RFD America

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.

Released September 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 August 23 - 29, 2009

Highlights: Another round of locally heavy rain affected areas from the central and southern Plains to the East Coast, slowing fieldwork but maintaining abundant moisture reserves for immature summer crops. In the Midwest, some of the heaviest rain (4 inches or more) soaked southeastern Iowa and northern Illinois, causing local flooding. Farther east, the remnants of Tropical Storm Danny interacting with a cold front also triggered torrential rain, especially in coastal New England. Across the South, scattered showers caused generally minor disruptions in fieldwork activities such as corn and rice harvesting. Although a few showers developed across drought-stricken southern Texas, significant rain again largely bypassed the region. Meanwhile on the northern Plains, cool but mostly dry weather promoted spring wheat harvesting, which has been delayed by late crop maturation. Small grain harvesting also advanced in the Northwest under warm, mostly dry conditions. Elsewhere in the West, mostly dry weather and near- to above-normal temperatures favored fieldwork and crop development. However, dry conditions also contributed to an increase in fire activity and hampered wildfire containment efforts, especially in southern California. Weekly temperatures ranged from 3 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in parts of southern Texas and the interior Northwest, but were at least 3 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in many locations across the eastern half of the U.S. At week's end, chilly air resulted in patchy frost across the upper Midwest.

Early in the week, heat persisted across the central and southern Plains. On August 23, daily-record highs were set in locations such as Pueblo, CO (101 degrees Fahrenheit), and Dalhart, TX (99 degrees Fahrenheit). Meanwhile, extreme heat lingered across southern Texas, where McAllen (106 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and San Antonio (104 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit) opened the week with consecutive daily-record highs on August 23-24. In contrast, cool air settled across the Southeast, resulting in consecutive daily-record lows on August 24-25 in Mississippi locations such as Meridian (55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit) and Vicksburg (55 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit). At mid-week, heat subsided on the southern Plains but expanded across the West. In Wichita Falls, TX (107 degrees Fahrenheit on August 26), Wednesday was the last of 4 consecutive days with triple-digit heat. Santa Ana, CA (102 degrees Fahrenheit), posted a daily-record high on August 26, the same day that the Station fire started in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. By the end of August, the Station fire had consumed more than 100,000 acres of vegetation and was only 5 percent contained. Other triple-digit, daily-record highs in southern California included 103 degrees Fahrenheit (on August 27) in Long Beach; 107 degrees Fahrenheit (on August 27) in Fullerton; and 117 degrees Fahrenheit (on August 28) in Palm Springs. On August 29, Santa Maria (104 degrees Fahrenheit) posted a monthly record high, previously established with a reading of 103 degrees Fahrenheit on August 28, 1962. Triple-digit heat also affected many other areas of the West, with late-week highs reaching 113 degrees Fahrenheit (from August 27-29) in Phoenix, AZ, and 102 degrees Fahrenheit (on August 28) in Boise, ID. Farther east, however, chilly air settled across the Plains and Midwest. International Falls, MN (34 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit), posted consecutive daily-record lows on August 29-30. Elsewhere on August 30, daily-record lows included 37 degrees Fahrenheit in Sisseton, SD, and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in Grand Forks, ND.

Heavy precipitation lingered on August 23 in coastal New England, where Portland, ME, netted 2.97 inches of rain and reported a westerly wind gust to 48 miles per hour. Portland's summer rainfall totaled 22.31 inches (231 percent of normal), surpassing its June-August 1991 mark of 19.04 inches. Meanwhile, showers dotted the Intermountain West. Summer rainfall climbed to 6.88 inches (307 percent of normal) in Pocatello, ID, shattering its June-August 1968 and 1993 standard of 5.92 inches. By mid-week, heavy showers developed across the Nation's mid-section. On August 26, Hastings, NE (4.09 inches), experienced its eighth-wettest day on record, while Rockford, IL (2.75 inches), netted a daily-record rainfall. From August 25-27, Cedar Rapids, IA, endured 7.15 inches of rain. Later, heavy rain spread into the Southeast, where Pensacola, FL (3.16 inches), and Knoxville, TN (2.79 inches), received record-setting totals for August 27. At week's end, locally heavy showers lingered from the Great Lakes region into the Northeast. In Michigan, daily-record totals for August 29 included 1.71 inches in Alpena and 1.64 inches in Marquette. Although Tropical Storm Danny was absorbed by a cold front prior to reaching New England, the former tropical system contributed to another round of rain and gusty winds. On August 29, Bangor, ME, measured a daily-record rainfall of 2.08 inches, while a wind gust to 61 miles per hour was clocked just off the Massachusetts coast on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound.

