ms-crop-weather Mississippi Weekly Crop Weather Released: Monday, 3PM May 2, 2005 Week Ending May 1, 2005 This report is best viewed with a monospace font. Issue MS-CW1705 Agricultural Summary According to the Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 1, 2005. Farmers were able to take advantage of the dry weather during the week to work in the field. As planting continues for most farmers, blueberry producers across the state are making preparations to harvest their crop later this month. Cotton and peanut farmers are looking forward to continued drying of soils so they can continue with planting activities. The cooler temperatures experienced during the week affected summer pasture growth in some areas. Soil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 31 percent surplus. Item Event This Last 2004 5-Yr Very Week Week Avg Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent Corn Planted 93 88 97 97 2 4 28 60 6 Emerged 83 71 91 87 Cotton Planted 40 18 50 39 -- -- -- -- -- Emerged 16 -- 22 16 Rice Planted 81 56 73 59 -- -- -- -- -- Emerged 48 17 52 33 Sorghum Planted 80 53 71 59 -- -- -- -- -- Emerged 48 9 47 36 Soybeans Planted 63 41 76 53 -- -- -- -- -- Emerged 38 16 54 35 Wheat Jointing 99 97 100 100 4 7 32 51 6 Heading 91 66 96 90 Hay Harvested (Cool Season) 28 17 26 37 -- -- -- -- -- Watermelons Planted 85 73 79 79 -- -- -- -- -- Cattle 2 8 32 45 13 Pasture 1 6 30 50 13 Other Agricultural Comments and News County Agent Comments "Most producers here could use a good rain. We got very little rain from the last front. Most rice producers are having to flush some fields in order to get a stand. Most cotton producers have planted all the early cotton that they wanted to plant and are waiting on a good shower before they resume planting." -- Anthony Bland, Tunica "Cotton planting started Tuesday after a low of 35 degrees Sunday morning. We stopped fieldwork Thursday due to the forecast of storms Friday night. Corn planting is over and beans have a good start." -- Stephen R. Winters, Grenada "Field prep and planting were in full gear by the end of the week. Light rains over the weekend will help get these fields off to a quick start. Cotton growers are a little hesitant to plant with the forecast calling for highs in the 60's for the upcoming week." -- Dr. Bill Burdine, Chickasaw "Drier weather should allow hay harvest to continue. Rains over the weekend hopefully gave early planted corn some relief. Pastures have held up well, but are beginning to mature at a rapid pace." -- Richard Hay, Amite "All crops are in good condition. Cool-season hay harvest has begun. Livestock are in good condition. Blueberries growers are making preparations for the 2005 harvest season." -- Allen McReynolds, Wayne "Growers in south Mississippi were finally able to get back in the field this week. Growers will probably start planting cotton and peanuts this week." -- Mike Howell, Covington "Rain on Friday night helped most growers. We could have gotten a little more in some areas. We need some warmer weather." -- Don Respess, Bolivar "Cannot seem to get a good rain now. Planting for all crops is progressing well, and most should come to a stand. Land that had to be tilled will have to wait on rains before it can be planted." -- Mack Young, Quitman "Crops are being planted at a hectic pace. The crops that have emerged look good and don't seem to be damaged by the cool snap." -- Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "Producers have planted most of the corn acreage and are starting to plant soybeans and cotton." -- Melvin Oatis, Benton "Rainfall has delayed field preparation and planting. Cool temperatures have slowed corn and soybean emergence and growth." -- Jay Phelps, Pontotoc "Rain, from half an inch to3 inches, fell Saturday morning. Fieldwork and replanting are the main priority when fields dry." -- Tommy Baird, Sunflower "Most of the corn crop has been planted, although some low lying fields have required replanting. Soybean planting has been slow, but should increase as soils dry in the next few days. Cotton that has been planted is emerging slowly as a result of heavy rains and cool conditions. As field conditions allow, cotton planting will increase quickly within the next few days." -- Ernest Flint, Attala "Ryegrass hay harvest continues. Cool nights and some cool days have slowed the growth of summer forages." -- Houston Therrell, Rankin "We still have a few acres of corn that need to be planted and a few producers are spot planting some wet areas. Soybean planting went well the last two weeks. Cotton planting is going slow with the rain and cool temperatures. Wheat stripe rust has reduced our wheat yields in many fields." -- Dr. Dennis B. Reginelli, Noxubee "Some fieldwork was conducted, but cooler and wetter weather slowed everything by