The Arizona Agri-Weekly report from the Phoenix, Ariz., Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service released Dec. 19, 2011.

Field crops

Cotton harvesting is 85 percent complete which is slightly behind last year and below the five-year average of 91 percent.

Alfalfa conditions are mostly fair to good. Harvest remains active in a few areas across the state. Sheep have been brought in to graze and lamb on some alfalfa fields.

The planting of small grains continues.

Vegetable, fruit, and specialty crops

Central Arizona growers shipped bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cilantro, kale, parsley, and lemons this week.

Western Arizona growers shipped arrugula, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cilantro, endive, escarole, frisee, kale, and various lettuces including Boston green leaf, iceberg, red leaf, and romaine. Also shipped were parsley, radicchio, and spinach.

Weather summary

Temperatures were mostly above normal for the week ending Dec. 18, ranging from 3 degrees below normal at Parker to 8 degrees above normal at Douglas.

The highest temperature of the week was 70 degrees at Phoenix and Tucson. The lowest reading was 1 degree at Grand Canyon.

Precipitation was recorded in all 22 weather stations. The least precipitation was recorded in St. Johns with 0.10 inches. The most precipitation was recorded in Payson with 2.29 inches.

Kingman, Roll, Tucson and Yuma are the only weather stations with above normal precipitation for the year.