ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 4, 2007 Issue GA-CW0907 Agricultural Summary March 5, 2007 WARMER TEMPERATURES IMPROVED CROP CONDITIONS The State experienced warm, wet weather this week, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. High temperatures averaged from the upper 60's to mid-70's for most of the week with average lows in the high 30's and low 40's. On Sunday, a cold front moved through the State causing the temperature to drop back down into the low 50's. There was heavy rainfall on Thursday which was accompanied by damaging winds, especially in the southwest. Recent rains have filled ponds and streams and suppressed existing deficits. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 0% very short, 4% short, 67% adequate, and 29% surplus. Warmer temperatures improved crop conditions in pastures and vegetables. Some farmers applied fertilizer to pastures. Small grains continued to do well. The lack of hay and a long winter had livestock producers scrambling for options to provide forage for their animals. Some producers resorted to selling cattle. Apple growers set out insect monitoring traps in the orchards in accordance with the apple growers integrated pest management program. Farmers in the southern part of the state planned to begin planting corn in 10-12 days with continued warm weather. Other activities included preparing land for spring crops, spreading poultry litter and lime, worming beef cattle and goats, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 03/04/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn Planted : 1 NA 1 NA Winter Wheat Jointing : 17 NA 27 NA Winter Wheat Boot : 1 NA 1 NA Watermelons Planted : 0 NA 0 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 03/04/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 2 24 66 8 Range and Pasture : 5 15 45 34 1 Onions : 0 8 19 71 2 Peaches : 0 6 22 72 0 Vegetables : 0 2 45 52 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 03/04/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 0 0 NA Short : 4 6 NA Adequate : 67 80 NA Surplus : 29 14 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Soil Moisture Map is supplied by the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN) and the office of the State Climatologist, University of Georgia. For detailed Georgia weather data, visit the AEMN homepage at www.georgiaweather.net. Soil Moisture for Week Ending 03/04/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 5 85 10 District 2 (NC) : 0 1 77 22 District 3 (NE) : 0 1 60 39 District 4 (WC) : 0 5 75 20 District 5 (C) : 0 8 53 39 District 6 (EC) : 0 2 74 24 District 7 (SW) : 0 1 61 38 District 8 (SC) : 0 3 55 42 District 9 (SE) : 0 13 80 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * A list of the counties in each of the nine Georgia Agricultural Statistics Districts is available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga/ctyests/districts.pdf. Pasture Condition for Week Ending 03/04/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 22 11 25 42 0 District 2 (NC) : 0 4 50 45 1 District 3 (NE) : 0 17 52 30 1 District 4 (WC) : 0 27 40 32 0 District 5 (C) : 15 21 35 29 0 District 6 (EC) : 0 7 58 35 0 District 7 (SW) : 2 30 31 33 4 District 8 (SC) : 4 10 58 28 0 District 9 (SE) : 1 4 45 48 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * A list of the counties in each of the nine Georgia Agricultural Statistics Districts is available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga/ctyests/districts.pdf. Weather Summary for Week Ending 03/04/07, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 80 38 58 1.57 2 3.08 10.19 10.33 59 Alma : 78 39 59 1.45 3 2.14 5.81 5.96 58 Alpharetta : 73 30 49 1.75 1 4.05 8.41 8.41 48 Arlington : 80 38 57 2.42 2 4.25 10.28 10.35 58 Attapulgus : 80 38 58 0.69 2 1.41 6.46 6.64 61 Blairsville : 67 25 45 1.50 1 2.75 6.73 6.73 49 Williamson : 73 31 52 2.18 1 3.44 9.26 9.39 52 Bowen : 78 38 57 1.05 2 1.93 6.80 6.97 59 Brunswick : 80 45 61 1.22 3 2.11 5.83 6.30 62 Byromville : 77 38 56 1.24 2 2.11 7.69 7.78 56 Byron : 76 37 54 1.22 1 2.70 7.63 8.08 55 Cairo : 80 39 59 0.83 2 1.24 6.70 6.85 60 Calhoun : 73 27 48 1.08 1 2.05 5.45 5.45 50 Pine Mountain : 75 31 52 2.98 1 5.50 11.57 11.61 52 Camilla : 80 38 57 2.33 2 3.08 10.22 10.37 59 Clarks Hill : 74 32 52 3.34 2 4.73 8.63 8.97 52 Cordele : 78 37 56 0.63 2 1.43 6.38 6.53 56 Covington : 71 33 52 2.20 1 3.64 8.79 9.22 51 