week's end. Pastures continue to improve. Overall, we are behind on planting progress." -- Ed Williams, Oktibbeha "Dryer conditions have greatly improved the conditions for the corn crop. The plants look healthier as the soils have dried out and aren't so wet. The producers are working to prepare the fields for the soybean and cotton planting activities. Weather permitting, we will probably begin planting cotton in some areas next week. The pastures are looking better and the warm weather hay harvesting activities will be in high gear soon." -- Bill Maily, Hinds "Ryegrass growth is playing out. Soils are really wet after weekend rains. Summer pastures are growing. Cotton and peanut planting will be in full swing when the ground dries up." -- Lee Taylor, Forrest "Heavy rains have washed out some vegetable gardens. We will be looking for damage to other crops today." -- Mark Gillie, Greene "Nighttime temps in the 40's are delaying the growth of summer grasses, corn and vegetable crops. Cattle are in good shape. Ryegrass hay harvest has been difficult due to rain." -- Chuck Grantham, Jones "Producers continue to take advantage of sunshine to fertilize, spray and plant. Cool nights are hindering corn seedlings. Rain early Saturday will slow field operations early this week." -- Victor Lee, Newton "Moderate hail damage was received to some crops in a portion of the county. All indications are that the crops were not in a growth stage that will have an impact on yields." -- Florieda K. Mason, Perry "On Saturday, April 30, we had approximately 4 inches of rain in a short period of time. Ponds are full and the ground is very wet." -- Judith Breland, Stone "April showers bring May flowers; so with Saturday's deluge of rain, south Mississippi should look like a very large flower store. Ryegrass is beginning to seed out and quality is headed downhill with each additional day of maturity." -- Stan Pace, Stone Weather Information Table Weather Summary from April 25, 2005 to May 1, 2005 for Mississippi Air Precipitation 4 Inch Soil Avg Temperature Weekly Rn Four Temperature Pan Max Min Avg Nrm DFN Total DFN Ds Weeks Max Min Avg Evap --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Upper Delta Charleston 65 0.88 -0.43 3 8.13 Cleveland 86 42 61 65 -4 0.87 -0.32 2 5.47 Tunica 74 44 59 65 -6 1.72 +0.39 6 5.62 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 42 60 66 -6 1.16 -0.10 4 6.41 2. North-Central Hickory Flat 75 34 56 63 -7 0.76 -0.50 2 5.89 Calhoun City 81 37 56 65 -9 1.08 -0.24 3 5.31 Independence 76 35 55 63 -8 1.06 -0.13 3 5.82 Oxford 80 38 58 63 -5 0.87 -0.36 2 6.46 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 81 34 56 64 -8 0.94 -0.32 3 5.87 3. Northeast Booneville 74 38 54 63 -9 1.12 -0.17 4 5.68 Iuka 76 30 51 61 -10 1.82 +0.56 4 5.97 Ripley 75 35 54 63 -9 0.98 -0.28 3 5.50 Tupelo 80 41 58 1.64 3 5.67 Verona 78 40 57 64 -7 1.15 +0.03 3 5.17 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 80 30 55 64 -9 1.34 +0.08 3 5.60 4. Lower Delta Moorhead 84 42 61 67 -6 1.34 +0.08 4 4.57 Rolling Fork 86 44 62 67 -5 1.31 +0.05 4 5.68 Stoneville 87 47 63 67 -4 0.91 -0.35 3 3.05 Yazoo City 85 40 62 68 -6 1.94 +0.61 3 7.56 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 40 62 68 -6 1.38 +0.06 4 5.22 5. Central Canton 84 40 59 67 -8 2.44 +1.04 3 6.42 Carthage 85 37 59 65 -6 1.64 +0.31 3 4.83 Lexington 83 34 57 65 -8 2.30 +1.04 3 6.87 Eupora 83 36 57 64 -7 0.98 -0.21 3 4.86 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 34 58 66 -8 1.84 +0.53 3 5.75 6. East-Central Aberdeen 81 37 57 65 -8 1.47 +0.26 2 6.62 Houston 80 36 57 63 -6 1.63 +0.44 3 5.02 Louisville 82 40 60 64 -4 2.11 +0.83 3 3.73 State University 84 38 60 65 -5 1.56 +0.32 4 7.19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 84 36 58 66 -8 1.55 +0.29 3 6.28 7. Southwest Crystal Springs 85 45 61 68 -7 1.35 +0.07 3 3.72 Natchez 84 42 61 68 -7 0.28 -1.05 2 1.76 Oakley 85 40 62 66 -4 1.29 +0.04 3 2.72 Vicksburg 83 42 61 2.24 4 5.50 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 40 62 68 -6 1.29 -0.04 3 3.43 8. South-Central Collins 85 42 60 67 -7 1.53 +0.22 3 4.35 Columbia 85 44 63 68 -5 1.99 +0.66 4 6.51 Tylertown 85 42 62 68 -6 1.77 +0.44 4 5.52 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 42 62 68 -6 1.76 +0.43 4 5.46 9. Southeast Beaumont 87 44 62 2.14 3 3.10 Hattiesburg 83 42 61 68 -7 1.58 +0.32 4 4.54 Laurel 88 43 62 67 -5 1.91 +0.72 4 5.87 Newton 85 34 58 65 -7 1.97 +0.76 3 8.02 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 34 61 67 -6 1.90 +0.71 4 5.38 10. Coastal Gulfport 83 51 68 71 -3 2.81 +1.60 3 10.76 Poplarville 84 47 62 69 -7 6.73 +5.47 5 9.85 Waveland 82 49 66 69 -3 3.11 +1.85 2 8.37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 84 47 65 69 -4 4.22 +3.01 3 9.66 State Averages 88 30 60 66 -6 1.70 +0.43 3 5.72 DFN = Departure from Normal.