The latest Arizona agriculture update from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Phoenix, Ariz., field office:

Field crops

The opening of cotton bolls has occurred on 48 percent of the acreage, below last year’s 58 percent, and behind the five-year average of 53 percent. Harvesting is underway at 5 percent complete, slightly behind last year at 6 percent, but ahead of the five-year average of 2 percent. Cotton conditions are mostly good to excellent depending on the location.

Alfalfa harvest remains active on over three-quarters of Arizona’s acreage. Alfalfa conditions are mostly good. Range and pasture conditions vary from mostly very poor to fair depending on the location and elevation.

Vegetables, fruit, and specialty crops

Arizona growers shipped miscellaneous melons.

Weather

Temperatures were mostly above normal across Arizona for the week ending Aug. 30, ranging from 4 degrees below normal at Parker to 9 degrees above normal at Aguila.

The highest temperature of the week was 117 degrees at Yuma and the lowest reading of 39 degrees occurred at Grand Canyon.

Precipitation was reported at 9 of the 22 stations. Flagstaff received the most at .38 inches. Grand Canyon and Winslow received the least with 0.01 inches. Willcox is the only reporting station with above normal precipitation to date.