Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released May,, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (SS),, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "" call Mark E. Miller at ()-, office hours : a.m. to : p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume, No. May -, For additional information, call () -. Highlights: A record-setting, late-season cold snap capped a -week spell of cool weather across the North, causing additional harm to orchard crops, further slowing the development of winter wheat and emergence of spring-sown crops, and burning back already-emerged summer crops. Widespread freezes were noted across the Intermountain West, northern Plains, upper Midwest, Great Lakes region, and interior Northeast. Elsewhere, showers boosted topsoil moisture for pastures and dryland small grains across northern California and the interior Northwest. Meanwhile, drought persisted in the Southwest, although cooler weather eased irrigation demands. Pastures and small grains on Montana s drought-stricken High Plains benefited from widespread precipitation, but the central and southern High Plains received only localized drought relief. In contrast, very wet conditions persisted on the eastcentral Plains. Dry weather prevailed in the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys from May -, followed by periodic showers that were heaviest in Missouri and southern Iowa. As a result, the planting pace remained sluggish in the southwestern Corn Belt, but gradually accelerated in the Ohio Valley. Soil moisture remained mostly adequate across the interior South, but dryness stressed pastures and dryland summer crops along and near the Gulf Coast. In southern Florida, however, heavy showers curbed the threat of wildfires and eased irrigation demands. Early in the week, a cool regime intensified its grip on the Midwest and East, while a narrow ribbon of warmth spread across the northern Rockies and northern High Plains in advance of a late-season winter storm. Nationwide, nearly daily-record lows were set or tied during the week, with approximately lows apiece noted on May and. Many of the records were associated with a very strong and persistent upper-level trough over the Midwest and East, although the Western storm system drew some additional cold air across the Rockies, northern Plains, and upper Midwest during the mid- to late-week period. On Sunday, daily-record highs were posted in locations such as Missoula, ( degrees F), and Orchard Mesa, ( degrees F). The following day, Helena,, registered degrees F. However, cold, stormy weather soon returned to portions of the Rockies and northern Plains, leaving daily-record snowfall totals in Montana on May in Great Falls (. inches) and Glasgow (. inches). Daily-record snowfalls were also reported in Williston, (. inch on May ), Cheyenne, WY (. inches on May ), and North Platte, (a trace on May ). The storm brought some rain to southern California, where downtown Los Angeles.-inch total on May left the city s season-to-date total (. inches, or percent of normal, since July, ) in a position to break the record-low value of. inches in -. Farther north, downtown Sacramento, (. inches on May ), notched a daily-record rainfall. But the week s biggest story was the pervasive, late-season cold outbreak. A few stations, including Bristol,, collected five consecutive daily-record lows. Bristol s records (,,,, and degrees F), set from May -, included their latest freeze on record (previously, degrees F on May, ). Elsewhere, Lexington, ( degrees F on May ), Parkersburg, WV ( degrees F on May ), and Salisbury, MD ( degrees F on May ), experienced freezes more than week later than ever before recorded. Meanwhile on the northern Plains, Valentine, ( degrees F on May ), had their latest spring temperature at or below degrees F (previously, degrees F on May, ), while Bismarck, ( degrees F on May ) came within days of their latest such reading ( degrees F on May, ). By week s end, warmer air began to overspread much of the Nation, resulting in the first high temperature of the month above degrees F in Indianapolis, ( degrees F on May ). Indianapolis had recorded days with highs at or above degrees F from April -, but none from April - May. In fact, Indianapolis highs reached or exceeded degrees F only times in the -day period from April - May. We (-)
Farther north, highs failed to reach degrees F on of the first days of May in Marquette,, breaking their May record of days set in,, and. Meanwhile, May - rainfall totals reached. inches ( percent of normal) in Joplin,,. inches ( percent) in Columbia,,. inches ( percent) in Paducah,,. inches ( percent) in Cincinnati,, and. inches ( percent) in Burlington,. In contrast, May - rainfall totaled. inches ( percent of normal) in Dodge City,, leaving their -day (October, - May, ) total at. inches ( percent). Farther south, May was the th consecutive day (starting February ) without measurable rainfall in El Paso,, approaching their February-June record of days. In Alaska, summer-like conditions propelled weekly temperatures to degrees F above normal. From May -, McGrath notched daily-record highs in days. Fairbanks noted five records during the same period, including a high of degrees F on May. Despite frequently wet weather since early April across interior Alaska, the summer-like weather helped to spark several large wildfires. By May, Alaska s year-to-date wildfire acreage climbed to about,, including a,-acre blaze miles south of McGrath and a nearly,-acre fire miles east of Fairbanks. Farther south, where dryness lingered, May - precipitation stood at. inches ( percent of normal) in Yakutat and. inches ( percent) in Juneau, leaving -day (March - May ) totals at. inches ( percent) in Yakutat and. inches ( percent) in the latter location. Meanwhile, near-normal temperatures accompanied mostly dry weather in Hawaii. A few heavier showers were noted across the Hawaiian islands early in the week, including a -hour total of. inches at southeastern Oahu s Manoa Lyon Arboretum on May -. National Agricultural Summary May -, Highlights: Field preparations