sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending July 25, 2004 Issue SC-CW1420 Agricultural Summary The weather last week was "normal" for South Carolina in the summer, hot and dry with occasional relief provided by scattered thunderstorms. Reporters were thankful for rain where it was received noting it benefitted most crops, although several reporters indicated the rain was too late to help corn in their areas. One exception to this scenario was in Georgetown county, where the agent reported that they "need a break from the rain in some areas". Overall soil moisture ratings were 4% very short, 24% short, 69% adequate and 3% surplus. There were 6.0 days suitable for field work. Field Crops Report Nearly all phases of field crop development continued ahead of the normal pace. The CORN crop has completed silking with doughing ahead of normal and maturity at 27 percent. The crop remained in fair to good condition. COTTON remained in mostly good condition with 93 percent of the crop squared and 53 percent setting bolls by week's end. PEANUT pegging reached 86 percent with the crop in fair to mostly good condition. Nearly half of the SOYBEAN crop had bloomed with 22 percent setting pods by the end of last week; crop condition was mostly good. SORGHUM condition remained fair to good as 13 percent of the crop had matured at week's end. TOBACCO remained in mostly good condition with topping nearing completion and one-third of the crop harvested by week's end. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report The APPLE crop was in mostly fair condition. PEACHES were reported in good to excellent condition with 58 percent of the crop harvested. CANTALOUP and WATERMELON harvesting was 96 and 92 percent complete, respectively. The SNAPBEAN and TOMATO harvests were almost finished last week. Small Grains, Pasture and Livestock Report Harvesting of OTHER HAY was 77 percent complete with the crop in fair to mostly good shape. PASTURES were in fair to good condition while LIVESTOCK remained in mostly good condition. SMALL GRAINS harvesting was finished for 2004. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2004 2003 Avg.:Crop Phase 2004 2003 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Barley Harvested 100 100 100 :Snapbeans Harvested 99 100 98 Cantaloups Harvested 96 95 94 :Sorghum Headed 94 74 70 Corn Silked 100 100 100 :Sorghum Turned Color 43 39 38 Corn Doughed 87 80 81 :Sorghum Matured 13 1 3 Corn Matured 27 16 30 :Soybeans Bloomed 45 21 31 Cotton Squared 93 84 90 :Soybeans Pods Set 22 6 15 Cotton Bolls Set 53 28 39 :Tobacco Topped 98 97 97 Other Hay Harvested 77 74 75 :Tobacco Harvested 33 28 26 Peaches Harvested 58 59 63 :Tomatoes Harvested 99 100 98 Peanuts Pegged 86 86 80 :Watermelons Harvested 92 92 92 Rye Harvested 100 99 100 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Condition Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel-: Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 0 70 30 0 :Peaches 6 2 16 32 44 Corn 5 11 24 49 11 :Peanuts 0 1 28 56 15 Cotton 0 2 21 70 7 :Sorghum 0 0 45 50 5 Hay 0 5 36 51 8 :Soybeans 0 2 20 65 13 Livestock 0 2 23 68 7 :Sweetpotatoes 0 0 0 100 0 Pastures 1 8 42 44 5 :Tobacco 0 6 15 56 23 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending July 25, 2004 Wet grounds and 60 degree temperatures caused widespread fog to form on Monday morning. Strong thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours with large hail reported in Elgin and Sumter. High pressure built over the state on Tuesday, bringing hot, humid weather and hazy skies. This pattern continued into the weekend. Wet weather was limited to sea breeze induced convection along the coastal counties. Near 100 degree heat was recorded on Saturday before a northeast wind on Sunday brought in a layer of clouds and cooler daytime temperatures. For the period, the State average temperature was near normal. The highest official temperature reported was 99 degrees at Calhoun Falls on July 24. The lowest official temperature reported was 58 degrees at Longcreek on the morning of July 19. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.50" at Walhalla ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 25. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.2". SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 85 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 82 degrees. Precipitation Temperature Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Average Average Total Total From Avg Maximum Minimum Average Greer 0.42 21.9 -7.8 89 70 80 Columbia 0.16 23.2 -5.5 94 73 84 Augusta, GA 0.00 23.9 -2.8 95 70 82 Cheraw* NA Chester* NA Johnston* NA Sumter* NA Clemson* NA Florence 0.08 16.1 -9.6 90 71 81 Myrtle Beach 0.95 21.3 -2.5 86 73 79 Allendale* NA Charleston 1.07 19.6 -8.7 92 75 84 Beaufort* NA * Rainfall totals ending Sunday 7:00 a.m. All others ending midnight. E-Estimated 0.42 NA NA NA Divisional Temperature & Precipitation 0.16 0.08 0.95 (weighted by geographic area) NA Division Avg Temp Tot Prec 0.00 Mountains 76 0.4 Northwest 81 0.2 North Central 81 0.0 Northeast 81 0.3 West Central 83 0.0 Central 83 0.1 Southern 82 0.3 NA Statewide 82 0.2 1.07 * NA=Not Available M=Missing E=Estimate NA Contact Information Robert A. Graham, Director Stephen Pavlasek, Jr., Deputy Director Phone: 803-765-5333 E-mail: nass-sc@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/sc/