Dahlonega : 66 29 48 2.63 1 4.71 9.91 9.91 47 Dallas : 74 29 50 1.32 1 2.48 7.18 7.18 49 Dawson : 78 33 56 0.54 1 1.68 5.79 5.85 57 Dearing : 74 37 54 2.57 2 3.77 7.93 8.12 55 Dempsey : 73 31 52 2.18 1 3.23 8.66 9.02 52 Dixie : 82 40 60 0.83 2 1.30 7.27 7.49 62 Dublin : 77 36 55 0.63 3 1.71 8.24 8.46 56 Duluth : 72 30 49 2.58 1 4.55 9.25 9.25 50 Dunwoody : 72 29 50 1.75 1 3.73 8.10 8.10 49 Eatonton : 74 30 52 2.80 1 4.29 9.30 9.85 52 Elberton : 71 33 51 2.70 2 4.98 9.57 10.31 51 Ellijay : 67 26 45 1.36 1 2.63 7.25 7.26 47 Rome : 74 30 51 0.64 2 1.62 4.68 4.69 50 Fort Valley : 76 36 55 0.80 1 1.88 5.36 5.66 55 Gainesville : 67 32 49 1.70 1 3.11 6.60 6.60 50 Georgetown : 77 35 55 1.25 1 2.97 9.21 9.46 57 Griffin : 73 32 52 2.05 1 3.12 8.60 8.99 52 Homerville : 80 37 59 1.08 3 2.10 6.71 7.15 61 Jonesboro : 74 32 51 2.06 1 2.92 7.98 8.06 51 Jacksonville : 75 37 56 2.12 3 2.99 8.36 8.54 55 Lafayette : 73 27 49 0.61 1 1.78 5.22 5.22 49 McRae : 77 31 54 1.73 3 2.75 8.46 8.57 57 Midville : 75 37 55 1.19 2 2.15 7.03 7.20 57 Nahunta : 80 37 59 1.83 4 2.89 6.26 6.49 60 Newton : 81 37 59 1.74 3 2.58 9.89 9.98 62 Plains : 77 41 58 2.25 3 3.52 8.37 8.56 56 Sasser : 77 36 56 0.64 2 2.09 7.37 7.51 56 Savannah : 80 36 57 1.86 3 2.53 6.41 6.62 60 Skidaway : 72 42 58 1.29 4 1.94 4.93 5.06 57 Sneads : 80 45 61 1.16 1 1.80 7.04 7.04 59 Statesboro : 76 38 56 1.16 3 1.76 7.33 7.39 58 Tifton : 78 38 58 1.17 2 1.86 6.63 6.83 57 Tiger : 66 27 45 3.80 1 5.72 12.04 12.05 45 Valdosta : 81 44 61 0.97 2 2.12 7.36 7.54 60 Vidalia : 76 37 57 0.79 2 1.81 8.13 8.19 58 Roopville : 75 29 51 0.97 1 1.90 7.43 7.43 53 Watkinsville : 70 30 49 0.25 2 2.21 2.21 2.21 51 Woodbine : 83 42 61 1.46 3 2.35 6.28 7.07 63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Weather data are supplied by the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN) and the office of the State Climatologist, University of Georgia. For detailed Georgia weather data, visit the AEMN homepage at www.georgiaweather.net. DISTRICT COMMENTS March 4, 2007 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Set out insect monitoring traps in the apple orchards. This will begin a season long scouting program monitoring for Coddling Moth, Oriental Fruit Moth and Tufted Apple Budmoth. This program is part of the apple growers integrated pest management program they have been following for the past 4 years. Warmer conditions and heavy rain this week - rain total Thursday near 2.75 inches - major activities include routine care of livestock and poultry and some pasture fertilization in early week. Rain...short hay....cattle sales resulting. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Recent rainfall and warm weather should get things growing. The lack of hay and a long winter have producers scrambling for options to provide forage for their animals. Four -five inches of rain throughout county on Thursday. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL We received 2.4 inches of rain, some minor wind damage to structures and some scattered trees blown over. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Very heavy rains and severe weather on Thursday and Thursday night. Small grains continue to look good and heavy hay feeding continues for livestock. Hay supplies getting critically short. We have gotten our share of very wet weather recently which should suppress any deficits that were existing. No storm damage in the county. Fertilization of small grains ending. Ponds and streams filling up from recent rains. Thoughts turning to corn planting. The southern portion of the county received 4 inches of rain or more. Some places experienced damaging winds on Thursday. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Wheat coming on fast, corn planting will be in earnest in 10-12 days if weather continues warm. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.84" of rainfall. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Preparing land to plant. Spreading poultry litter and lime. Applying herbicides to wheat. Tobacco transplants in greenhouse look good. Worming beef cattle and goats. Got almost 3" of rain in last two days. No damage from bad weather reported. Warmer temperatures have improved crop conditions in pastures and vegetables. Winter grazing has also benefitted from the warmer temperatures. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST On Thursday 1.5 inches of rain fell on most of the county.