National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397.

Agricultural Summary

August 24 - August 30, 2009

Highlights: Above average temperatures combined with a week of little to no rainfall promoted fieldwork and summer crop development across much of country west of the Great Plains. On the southern Plains, producers began field preparations for winter wheat seeding as ideal conditions prevailed. Below average temperatures and wet weather remained throughout much of the Corn Belt, yet crop development remained active for most summer crops. Tropical Storm Danny brought precipitation to much of the Atlantic Coast, dumping between 2 and 4 inches of rainfall in several areas from Maryland northward.

Corn: Acreage at or beyond the dough stage reached 75 percent by week's end, 6 points behind last year and 13 points behind the 5-year average. Development to the dough stage was active across much of the growing region where cooler temperatures and readily available soil moisture continued to provide nearly ideal conditions. Nationally, acreage at or beyond the dent stage advanced to 32 percent complete, 10 points behind last year and 28 points behind the average. Progress to the dent stage was behind normal in all estimating States except Colorado and North Carolina. Lags of 33 points or more were evident in the Dakotas, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota. Acreage mature, at 5 percent, was 1 point behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. The crop was most mature in North Carolina and Texas. Overall, 69 percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from last week but an 8 point improvement from last year.

Soybeans: Ninety-three percent of the 2009 soybean acreage was at or beyond the pod setting stage, on par with last year but 3 points behind the 5-year average. Pod development remained active across the major soybean-producing regions of the country despite below average temperatures. Leaf drop had occurred on 3 percent of the Nation's soybean acreage by August 30, one point behind last year and 5 points behind the average. Leaf drop was most advanced on acreage in the Delta; however, progress in Mississippi was 34 points behind normal. Overall, 69 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago but 8 points better than last year.

Cotton: Bolls were set on 93 percent of this year's cotton acreage, on par with last year but 3 points behind the 5-year average. Boll set was most active in the Great Plains States of Kansas and Oklahoma. Bolls were opened on 19 percent of the Nation's acreage, 2 points behind last year and 6 points behind normal. Delays of 22 points or more were evident in Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri when compared with the 5-year average. Overall, 51 percent of the cotton crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from last week but 3 points better than last year.

Sorghum: Acreage at or beyond the heading stage advanced to 92 percent by August 30, five points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the 5-year average. Despite surplus rainfall, 24 percent of the crop in Illinois developed heads during the week, but overall progress remained 18 points, or more than 1 week, behind normal. Coloring advanced 9 points during the week, leaving progress, at 49 percent, 5 points behind last year and 8 points behind the average. Coloring progress was active across much of the growing region but was behind in all estimating States except Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas. Crop maturity crept forward to 31 percent complete, on par with last year and the average. In Kansas, the largest sorghum-producing State, the sorghum crop had yet to reach maturity, leaving overall progress over 2 weeks behind normal. Harvest was slow during the week, advancing just 1 point to 28 percent complete by week's end, 1 point ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Overall, 49 percent of the sorghum crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 50 percent last week and 51 percent last year.

Rice: Nationally, 90 percent of the rice crop was at or beyond the heading stage, 3 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Heading was most active in Arkansas, California, and Missouri, as progress was complete or nearly complete in all other States. Producers had harvested 16 percent of their crop by week's end, 3 points ahead of last year but 3 points behind the average. Harvest began in Arkansas, the largest rice-producing State, during the week, with producers utilizing nearly a week of days suitable for fieldwork to harvest 4 percent of their crop. Overall, 66 percent of the rice crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a 1 point improvement from last week but down 6 points from last year.

Small Grains: Mostly dry weather in the Pacific Northwest and on the Plains allowed ample time for small grain harvest. Spring wheat producers harvested 16 percent of their crop during the week, leaving progress at 38 percent complete by August 30. However, significant delays remained in all estimating States, with the biggest lag evident in North Dakota, the largest spring wheat-producing State, where harvest was over 3 weeks behind normal. Overall, 75 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, up 3 points from last week.

Barley producers had harvested 46 percent of their crop by week's end, 32 points behind last year and 35 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was active in all estimating States, but progress remained behind normal. Overall, 78 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from last week.

Producers harvested 13 percent of their oat crop during the week, leaving progress, at 85 percent, 11 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Harvest was most active in North Dakota; however, progress remained 44 points behind normal.

Other Crops: Overall, 72 percent of the peanut crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down 1 point from last week but 6 points better than last year. The most significant decline was evident in Florida where above average rainfall in the panhandle has led to disease pressure from white mold and leaf spot.