Mississippi Weekly Crop Weather Released: Monday, 3PM May 8, 2006 Week Ending May 7, 2006 This report is best viewed with a monospace font. Issue MS-CW1906 Agricultural Summary According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Mississippi, there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, May 7, 2006. This week's rain was a blessing for most emerging crops, but hindered field work later in the week. Even though the rain was needed, now farmers are anxious to get into their fields to control weeds. The rain continued to improve pasture conditions and hay harvesting should resume after a few more dry days. Soil moisture was rated 1percent very short, 7 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Item Event This Last 2005 5-Yr Very Week Week Avg Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent Corn Planted 100 99 98 99 0 2 16 59 23 Emerged 98 93 92 94 Cotton Planted 68 57 61 67 2 6 20 63 9 Emerged 54 33 31 40 Peanuts Planted 25 8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Rice Planted 92 91 91 84 0 1 10 79 10 Emerged 84 72 68 61 Sorghum Planted 92 83 90 80 0 0 7 93 0 Emerged 84 64 71 61 Soybeans Planted 91 87 77 73 0 1 14 60 25 Emerged 83 74 53 55 Wheat Jointing 100 100 100 100 0 2 28 57 13 Heading 99 95 95 97 Hay Harvested (Cool) 35 27 37 48 -- -- -- -- -- Watermelons Planted 78 64 94 89 0 0 45 41 14 Blueberries 0 0 16 77 7 Cattle 1 6 32 50 11 Pasture 0 2 37 44 17 Other Agricultural Comments and News County Agent Comments "Just as farmers were getting back into the field it rained again. We need a good 10-14 days to get the rest of the cotton and beans planted and to clean up what has started to grow." -- Mack Young, Quitman "The cold snap had cotton farmers waiting on warmer soil temperatures. Now that the weather has gotten warmer, there is a lot of cotton going into the ground. Many acres of soybeans have had to be replanted for various reasons." -- Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "We have had three half-inch rains in the past week which have halted planting operations." -- Danny Owen, Tishomingo "Scattered showers are preventing progress on cotton planting. We need about a week of clear weather to complete planting." -- Ernest Flint, Attala "Corn is looking better daily. Cool season hay harvest has been slowed by rain. More dry weather is needed to continue harvesting." -- Victor Lee, Newton "Recent rains have helped, and more are expected this week-end. Grass is not responding well." -- Judith Breland, Stone "Rains are keeping us out of the field. We need to control some weeds and grass and finish planting our rice, cotton and soybeans." -- Don Respess, Bolivar "Rain stopped all field activities this past week. We need some dry weather to complete planting crops." -- Melvin Oatis, Benton "Threat of rain Thursday stopped the planting of cotton. We received about one half inch Thursday night and more rain on Friday. If weather permits, we will start planting again Monday morning." -- Stephen R. Winters Grenada "Planting in northern counties has been delayed by frequent rainfall. Emerged soybeans and corn are growing slowly due to cool temperatures and cloudy weather." -- Jay Phelps, Pontotoc "With very limited exceptions, soybean and rice planting has been completed. Cotton planting continues to progress well, although rains have slowed the planting process. Overall, the crops are looking good." -- Jerry Singleton, Leflore "Thunderstorms created very general showers and downpours over the county Thursday night. Most producers received an adequate amount to bring up their crops. Most all planting has been completed. Insects in corn and soybeans are creating concerns." -- Tommy Baird, Sunflower "Rains last weekend and this week are bringing growing conditions to an excellent level. Fieldwork was stopped Thursday with thunder showers and general rains Friday. It will be midweek before fieldwork can resume." -- Ed Williams, Oktibbeha "Thursday, as I traveled through the counties, the planters were wide open. Planting activities were everywhere. The farmers were planting ahead