This handbook identifies the usual planting and harvesting dates on a state by state basis for United States field crops covered in the National Agricultural Statistics Service's National program of crop estimates. It updates the information contained in the previous edition of this handbook which was issued in 1997.

The Field Offices of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service compiled the basic information and prepared the estimates of usual dates based on historical crop progress estimates and the knowledge of industry specialists.

Agricultural Outlook (AO) ceased publication in December 2002. A new magazine, AmberWaves, replaced Agricultural Outlook, FoodReview, and Rural America in February 2003. This archive contains AO publications covering commodity markets and trade, farm policy, and other food- and agriculture-related topics. Each release includes data on individual commodities, farm income, the general economy, agricultural trade, and related issues.

Commodity and trade outlook data and information continue to be available on the ERS website. Additional commodity- or topic-specific information may be found in ERS Briefing Rooms.