

Percent

35
32
35
0
38
19
22
25
36
41
33
33
31
25
37
41
11
38
66
27
36
30
32
36
29
50
27

Percent

Percent

30
22
49
0
17
56
5
55
27
34
56
34
48
51
22
37
85
25
34
17
31
42
47
20
49
21
51

6
6
10
0
2
20
1
10
4
3
5
9
9
9
1
5
1
6
0
8
2
12
10
7
8
2
21

F

G

EX

Percent

Percent

Percent

65
35
15
28
29
37
37
38
38
30
36
26
28
38
24
31
36
21
43
27
42

30
36
58
18
19
33
40
18
37
35
22
54
17
22
48
43
12
25
42
32
34

0
12
23
3
2
3
8
0
6
20
1
15
1
4
7
11
1
1
1
3
8

18

31

33

6

17
19

31
28

34
28

6
8

Percent

Percent

NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY

0
5
1
19
19
8
3
20
7
0
18
0
23
12
6
0
23
5
0
13
1

5
12
3
32
31
19
12
24
12
15
23
5
31
24
15
15
28
48
14
25
15

48 Sts

12

Prev
Wk
Prev Yr

12
17

VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent.
National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2007 planted acres.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

12

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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 twothirds 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- Dough, Dented, Mature, Condition
Cotton- Setting Bolls, Bolls Opening, Condition
Oats- Harvested
Pasture and Range- Condition
Peanuts- Condition
Rice- Headed, Harvested, Condition
Sorghum- Headed, Coloring, Mature, Harvested, Condition
Soybeans- Setting Pods, Dropping Leaves, Condition
Spring Wheat- Harvested

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
August 2008

13

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

ACCESS TO REPORTS!!
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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.
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with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by
Email, click on National or State. Follow the instructions on the screen.
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