sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: April 21, 2008 Week Ending Date: April 20, 2008 Issue: SC-CW001608 GENERAL South Carolina had a light scattered frost last week that slightly burned some newly emerged corn and damaged some recently transplanted tobacco. Most of the week saw dry weather that allowed farmers ample time for field work. The majority of the state received less than an inch of precipitation. Soil moisture was 1% very short, 22% short, 75% adequate, and 2% surplus. Favorable weather increased planting activities, as there was a statewide average of 6.2 days suitable for field work. FIELD CROPS Producers were busy planting corn and transplanting tobacco last week. Good progress was also being made preparing land for cotton, soybeans, and peanuts. CORN planting was two-thirds complete, and was slightly ahead of last year's average. The newly planted corn crop was in mostly good condition. OAT heading was on schedule with last year's average, and the crop was also in mostly good condition. TOBACCO transplanting was slightly ahead of average for this time in the season, and growers had transplanted half of the states tobacco crop. The crop was in mostly good condition. WINTER WHEAT was 50% headed and continued to look good. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST LIVESTOCK conditions were little changed from last week, and remained mostly good. PASTURES were getting just a slight bit dry in some areas but were still greening-up. Farmers in some areas of the state have begun cutting small grain and ryegrass HAY. PEACHES remained in mostly good condition. VEGETABLE planting made good progress in the favorable weather. Conditions ranged from fair to good. Crop Progress for Week Ending April 20, 2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2008 : 2007 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2008 : 2007 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Planted : 70 71 66 :: Sorghum, Planted : 15 14 17 Corn, Planted : 88 87 77 :: Soybeans, Planted : 2 1 3 Corn, Emerged : 62 71 54 :: Tobacco, Transplanted : 50 49 48 Cucumbers, Fresh, Planted : 65 54 70 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Planted : 90 79 84 Hay, Grain Hay, Harvested : 14 11 13 :: Watermelons, Planted : 75 74 73 Oats, Headed : 60 63 56 :: Winter Wheat, Headed : 50 49 51 Snapbeans, Fresh, Planted : 64 64 64 :: : ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending April 20, 2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Apples : 0 0 80 20 0 :: Peaches : 0 6 17 77 0 Cantaloup : 0 0 40 60 0 :: Snapbeans : 0 0 30 70 0 Corn : 0 0 34 66 0 :: Tobacco : 0 0 45 55 0 Cucumbers : 0 0 50 50 0 :: Tomatoes : 0 0 20 80 0 Livestock : 0 4 43 51 2 :: Watermelons : 0 0 40 60 0 Oats : 0 1 31 60 8 :: Winter Wheat : 0 4 29 58 9 Pasture : 1 8 50 38 3 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending April 20, 2008 An upper level feature dropped southeast on Monday with areas of light rain and unseasonably cooler temperatures. Under a patchwork of cumulus clouds, surface winds on Tuesday gusted from the north at over 30 mph. A late spring freeze and scattered frost was reported Wednesday morning for much of the state, excluding the southernmost counties. Bright, blue skies were observed during the daylight hours Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m., Anderson AP measured a relative humidity value of 14 percent. A full day of high angle sun helped warm Friday afternoon into the 80's. A weak, frontal boundary entered the state on Saturday with increased cloudiness and isolated showers. Mostly sunny, breezy conditions were reported through the day on Sunday. The state average temperature for the period was seven degrees below normal. The highest official temperature reported was 86 degrees at Cheraw and Jamestown on April 18. The lowest official temperature reported was 27 degrees at Pelion on the morning of April 16. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.49 inches at N. Myrtle Beach AP on April 20. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.2 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 64 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 65 degrees. Precipitation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Weekly : Jan 1 : Deviation : Total : Total : from Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer : 0.06 12.70 -3.6 Columbia : 0.21 12.61 -2.6 Orangeburg : 0.10 10.83 -4.4 Charlotte, NC : 0.08 11.20 -2.7 Augusta, GA : 0.00 13.89 -1.4 Florence : 0.10 12.74 -0.3 N Myrtle Beach : 1.49 12.71 0.1 Charleston : 0.58 9.97 -3.1 Savannah, GA : 0.20 11.08 -1.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.