USDA says crop progress report, due Monday, delayed by Sandy

Oct 29 (Reuters) - The weekly U.S. crop progress report that is normally released on Monday afternoons will be delayed as the federal government closes down ahead of Hurricane Sandy, the Department of Agriculture said.

The USDA said the rescheduled release time would be announced as soon as offices reopen. It was not clear whether other U.S. agricultural data could be affected by Sandy, which is expected to be one of the biggest storms ever to reach the U.S. mainland when it comes ashore late Monday or early Tuesday.

The federal government told non-emergency workers in Washington D.C. to stay home on Monday. Some other official data was expected to move ahead as planned, with personal income and spending figures scheduled for release this morning as usual.

(Reporting By Roberta Rampton)