The Arizona Agri-Weekly report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Phoenix, Ariz., Field Office released Dec. 12, 2011.

Field crops

Cotton harvest is 75 percent complete which is slightly behind last year and below the five-year average of 84 percent.

Alfalfa conditions are mostly fair to good. Harvest is active on about half of the acreage. Sheep are grazing on some alfalfa fields.

The planting of small grains is underway.

Vegetable, fruit, and specialty crops

Central Arizona growers shipped bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, Chinese cabbage, cilantro, honeydew, kale, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, and lemons.

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

Weather summary

Temperatures were below normal for the week ending Dec. 11, ranging from 12 degrees below normal at St. Johns to 5 degrees below normal at Grand Canyon, Marana, and Phoenix.

The highest temperature of the week was 73 degrees at Roll. The lowest reading was minus 3 degrees at Grand Canyon.

Precipitation was recorded at six of the 22 weather stations. The least precipitation was recorded in Canyon De Chelly, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon with 0.01 inches. The most precipitation was recorded in Phoenix with 0.04 inches.

The Roll and Tucson weather stations have received above normal precipitation for the year. Seven of the 22 weather stations have received annual precipitation above 80 percent of normal.