ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 19, 2006 Issue GA-CW0706 Agricultural Summary February 19, 2006 RAIN RETURNS Variable temperatures and rainfall characterized the middle of February, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Average temperatures varied from the low 40's to the low 50's. Rainfall was widely scattered, but most areas of the state received at least one day of measurable precipitation. Overall, soil moisture conditions were rated 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Some hay producers reported their supplies running short, due to the increase of hay feeding to livestock this winter. Pasture conditions improved slightly in light of the colder temperatures helping combat insect infestations. Small grain topdressing continued, though the temperature drop slowed plant growth. Vegetable growers also reported increased stress on their crops due to lower temperatures. Other activities included turning cotton stalks, testing soil, and routine care of poultry and livestock. Some areas reported snow on the ground, which made farm activity more difficult. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress Table February 19, 2006 Data for this table will resume April 2006. CROP CONDITION February 19, 2006 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Vegetables 0 3 44 52 1 Wheat 0 8 40 50 2 Pasture 9 17 44 29 1 PASTURE CONDITION - DISTRICT* LEVEL February 19, 2006 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 23 23 54 0 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 12 30 56 2 Dist 3(NE) 0 23 46 31 0 Dist 4(WC) 0 26 31 43 0 Dist 5(C) 13 6 52 29 0 Dist 6(EC) 25 0 41 34 0 Dist 7(SW) 2 32 36 29 1 Dist 8(SC) 12 13 53 19 3 Dist 9(SE) 1 8 43 48 0 *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. Soil Moisture Table Feb 19, 2006 Prev Year 5 Year Avg --Percentages-- Very Short 0 NA NA Short 4 NA NA Adequate 83 NA NA Surplus 13 NA NA SOIL MOISTURE - DISTRICT* LEVEL February 19, 2006 Very Short Short Adequate Surplus --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 2 90 8 Dist 2(NC) 0 0 79 21 Dist 3(NE) 3 12 85 0 Dist 4(WC) 0 0 47 53 Dist 5(C) 0 8 88 4 Dist 6(EC) 0 10 88 2 Dist 7(SW) 0 8 75 17 Dist 8(SC) 0 2 82 16 Dist 9(SE) 0 0 94 6 *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 Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2006 1/ 2006 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALBANY 77 24 50 0.21 1 3.67 8.95 8.95 53 ALMA 77 26 50 0.33 1 4.64 11.01 11.01 51 ALPHARETTA 71 23 42 0.14 1 4.07 7.14 7.14 43 ARLINGTON 77 25 49 0.26 1 3.15 8.03 8.03 51 ATTAPULGUS 79 22 50 0.03 2 3.81 5.72 5.72 53 BLAIRSVILLE 65 15 38 0.34 4 2.70 7.73 7.73 43 BOWEN 77 26 50 0.12 1 2.96 7.90 7.90 53 BRUNSWICK 80 29 52 0.13 2 4.75 7.52 7.52 57 BYROMVILLE 74 26 49 0.35 1 2.08 5.92 5.92 46 BYRON 73 25 44 0.24 1 1.58 3.68 3.68 47 CAIRO 79 24 51 0.03 2 3.96 5.85 5.85 56 CALHOUN 72 20 41 0.22 3 3.05 6.14 6.14 43 CAMILLA 78 24 50 0.13 1 3.46 9.71 9.71 52 CLARKS HILL 75 24 45 0.01 1 2.02 5.05 5.05 47 CORDELE 75 26 49 0.35 1 1.98 6.22 6.22 51 COVINGTON 72 24 45 0.02 1 1.81 3.42 3.42 46 DAHLONEGA 67 23 43 0.22 1 3.82 7.35 7.35 42 DALLAS 71 24 43 0.07 1 4.96 8.61 8.61 44 DAWSON 