ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 26, 2006 Issue GA-CW1206 Agricultural Summary March 26, 2006 COOL FIRST WEEK OF SPRING The first official week of spring brought rain and cooler temperatures to Georgia, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. The state experienced an average low in the upper 30's and an average high of 60. Many counties received light to moderate rain during the early part of the week, with some reporting nearly 2 inches on Monday. Soil moisture conditions were rated 4 percent very short, 26 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Vegetable growers reported concern over the week's cold temperatures and weekend frost. The cool weather has also slowed watermelon transplanting. Livestock continued on heavy hay feeding this week with hay supplies growing very short for many farmers. Planting continued for corn, both sweet and field, snap beans, and other vegetables. Cabbage and small grains are reported to look good. Other activities reported included preparation for spraying fungicide on wheat, tobacco transplanting, and routine care of poultry and livestock. The onion harvest is expected to begin on a small scale soon. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. CROP PROGRESS Mar 26, Prev Prev 5 Year 2006 Week Year Avg Corn, Planted 51 21 NA NA Wheat, Jointing 69 40 NA NA Wheat, Boot 23 7 NA NA Peaches, Blooming 83 23 NA NA Watermelons, Planted 27 8 NA NA CROP CONDITION March 26, 2006 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Vegetables 0 2 35 56 7 Wheat 0 3 31 59 7 Pasture 4 13 42 40 1 PASTURE CONDITION - DISTRICT* LEVEL March 26, 2006 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 5 77 18 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 4 16 77 3 Dist 3(NE) 0 0 33 67 0 Dist 4(WC) 14 17 33 36 0 Dist 5(C) 5 10 31 54 0 Dist 6(EC) 1 4 64 26 5 Dist 7(SW) 3 33 39 22 3 Dist 8(SC) 7 8 40 45 0 Dist 9(SE) 0 2 44 50 4 *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 26, 2006 Prev Year 5 Year Avg --Percentages-- Very Short 4 NA NA Short 26 NA NA Adequate 62 NA NA Surplus 8 NA NA SOIL MOISTURE - DISTRICT* LEVEL March 26, 2006 Very Short Short Adequate Surplus --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 27 73 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 0 82 18 Dist 3(NE) 0 13 37 50 Dist 4(WC) 0 7 76 17 Dist 5(C) 0 16 69 15 Dist 6(EC) 5 29 64 2 Dist 7(SW) 19 40 36 5 Dist 8(SC) 3 39 56 2 Dist 9(SE) 1 28 69 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 Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY MARCH 26, 2006 1/ 2006 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALBANY 79 35 55 0.28 3 3.06 7.08 12.47 64 ALMA 75 33 54 0.46 2 2.43 7.08 13.54 59 ALPHARETTA 63 26 43 2.12 4 3.91 7.93 12.77 50 ARLINGTON 81 31 54 0.25 2 1.86 5.40 10.28 62 ATTAPULGUS 82 32 56 0.53 2 1.59 5.69 7.62 62 BLAIRSVILLE 64 25 39 1.20 4 2.47 5.07 10.89 48 BOWEN 79 34 54 0.14 2 1.73 4.71 9.87 62 BRUNSWICK 85 36 56 0.38 2 1.32 6.22 9.02 62 BYROMVILLE 76 30 51 0.69 2 3.95 6.05 9.90 53 BYRON 73 31 49 0.34 2 4.13 6.46 8.78 56 CAIRO 82 37 61 0.00 0 1.36 5.29 7.18 64 CALHOUN 60 23 42 1.79 3 2.88 5.99 10.16 48 CAMILLA 81 31 55 0.02 1 1.49 