and planting resumed in the eastern Corn Belt, as excess moisture gradually drained from soggy fields. Producers with sandy soils and well-drained fields made good progress, while producers with poorly drained and clay soils worked around wet spots in their fields. At the end of the week, planting remained well behind normal in most areas east of the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, planting proceeded with few delays across much of the South, although rain interrupted progress in parts of the southern Great Plains and moisture shortages limited progress on the southern High Plains. Many recently planted fields in the western Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Great Plains emerged during the week, but growth was slow due to cold weather. On the northern High Plains, small grains produced very little vegetative growth due to the cold weather, but the accompanying heavy snowfall provided much-needed moisture. Corn: Planting progressed to percent complete, week behind last year at this time and the -year average of percent. Fifty-three percent has emerged, compared with percent on this date last year. Moisture surpluses remained in many areas of the central and eastern Corn Belt, but planting resumed on sandy and well-drained soils. Planting was most active in Indiana, where producers seeded percent of their crop during the week. Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin producers planted nearly one-fourth of their Progress was just slightly slower in Michigan. In the western Corn Belt and Great Plains, planting neared completion. Fields rapidly emerged, despite cold weather across the entire Corn Belt and Great Plains. Nearly one-half of the crop emerged during the week in North Dakota, and about one-third of the acreage emerged in Iowa and Minnesota. Crop conditions were much lower in the eastern Corn Belt, where emergence and growth were hampered by cold weather and excessive soil moisture. Soybeans: Fifty-one percent of the crop has been planted and percent has emerged. Planting was about week behind last year and the -year average of and percent, respectively. Emergence was nearly weeks behind last year s rapid pace. Planting was most active in the western Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, where most producers have finished done planting corn. South Dakota producers planted percent of their acreage during the week, surpassing the -percent progress in North Dakota, and the -percent progress in Iowa and Minnesota. Planting gained momentum in the central and eastern Corn Belt, especially in Wisconsin, where one-third of the acreage was planted during the week. At the end of the week however, only one-fith of the acreage was seeded in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Progress was less advanced in Kentucky. Fields quickly emerged in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska, but less than percent were emerged in most areas of the northern Great Plains, upper Mississippi Valley, and the eastern two-thirds of the Corn Belt. Winter Wheat: Seventy-four percent of the acreage has headed, percentage points less than last year and the average for this date. About one-fourth of the Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio acreage entered the heading stage during the week, despite temperatures averaging much below normal in the Great Plains and Corn Belt. Meanwhile, heading neared completion in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas. Farther north, fields rapidly headed in May SS, UA
Nebraska, but none were headed in Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. Harvest continued across the South, with progress reaching percent in Texas. Cotton: Eighty-two percent was planted, and percent was squaring. Planting and squaring were slightly ahead of last year and the average for this date. Planting continued without interruption in the Southeast, and progressed with few delays in the interior Mississippi Delta s. Planting neared completion ahead of normal along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, but remained behind normal in the Mississippi Valley, especially in Missouri and Tennessee. In the Great Plains, rain interrupted progress in southern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas, while moisture shortages limited progress on the High Plains of Texas and New Mexico. Crop development was most advanced in Arizona and Texas, where and percent, respectively, was squaring. Small grains: Spring wheat was percent planted and percent emerged. Planting passed last year s pace and matched the -year average. However, emergence lagged about days behind last year s pace and about week behind the -year average. Dry weather supported a rapid planting pace in Minnesota and North Dakota, where producers seeded and percent of their acreage, respectively, during the week. Emergence advanced or more percentage points in Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota, despite cold weather during most of the week. Barley seeding advanced to percent, and emergence progressed to percent. Planting moved ahead of last year and the average for the first time this season. However, emergence remained days behind last year s percent and about week behind the -percent average for this date. Dry weather aided rapid planting in Minnesota and North Dakota, where about one-third of the acreage was seeded during the week. Fields quickly emerged across the northern Great Plains, despite temperatures averaging well below normal and widespread sub-freezing nighttime lows. Ninety-four percent of the oat crop has been seeded, and percent has emerged. Planting moved slightly ahead of last year s pace and equaled the -year average, but emergence was days behind last year and days behind the -year average. In North Dakota, planting and emergence advanced and percent, respectively. Elsewhere, planting remained active in Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Rice: Ninety-five percent of the crop has been planted, and percent has emerged. Planting and emergence were percentage points behind this date