sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending September 19, 2004 Issue SC-CW1428 Agricultural Summary Dry conditions and autumnal temperatures were prevalent throughout most of last week. Morning temperatures were in the 50's and 60's with warm afternoons. Although the week was mostly dry, all crop damage from the previous three storms had not yet been assessed. Farmers were racing to get corn and peanuts out of the fields as the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne approached the State late Sunday. In lower areas of the State most Group IV soybeans were harvested although many had begun to rot. Defoliating of cotton took place where the fields were not too wet and tobacco harvesting was pretty much finished. Overall soil moisture ratings were 5% short, 64% adequate and 31% surplus. There were 5.5 days suitable for field work. Field Crops Report Despite the wet conditions, CORN harvesting was 92 percent complete by week's end. COTTON condition remained mostly good with 71 percent of bolls opened and 5 percent of the crop harvested. PEANUT harvesting was 21 percent complete with the crop remaining in fair to good condition. The SOYBEAN crop had finished blooming and 3 percent had matured by week's end; crop condition remained mostly good. SORGHUM condition declined somewhat but the crop remained mostly good with 43 percent of the crop harvested. TOBACCO harvest was essentially completed and 72 percent of the stalks destroyed by the end of the week. SWEET POTATOES remained in mostly fair shape with 25 percent harvested at week's end. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report APPLE harvesting continued with 45 percent of the crop harvested; crop condition remained mostly fair. PEACH harvest was completed last week. PECAN harvesting was 3 percent complete at week's end. Small Grains, Pasture and Livestock Report Fifteen percent of WINTER WHEAT had been planted by week's end. Planting of BARLEY, OATS and RYE began with 7 percent, 5 percent and 3 percent planted, respectively. Harvesting of OTHER HAY was winding down with only 1 percent left in the fields. PASTURES and LIVESTOCK remained in mostly good condition for the week. WINTER GRAZINGS planting continued with 29 percent of the crop planted by the end of the week. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2004 2003 Avg. :Crop Phase 2004 2003 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Apples Harvested 45 60 59 :Sorghum Turned Color 99 98 98 Barley Planted 7 7 8 :Sorghum Matured 72 76 76 Corn Matured 99 100 100 :Sorghum Harvested 43 43 53 Corn Harvested 92 88 92 :Soybeans Pods Set 99 97 96 Cotton Bolls Set 99 100 100 :Soybeans Turned Color 26 32 30 Cotton Bolls Opened 71 44 65 :Soybeans Leaves Dropped 8 11 12 Cotton Harvested 5 1 8 :Soybeans Matured 3 2 6 Other Hay Harvested 99 100 100 :Sweetpotato Harvested 25 31 30 Oats Planted 5 7 7 :Tobacco Harvested 99 100 99 Peanuts Harvested 21 22 19 :Tobacco Stalks Dest. 72 83 81 Pecans Harvested 3 4 3 :Winter Graz.Planted 29 24 24 Rye Planted 3 7 8 :Winter Wht. Planted 15 13 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Condition Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel- Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 0 79 21 0 :Peanuts 0 4 39 48 9 Corn 6 13 30 39 12 :Sorghum 0 0 31 68 1 Cotton 0 5 28 62 5 :Soybeans 0 4 21 61 14 Livestock 0 2 20 64 14 :Sweetpotato 0 24 75 1 0 Pastures 0 2 26 67 5 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending September 26, 2004 Dry and seasonal continental high pressure covered the State through most of the week. Morning low temperatures of between 50 and 60 degrees were observed. The first official day of autumn 2004 began mid-day on Wednesday, September 22. A slow warming trend followed on Thursday. Afternoon high temperatures rose into the mid to upper 80's. On Sunday morning, the cloud canopy from central Florida's Hurricane Jeanne was moving into the State's coastal counties. By late evening, east winds were increasing along with bands of passing showers. For the period, the State average temperature was two degrees below normal. The highest official temperature reported was 92 degrees at Orangeburg on September 24. The lowest official temperature reported was 49 degrees at Long Creek on the morning of September 20. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.49" at Charleston AP on September 26. The average Statewide rainfall for the period was 0.1. SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 75 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 73 degrees. Precipitation Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Total Total From Avg Greer 0.00 32.8 -4.4 Columbia 0.00 35.7 -3.0 Orangeburg 0.06 32.2 -5.1 Charlotte, NC 0.00 35.3 +2.4 Augusta, GA 0.03 33.8 -1.3 Florence 0.01 32.8 -2.6 Myrtle Beach 0.17 40.1 +4.5 Charleston 0.49 34.8 -7.2 Savannah, GA 0.43 30.8 -10.0 Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday. CLT 0.00 GSP 0.00 FLO CAE 0.01 0.00 MYR AGS 0.17 0.03 OBG 0.06 CHS 0.49 * NA=Not Available M=Missing E=Estimate SAV 0.43 Robert A. Graham, Director Jean Besco, IT Specialist Phone: 803-765-5333 E-mail: nass-sc@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/sc/