77 23 48 0.20 2 1.71 4.46 4.46 50 DEARING 73 24 48 0.00 0 1.24 4.42 4.42 49 DEMPSEY 72 24 45 0.04 1 2.13 4.28 4.28 45 DIXIE 80 25 52 0.02 1 4.96 7.42 7.42 53 DUBLIN 76 26 49 0.34 1 2.02 6.19 6.19 51 DULUTH 72 23 43 0.13 1 4.92 8.93 8.93 45 DUNWOODY 71 23 43 0.12 1 4.38 7.44 7.44 44 EATONTON 74 21 45 0.04 1 1.76 4.09 4.09 46 ELBERTON 74 25 45 0.15 1 3.55 5.77 5.77 46 ELLIJAY 67 19 40 0.28 3 3.76 8.27 8.27 42 FORT VALLEY 74 24 48 0.18 1 1.87 4.23 4.23 49 GAINESVILLE 68 26 43 0.16 2 3.59 6.94 6.94 47 GEORGETOWN 74 22 48 0.24 1 2.53 6.28 6.28 51 GRIFFIN 72 25 46 0.05 1 2.45 4.60 4.60 47 HOMERVILLE 80 25 49 0.07 2 4.34 7.55 7.55 55 JACKSONVILLE 73 26 47 0.15 1 1.40 3.60 3.60 49 JONESBORO 73 24 44 0.06 1 3.12 5.98 5.98 45 LAFAYETTE 72 21 42 0.24 2 3.46 6.39 6.39 44 MCRAE 77 22 47 0.43 1 3.29 8.38 8.38 51 MIDVILLE 75 27 48 0.08 1 1.83 4.74 4.74 50 NAHUNTA 79 25 50 0.17 2 3.33 5.75 5.75 53 NEWTON 78 23 49 0.18 1 3.89 9.90 9.90 53 PINE MOUNTAIN 73 20 45 0.05 1 2.77 4.66 4.66 46 PLAINS 73 26 49 0.39 1 2.98 6.60 6.60 48 ROME 73 22 42 0.14 2 3.44 6.71 6.71 44 ROOPVILLE 73 22 43 0.07 1 3.42 7.10 7.10 46 SASSER 76 25 49 0.26 1 2.35 6.00 6.00 51 SAVANNAH 79 25 49 0.31 1 4.89 7.07 7.07 53 SHELLMAN 76 23 48 0.21 1 1.91 4.99 4.99 52 SKIDAWAY 58 28 43 0.21 1 3.46 5.37 5.37 48 SNEADS 76 30 52 0.05 1 3.85 7.26 7.26 54 STATESBORO 76 26 48 0.20 1 2.11 4.69 4.69 51 TIFTON 76 28 51 0.12 1 3.51 9.94 9.94 52 TIGER 65 21 41 0.25 1 4.71 9.28 9.28 42 VALDOSTA 81 27 53 0.04 1 5.50 7.63 7.63 54 VIDALIA 77 26 50 0.30 1 2.35 4.88 4.88 52 WATKINSVILLE 72 25 45 0.08 1 3.77 7.27 7.27 45 WILLIAMSON 72 24 45 0.04 1 1.94 3.44 3.44 46 WOODBINE 82 26 51 0.16 2 4.36 4.99 4.99 56 1/ Weather data supplied by 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, www.georgiaweather.net. NA - not available. District Highlights These comments are written by the Georgia County Extension Agents, and have been compiled and edited by the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. DISTRICT COMMENTS February 19, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Snow was on the ground for over 3 days. This made farm activity more difficult. Routine care of livestock and poultry. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Unseasonably warm temperatures. Topdressing of small grains continued. Heavy hay feeding continued for livestock and some producer's hay supplies are getting short. We have gotten more than a fair amount of cold weather recently. It remains to be seen how this will effect potential insect problems. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Low temperatures this week were detrimental to both winter grazing and vegetables. Field preparation, (cotton stalk turning). Soil testing. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Frost and freezing temperatures did not seem to hurt small fruit. Cold temperatures caused some stress on forages and vegetable crops. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available. Find agricultural statistics for your county, State, and the Nation at www.usda.gov/nass/. Media Contact: David S. Abbe, Director USDA-NASS Georgia Field Office Phone: 706-546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga