USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released June 10, 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 June 1 - 7, 2008

Highlights: Growing conditions took a turn for the worse in the Midwest, despite a marked warming trend. Weekly rainfall totaled at least 4 inches, with isolated totals of 8 inches or more, from the middle Missouri Valley into southern Wisconsin and from central Illinois into the middle Ohio Valley. The torrential Midwestern rain caused widespread river and lowland flooding, halted planting and replanting operations, and washed out some fields. However, Midwestern crops that escaped flooding were aided by the season's first heat wave, which boosted weekly temperatures as much as 5 to 10 degrees F above normal in the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Hot weather also developed elsewhere across the southeastern half of the nation, but chilly conditions persisted across the northern Plains and much of the West.

In fact, Northwestern weekly temperatures generally averaged 4 to 8 degrees F below normal. However, widespread showers that accompanied the Northwestern chill aided winter grains and summer crops that had been stressed by a cool, dry spring. In contrast, dry weather from California into the Southwest promoted fieldwork and crop development. Mostly dry weather also prevailed across much of the South, where heat favored rapid crop development.

However, Southern heat and dryness also boosted irrigation demands and increased stress on pastures and rain-fed summer crops. Elsewhere, heavy rain soaked the nation's mid-section, excluding the southern High Plains. Rainfall was especially heavy, totaling 2 to 4 inches or more, from northern Oklahoma into South Dakota, resulting in local flooding and widespread fieldwork delays. However, rain provided considerable drought relief in North Dakota and neighboring areas.

Early in the week, hot weather began to intensify and expand eastward from the south-central and southwestern U.S. Daily-record highs for June 1 included 102 degrees F in Childress, TX, and 101 degrees F in Douglas, AZ. A day later, record highs for June 2 soared to 106 degrees F in Amarillo, TX, and 108 degrees F in both Liberal, KS, and Carlsbad, NM. Amarillo last experienced a high of 106 degrees F or greater on June 28, 1998, when the maximum temperature soared to an all-time-record level of 108 degrees F. On June 3, Childress attained 110 degrees F, part of a 6-day run (May 31 - June 5) with triple-digit high temperatures. By mid-week, daily-record highs for June 4 spread to locations such as Hattiesburg, MS (96 degrees F), and Tampa, FL (95 degrees F). In the central Appalachians, both Blacksburg, VA (86, 88, 90, and 90 degrees F), and Bluefield, WV (85, 87, 89, and 88 degrees F), closed the week with four consecutive daily-record highs from June 4-7. In addition, Blacksburg's June 6 high represented its earliest 90-degree heat on record (previously, 90 degrees F on June 8, 1984). Similarly, Raleigh- Durham, NC (100 degrees F on June 7), experienced its earliest triple-digit heat, previously established with a high of 100 degrees F on June 8, 1999. Other triple-digit readings in the Mid-Atlantic States on June 7 included 101 degrees F in Norfolk, VA, and 100 degrees F in Richmond, VA. Meanwhile in Ohio, daily-record highs were noted on June 6 in locations such as Youngstown and Zanesville (both 91 degrees F). Showers developed early in the week in the Northwest, where Yakima, WA (0.27 inch on June 2), netted a daily-record rainfall. A day later, Portland, OR (0.71 inch), also collected a daily-record total.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall erupted across the northern Plains and the Midwest. In Illinois, rainfall records for June 2 reached 4.71 inches in Springfield and 3.08 inches in Lincoln. By mid-week, enough cold air settled into the Great Basin to result in a daily-record snowfall (a trace on June 4) in Ely, NV. In Utah's Wasatch Range, 4.0 inches of snow blanketed Alta on June 3-4. Farther east, heavy showers spread into the Northeast and continued to hammer parts of the Plains and Midwest. Record amounts for June 4 totaled 3.59 inches in Grand Island, NE, 2.13 inches in Dayton, OH, and 1.96 inches in both Philadelphia, PA, and Trenton, NJ. Relentless rains continued in many areas on June 5, when Houghton Lake, MI (2.84 inches), experienced its wettest June day on record (previously, 2.59 inches on June 16, 1996). Elsewhere, daily-record totals for June 5 included 4.15 inches in Des Moines, IA, and 2.09 inches in Huron, SD.

Following a very brief reprieve, pounding rains returned to parts of the Midwest at week's end. For example, June 7-8 rainfall topped 10 inches at a few locations in south-central Indiana. In Wisconsin, daily-record totals for June 7 were established in locations such as Milwaukee (4.93 inches) and Madison (2.23 inches). Subsequent flooding reached record proportions in some Midwestern river basins. For example, the Root River at Racine, WI, climbed 4.29 feet above flood stage on June 9, surpassing the March 1974 record crest by 2.75 feet. More information on the ongoing Midwestern flood situation will be provided in next week's summary.

Most of Alaska received precipitation, while weekly temperatures averaged within 3 degrees F of normal statewide. Bettles netted a daily-record rainfall (0.50 inch) on June 6, followed the next day by a daily-record snowfall (0.4 inch) in Nome. Meanwhile, Kodiak netted 5.03 inches of rain during the first 7 days of the month, including 4.39 inches on June 1-2. Farther south, year-to-date rainfall deficits continued to mount in much of Hawaii. For example, January 1 - July 7 totals included 1.61 inches (18 percent of normal) in Honolulu, Oahu; 2.57 inches (24 percent) in Kahului, Maui; and 5.92 inches (33 percent) in Lihue, Kauai. Meanwhile, enough cool air settled across the Big Island to result in a daily-record low (63 degrees F on June 5) in Hilo. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397.