of the predicted rains. In most areas there were definitely rains Thursday night. I received 2.5 inches at my house. Along with the rain was wind and lightning. We went from dry to wet in a hurry. The grass in the pastures needed the rain, as did the row crop fields. The planted cotton seed received a good soaking. Cotton and soybeans look good at this point in time. Corn is growing good as well." -- Bill Maily, Hinds "Recent rains have made a great difference. Pastures are growing and corn has responded well. Very little ryegrass hay has been put up. Weeds in pastures are really growing. Cotton and peanuts are being planted. Some planted fields are up and growing." -- Lee Taylor, Forrest "Planting has started and everyone is trying to play catch-up. The rain really made a difference in the summer grasses that are beginning to grow." -- Mike Steede, George "Most of the area received over 2.5 inches of rain this past week. Pastures are looking a lot better! It's too late to help the ryegrass hay situation in most cases. We can expect ryegrass hay production losses over 50 percent due to drought." -- Tommy Bishop, Jasper "Pastures are turning green and producers are in the process of cutting hay in the pastures that had minimal growth. Cotton producers have enough moisture to finalize planting. Corn and watermelon stands are showing marked improvements." -- Florieda K. Mason, Perry "We've gotten rain and everything is growing." -- Allen W. McReynolds, Wayne Weather Information Table Weather Summary from May 1, 2006 to May 7, 2006 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 Cleveland 86 58 69 68 +1 0.85 -0.33 4 3.74 Lambert 88 56 69 2.09 +0.82 3 4.73 Tunica 88 56 69 67 +2 2.96 +1.63 5 6.54 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 56 69 68 +1 1.97 +0.71 4 5.14 2. North-Central Calhoun City 84 53 67 66 +1 0.82 -0.44 4 2.31 Hickory Flat 86 51 66 65 +1 1.54E+0.28 4 5.54E Independence 84 50 66 65 +1 1.75 +0.56 5 5.78 Oxford 86 52 67 65 +2 1.69E+0.43 5 2.77E --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 50 67 66 +1 1.45 +0.19 5 4.05 3. Northeast Booneville 86 58 69 65 +4 1.30 -0.08 4 2.89 Iuka 82 45 64 62 +2 1.04 -0.33 5 2.81 Ripley 86 51 66 64 +2 1.42 +0.16 4 3.81 Tupelo 87 54 69 2.51 4 2.80 Verona 86 55 68 66 +2 2.05 +0.93 5 3.66 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 45 67 66 +1 1.66 +0.34 4 3.08 4. Lower Delta Moorhead 86 59 71 69 +2 0.72 -0.54 4 2.47 Rolling Fork 87 59 73 69 +4 1.14 -0.12 2 2.38 Stoneville 87 58 71 69 +2 0.55 -0.71 2 5.36 Yazoo City 69 1.25E-0.08 2 3.05E --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 58 72 69 +3 0.92 -0.41 3 3.40 5. Central Canton 69 1.05 -0.35 2 2.59 Carthage 85 50 69 67 +2 1.90E+0.57 4 3.55E Eupora 83 53 68 66 +2 0.33E-0.87 2 1.57E Lexington 67 0.74 -0.49 3 2.14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 50 69 67 +2 1.01 -0.25 3 2.59 6. East-Central Aberdeen 86 55 68 66 +2 1.17 -0.08 4 1.80 Houston 84 51 66 65 +1 0.90 -0.33 4 3.33 Philadelphia 68 2.60E+1.34 3 5.80E State University 86 57 70 67 +3 0.72 -0.47 3 2.07 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 51 68 67 +1 1.35 +0.12 4 2.57 7. Southwest Crystal Springs 86 57 71 69 +2 1.98 +0.80 3 5.14 Natchez 85 52 71 70 +1 1.18 -0.12 3 4.29 Oakley 88 53 70 68 +2 2.25 +1.09 2 4.22 Vicksburg 85 60 72 3.31E 3 7.35E --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 52 72 69 +3 2.16 +0.87 3 4.72 8. South-Central Collins 85 62 72 68 +4 1.55 +0.20 1 4.25 Columbia 86 60 73 70 +3 0.27 -1.06 3 2.90 Tylertown 86 54 72 70 +2 0.49 -0.84 3 4.29 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 54 72 69 +3 0.77 -0.56 2 3.58 9. Southeast Hattiesburg 70 0.44 -0.82 2 3.24 Laurel 85 61 72 69 +3 2.66 +1.43 4 4.35 Newton 85 57 70 67 +3 3.23 +2.14 4 5.21 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 57 72 69 +3 1.55 +0.36 3 4.35 10. Coastal Gulfport 86 63 75 72 +3 0.06 -1.20 1 3.47 Pascagoula 3 NE 70 1.05 -0.19 1 3.03 Picayune 70 0.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 63 75 71 +4 0.56 -0.73 1 State Averages 88 45 70 68 +2 1.36 +0.09 3 3.69 DFN = Departure from Normal.