last year. However, planting progress equaled the -year average and emergence exceeded the -percent average for this date. Planting was very active in Missouri and California, advancing and percentage points, respectively, during the week. Fields quickly emerged, but growth was slow due to below-normal temperatures. Sorghum: Planting advanced to percent complete, but lagged more than week behind last year s -percent pace and days behind the -year average of percent. The planting pace slowed in the lower Mississippi Valley, where seeding was nearly complete. Elsewhere, planting accelerated on the central and northern Great Plains, but remained mostly stalled in the southern Corn Belt. Nebraska producers seeded one-fourth of their acreage during the week, while Illinois and Missouri growers seeded just percent of their crop. Other crops: Peanut planting remained active, advancing to percent complete. At the end of the week, progress trailed last year s percent pace, but exceeded the -year average of percent. Oklahoma producers planted about one-fourth of their acreage during the week, despite rain delays. Dry weather supported progress throughout the week in the Southeast. Sugarbeet planting advanced to percent complete. Progress exceeded last year s -percent pace and the -year average of percent. Dry weather supported progress in Minnesota and North Dakota. Twenty-three percent of the sunflower crop has been planted, slightly less than the percent seeded on this date last year. Planting rapidly progressed in North Dakota. May SS, UA
Corn: Percent Planted, Selected s Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s corn Sts These s planted % of last year s corn Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected s Soybeans: Percent Emerged, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s soybean Sts These s planted % of last year s soybean May SS, UA
Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected s Cotton: Percent Squaring, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. AL AZ GA SC VA AL AZ GA SC VA Sts These s planted % of last year s cotton Sts These s planted % of last year s cotton OR Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s winter wheat May, Rice: Percent Planted, Selected s Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s rice May, Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected s Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s rice May SS, UA
Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected s Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s spring wheat Sts These s planted % of last year s spring wheat Barley: Percent Planted, Selected s Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s barley Sts These s planted % of last year s barley Oats: Percent Planted, Selected s Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s oat Sts These s planted % of last year s oat May SS, UA
NM May, Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected s Week Ending - May, May, Avg. AL FL GA VA May, Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected s Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s peanut Sts These s planted % of last year s sorghum Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sunflowers: Percent Planted, Selected s May, Week Ending - May, May, Avg. Sts These s planted % of last year s sunflowers Sts These s planted % of last year s sugarbeet May SS, UA
Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected s VP P F G EX Percent OR Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected s VP P F G EX Percent Sts Sts Prev Wk Prev Yr Prev Wk Prev Yr Oats: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected s VP P F G EX Percent Sts Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected s VP P F G EX Percent Sts Prev Wk Prev Yr Prev Wk Prev Yr VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected s are weighted based on planted acres. May SS, UA
Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected s VP P F G EX VP P F G EX Percent Percent AL AZ CT DE FL GA ME MD MA NV NH NJ NM NY OR RI SC UT VT VA WV WY Sts Prev Wk Prev Yr May SS, UA
Crop Progress and Condition Survey and Estimating Procedures Survey Procedures: Crop progress and condition estimates are based on survey data that are collected each week from early April to the end of November. The Crop progress and condition surveys are non-probability surveys that include a sample of more than, 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 their stages of development. They also provide subjective evaluations of crop conditions. Most reporters complete their questionnaire on Friday or early Monday morning and submit it to the Agricultural Statistics Service s office in their 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 the time that the questionnaire is 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 into the projections for weekend progress and crop condition changes. By the end of the 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, which has significantly reduced this 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 that are used as reporting guidelines are available on the National Agricultural Statistics Service (SS) website at: www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/cwterms.htm. 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 Statistical Office summarizes the reported data to district and levels, weighting each county s reported data by SS 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. estimates are submitted to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) along with supporting comments, where they are compared with surrounding s and compiled into a National level summary by weighting each by its acreage estimates. Revision Policy: Progress and condition estimates in the "Crop Progress" report are released at : 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 National Summary that is released at : pm ET on the second business day of the week. These estimates are then subject to revision the following week. May SS, UA
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