National Agricultural Summary June 2 - 8, 2008 Corn: Eighty-nine percent of the corn crop had emerged by June 8, nine points behind last year, and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Emergence was behind normal in all States except Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas, where emergence was ahead of the 5-year average. Between 9 and 35 percent of acreage emerged during the week in the Corn Belt. All planted corn acreage in North Carolina had reached emergence while in Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas, corn emergence was nearly complete. Condition of the crop in good and excellent condition decreased by 3 points when compared with last week. Soybeans: Planted soybean acreage reached 77 percent of the intended total, 15 and 12 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively.

During the week, planting was most active in Kentucky where producers planted one-fifth of their intended acreage. Significant planting delays due to excessive moisture were evident in Illinois and Missouri where planting was 30 or more points behind last year and over 25 points behind normal. Planting was behind the 5-year average pace in all other soybean-producing States except Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin where planting was up to 10 points ahead.

Planting was complete in North Dakota and was nearly complete in Michigan, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Fifty-six percent of the planted acreage had emerged, 24 points behind last year and 18 points behind average. Acreage in all States was lagging last year's emergence, except Kansas, Michigan, and North Dakota, where emergence was up to 8 points ahead. More than 80 percent of the crop had emerged in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Fifty-seven percent of the crop was rated in good or excellent condition. Winter Wheat: Winter wheat had reached the heading stage on 84 percent of the acreage, 9 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. The crop developed rapidly in Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, and Oregon where the percent of the crop in the heading stage advanced between 25 and 51 points during the week.

Nationwide, however, only 9 percent of the crop reached the heading stage during the week. With none of the crop reaching the heading stage in Montana, development lagged 32 points behind last year and 25 points behind normal. In South Dakota, with 24 percent of the crop reaching the heading stage, development was 60 points behind last year and 43 points behind average. The entire crop reached heading in Arkansas, California, Kansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. All other major winter wheat States were at or behind last year and the 5-year average, except Michigan, where the crop was developing to the heading stage 11 points ahead of the 5-year average. Nine percent of the winter wheat crop had been harvested, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind the 5-year average. Producers reaped nearly half of their acreage in California, and harvest was in full swing in Arkansas, North Carolina, and the southern Great Plains.

Cotton: Producers had planted 92 percent of the intended cotton acreage by June 8. Planting was 3 and 1 point ahead of last year and the 5-year average, respectively. Producers in Kansas made major headway as they planted 30 percent of their crop during the week keeping progress ahead of schedule by 28 and 23 points when compared with last year and the 5-year average, respectively. Oklahoma planting was 23 points ahead of last year and 8 points ahead of normal. Elsewhere, planting was within 2 points of the 5-year average. Planting was complete in Arizona and California in the west, Arkansas in the Delta, Missouri in the Corn Belt, and in North Carolina and Virginia on the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Planting was nearly complete in the remaining Delta States and the Southeast. Nine percent of the Nation's cotton acreage reached the squaring stage by the end of the week, 5 points behind last year and the 5-year average.

Cotton squaring was active in many States with notable development in Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas, where 14 percent or more of acreage had reached the squaring stage. However, development was behind the 5-year average in all cotton-producing States. Cotton condition was rated 54 percent good or excellent by June 8. Rice: Rice emergence, at 96 percent, was the same as last year but 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. California rice emergence was 13 points ahead of last year and 24 points ahead of the average. Elsewhere, rice was emerging at the same pace or slightly behind normal. Sorghum: Producers had planted 62 percent of their intended sorghum acreage, 8 and 9 points behind last year and the 5-year average, respectively.

During the week, in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and New Mexico, producers planted between 11 and 18 percent of their acreage. In the Delta, planting was complete in Arkansas and was nearly complete in Louisiana. Planting was severely behind in Illinois as only 13 percent of the intended acreage had been planted, compared with 70 percent planted on average. Sorghum planting delay was attributed to excessive rains reaching up to 800 percent of normal in some areas. However, Illinois producers are not alone as nearly all sorghum-producing States were delayed when compared with last year and the 5-year average. Small Grains: Spring wheat emergence was 98 percent complete, slightly behind last year but 2 points ahead of normal.

Acreage in all States was emerging within 5 points of last year and the 5-year average. Emergence was complete in the Dakotas and was nearly complete elsewhere. Sixty-three percent of the crop was rated good or excellent, up 6 points from last week's rating. Ninety-eight percent of the barley acreage had emerged, 1 point ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. In all barley States, emergence was within 5 points of normal, and was within 8 points of completion.

Barley rated good or excellent improved 9 points when compared with last week's condition ratings. Oat heading, at 33 percent complete, was 4 and 3 points behind last year and usual, respectively. Rapid heading advancement occurred in Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, but development was nearly stagnant elsewhere. In Pennsylvania, heading was 16 points ahead of last year and 13 points ahead of the 5-year average. Developmental delays remained in all other States, other than in Texas, where the oat season is earlier than the rest of the States and heading is complete. All remaining States were behind the pace of last year and normal.

Oat condition rating improved one point during the week to 61 percent good and excellent. Other Crops: Producers planted 68 percent of the sunflower crop, 2 points ahead of last year but 2 points behind the 5-year average pace. Kansas producers planted one-fifth of their crop during the week. Peanut producers planted 94 percent of their acreage, 7 points ahead of last year but the same as the 5-year average. Planting was complete in Virginia, and near complete in Oklahoma and South Carolina. Growers in all States were planting within 5 points of the 5-year average.