4.74 11.41 64 CLARKS HILL 61 33 47 1.36 2 2.97 5.70 9.20 54 CORDELE 76 32 53 0.70 2 4.59 6.57 10.86 59 COVINGTON 63 29 45 1.19 2 3.02 5.08 7.33 52 DAHLONEGA 60 26 41 1.31 3 2.08 4.98 9.89 48 DALLAS 68 26 43 1.82 3 4.37 9.36 15.20 50 DAWSON 79 33 53 0.38 1 2.59 4.44 7.19 59 DEARING 62 32 47 0.00 0 1.60 3.19 6.86 53 DEMPSEY 71 27 45 1.16 2 3.41 6.31 8.97 51 DIXIE 81 32 57 0.76 2 1.58 6.86 9.36 63 DUBLIN 69 30 50 0.89 3 3.37 5.45 9.67 57 DULUTH 63 26 43 1.75 3 3.50 8.08 14.45 50 DUNWOODY 61 27 43 1.69 3 3.71 8.01 13.19 50 EATONTON 64 27 46 1.30 2 3.70 6.26 8.96 47 ELBERTON 60 26 45 1.59 2 3.24 6.89 10.60 52 ELLIJAY 57 23 39 1.77 5 3.72 7.66 13.21 48 FORT VALLEY 72 32 50 0.45 2 3.47 5.53 8.04 54 GAINESVILLE 57 33 44 2.10 2 3.51 6.59 11.29 52 GEORGETOWN 78 31 52 0.18 1 3.53 5.98 9.89 61 GRIFFIN 71 30 46 1.32 2 3.45 6.62 9.39 53 HOMERVILLE 84 31 55 0.34 3 1.13 5.58 9.05 62 JACKSONVILLE 70 32 49 0.34 2 2.93 4.75 7.04 56 JONESBORO 71 28 46 1.62 2 3.94 7.60 11.14 52 LAFAYETTE 60 25 41 1.62 2 2.58 5.46 9.52 49 MCRAE 72 28 51 0.45 1 3.94 7.12 12.45 59 MIDVILLE 63 32 49 0.34 2 2.54 4.61 7.63 55 NAHUNTA 85 33 55 0.27 1 0.90 4.22 6.76 62 NEWTON 82 29 55 0.02 1 1.30 5.32 11.44 63 PINE MOUNTAIN 73 24 47 2.66 2 4.77 7.39 10.41 53 PLAINS 75 32 51 0.70 2 4.89 7.95 11.57 55 ROME 62 25 43 2.16 2 3.36 6.51 11.14 51 ROOPVILLE 73 28 46 1.42 2 3.88 7.49 12.34 53 SAVANNAH 72 34 51 0.36 2 0.82 5.92 9.52 58 SHELLMAN 78 33 53 0.51 1 3.16 5.20 8.28 62 SKIDAWAY 73 38 52 0.30 3 2.04 4.85 7.76 55 SNEADS 81 39 58 0.38 3 1.23 5.73 9.17 62 STATESBORO 64 33 49 0.44 1 1.96 4.04 6.72 57 TIFTON 77 34 54 0.05 3 1.80 5.19 11.97 60 TIGER 59 26 39 1.71 3 2.57 6.26 12.25 46 VALDOSTA 83 36 57 0.62 2 1.35 6.78 9.23 62 VIDALIA 70 34 51 0.80 2 3.01 5.37 8.02 59 WATKINSVILLE 60 30 45 1.76 2 4.32 8.94 13.61 51 WILLIAMSON 72 28 46 1.44 2 3.66 6.40 8.30 52 WOODBINE 87 33 56 0.31 1 1.45 6.24 6.92 64 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 26, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Some heavy rain early in the week. Some areas got 1-2 inches. Cooler than normal temperatures. Heavy hay feeding continues for livestock. Hay supplies getting really short for some livestock producers. Small grains looking really good. We have continued to experience fairly good weather recently. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Some frost this weekend. Will have to wait and see if there is any damage. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Some frost damage to snapbean, tomato, and sweet corn. Extent of damage unknown at this point in time. We received 0.68" of rainfall. Corn and greenbean planting continues. Soil moisture good. Need rain! DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Preparing land for planting. Clipping tobacco transplants in greenhouse. Fixing to spray fungicide on wheat. Planting sweet corn. Need more rain. Dry cold a concern for vegetables producers. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Cool weather has slowed watermelon transplanting, but should really speed up this week. Cabbage crop looks good. Onion harvest will begin on a small scale in about 10 days. 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