ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 12, 2006 Issue GA-CW1006 Agricultural Summary March 12, 2006 WARM FOR MARCH The transition to the third month of the year was dry and warm, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. The state experienced an average low in the upper 40's and an average high in the low 70's. Many counties received light rain during the early and middle parts of the week. Soil moisture conditions were rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Hay supplies continued to decrease as livestock producers continued supplemental feeding. Several growers reported greening of pastures and hayfields as the winter dormancy subsides. Pasture fertilization was a common activity and corn planting continued. Other activities included early pasture weed control, field preparation for corn, snap beans, and green beans, clipping tobacco transplants in greenhouses, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. Growers reported the cool season vegetables were doing well and peaches were beginning to bloom. The onion crop continued to progress. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. CROP PROGRESS Mar 12, Prev Prev 5 Year 2006 Week Year Avg Corn, Planted 8 1 NA NA Wheat, Jointing 28 27 NA NA Wheat, Boot 2 1 NA NA Peaches, Blooming 12 NA NA NA Watermelons, Planted 1 0 NA NA CROP CONDITION March 12, 2006 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Vegetables 0 2 42 50 6 Wheat 0 4 41 52 3 Pasture 4 11 42 42 1 PASTURE CONDITION - DISTRICT* LEVEL March 12, 2006 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 22 19 51 8 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 6 25 68 1 Dist 3(NE) 0 4 44 52 0 Dist 4(WC) 1 7 46 46 0 Dist 5(C) 7 7 41 39 6 Dist 6(EC) 0 13 51 36 0 Dist 7(SW) 1 24 42 32 1 Dist 8(SC) 9 12 34 45 0 Dist 9(SE) 0 6 46 46 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. Soil Moisture Table Mar 12, 2006 Prev Year 5 Year Avg --Percentages-- Very Short 1 NA NA Short 18 NA NA Adequate 73 NA NA Surplus 8 NA NA SOIL MOISTURE - DISTRICT* LEVEL March 12, 2006 Very Short Short Adequate Surplus --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 44 56 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 2 84 14 Dist 3(NE) 1 9 88 2 Dist 4(WC) 0 1 78 21 Dist 5(C) 0 20 71 9 Dist 6(EC) 0 34 66 0 Dist 7(SW) 8 31 61 0 Dist 8(SC) 0 15 73 12 Dist 9(SE) 2 21 72 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 MARCH 12, 2006 1/ 2006 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp DATA NOT AVAILABLE 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 March 12, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Just starting to see peaches in bloom. The fescue pastures are greening up and starting to recover from winter dormancy. Routine care of livestock - some early pasture weed control - rain showers this week. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Warm! Greening up in warm season pastures & hayfields. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Warmer than average temperatures. Some showers late in the week. Heavy hay feeding continues for livestock with hay supplies getting short for some producers. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Top soil moisture low, need a shower DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.47" of rainfall. Field preparation for corn and green beans. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Applying Telone to vegetable and tobacco soil. Clipping tobacco transplants in the greenhouses. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No corn growing. Onion shipping date to be decided tonight by Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel in Vidalia. Onion crop looks excellent. Corn planting started last week. Cabbage crop looks well. 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