ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date October 15, 2006 Issue GA-CW4106 Agricultural Summary October 15, 2006 DRIER Georgia continued to experience dry weather and cooler temperatures this week, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. The week began with highs in the low eighties. Following a mid week cold front, weekend highs peaked only in the mid 70's. Nighttime lows were in the upper 40's and low 50's all week. No significant rainfall totals were recorded. Scattered frost was reported in some areas. Soil moisture conditions declined. Pond and stream levels continued to drop. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 31% very short, 44% short, 25% adequate, and 0% surplus. Pastures and hayfields have no growth and were beginning to turn brown due to lack of rainfall. Hay harvest was wrapping up for some areas and was already complete in other areas. Producers were baling peanut hay to subsidize low hay supply. Small grain planting has been delayed due to the drought. Producers who have been able to water small grains have had some success. Others will continue planting after they receive some rain. Continued dry weather has been detrimental for late planted peanuts, including irrigated fields. Peg strength has been weak as a result of the summer heat and drought. Peanut yields and grades have been low. Lack of soil moisture has made digging difficult in some fields. Weather conditions have been excellent for harvesting cotton. Better than anticipated cotton yields have been attributed to prolonged hot, dry weather. Corn and grain sorghum harvests are nearing completion. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. CROP PROGRESS Oct 15, Prev Prev 5 Year 2006 Week Year Avg Corn, Harvested 98 97 97 97 Soybeans, Dropping Leaves 68 62 78 74 Soybeans, Harvested 11 6 4 11 Sorghum, Harvested 60 57 46 56 Cotton, Bolls Open 96 94 90 93 Cotton, Harvested 34 27 22 28 Wheat, Planted 6 5 6 9 Apples, Harvested 40 36 60 74 Peanuts, Dug 53 38 69 78 Peanuts, Combined 40 26 52 61 Pecans, Harvested 2 1 4 4 Rye, Planted 30 25 24 33 Other Small Grains, Planted 24 17 18 23 CROP CONDITION October 15, 2006 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Soybeans 12 34 34 19 1 Cotton 14 20 31 29 6 Pasture 19 31 34 15 1 Apples 10 10 20 40 20 Hay 18 31 39 12 0 Peanuts 9 21 37 28 5 Pecans 15 37 34 14 0 PASTURE CONDITION - DISTRICT* LEVEL October 15, 2006 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 43 22 17 18 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 28 43 27 2 Dist 3(NE) 1 9 62 28 0 Dist 4(WC) 2 43 35 20 0 Dist 5(C) 42 25 23 10 0 Dist 6(EC) 11 47 34 8 0 Dist 7(SW) 5 41 33 19 2 Dist 8(SC) 41 28 27 4 0 Dist 9(SE) 19 31 34 15 1 *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 Oct 15, 2006 Prev Year 5 Year Avg --Percentages-- Very Short 31 5 6 Short 44 21 27 Adequate 25 64 58 Surplus 0 10 9 SOIL MOISTURE - DISTRICT* LEVEL October 15, 2006 Very Short Short Adequate Surplus --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 10 72 18 0 Dist 2(NC) 4 46 47 2 Dist 3(NE) 2 47 51 0 Dist 4(WC) 12 52 36 0 Dist 5(C) 45 34 21 0 Dist 6(EC) 52 39 9 0 Dist 7(SW) 33 48 18 1 Dist 8(SC) 50 33 17 0 Dist 9(SE) 20 58 22 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. Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2006 1/ 2006 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALBANY 86 41 66 0.00 0 1.51 6.48 37.08 76 ALMA 84 43 64 0.00 0 0.99 8.21 34.71 71 ALPHARETTA 81 33 58 0.07 4 1.37 5.86 32.09 65 ARLINGTON 85 38 63 0.00 0 2.04 9.38 37.08 71 ATTAPULGUS 85 43 64 0.04 1 2.32 7.97 35.01 74 BLAIRSVILLE 77 25 53 0.10 3 2.15 4.88 36.59 65 BOWEN 85 42 65 0.00 0 0.70 3.99 28.70 77 BRUNSWICK 87 47 66 0.00 0 1.44 9.72 29.75 74 BYROMVILLE 84 39 64 0.27 3 0.36 10.08 34.11 71 BYRON 89 53 68 0.00 0 1.02 4.75 25.02 73 CAIRO 84 44 65 0.26 2 1.41 6.03 27.14 75 CALHOUN 82 27 57 0.00 0 3.12 5.58 29.25 67 CAMILLA 85 38 64 0.02 1 0.50 3.81 36.32 75 CLARKS HILL 84 35 62 0.06 1 0.24 4.59 34.66 68 CORDELE 86 38 64 0.06 2 0.44 5.48 27.35 73 COVINGTON 81 35 61 0.00 0 1.24 6.18 22.87 69 DAHLONEGA 78 30 56 0.45 2 2.46 8.98 31.15 63 DALLAS 87 44 65 0.20 1 3.10 4.36 30.59 71 DAWSON 85 39 64 0.00 0 0.96 7.05 23.79 72 DEARING 82 37 62 0.58 1 0.62 4.48 30.21 70 DEMPSEY 81 36 62 0.13 2 0.89 4.41 23.04 70 DIXIE 86 45 66 0.19 1 0.25 4.17 29.53 75 DUBLIN 85 37 64 0.01 1 0.37 4.67 26.07 72 DULUTH 81 33 59 0.01 1 1.41 4.77 31.80 68 DUNWOODY 80 35 59 0.01 1 1.15 5.73 32.28 66 EATONTON 83 31 60 0.02 2 0.75 3.26 24.47 70 ELBERTON 82 33 61 0.00 0 1.30 5.98 28.21 66 ELLIJAY 79 27 54 0.17 2 2.53 6.90 34.97 65 FORT VALLEY 84 38 64 0.43 1 0.75 3.91 20.81 70 GAINESVILLE 82 36 60 0.36 2 1.35 6.17 26.90 69 GEORGETOWN 84 36 64 0.00 0 2.32 3.98 25.27 74 GRIFFIN 81 39 61 0.09 2 0.89 3.72 24.57 69 HOMERVILLE 89 37 64 0.10 2 1.15 3.96 24.82 73 JACKSONVILLE 84 36 63 0.03 1 0.23 4.09 24.66 72 JONESBORO 81 37 60 0.06 2 1.25 7.39 33.63 68 LAFAYETTE 80 28 57 0.07 1 4.97 7.38 31.88 65 MCRAE 85 36 62 0.81 2 0.85 4.45 27.54 74 MIDVILLE 82 37 63 0.00 0 0.15 2.73 21.79 73 NAHUNTA 87 39 63 0.20 1 1.87 5.13 25.68 73 NEWTON 84 39 64 0.02 1 1.28 6.77 37.84 75 PINE MOUNTAIN 82 35 60 0.17 1 2.63 5.58 29.01 67 PLAINS 85 41 64 0.05 1 0.70 5.90 36.73 72 ROME 82 31 58 0.03 1 2.98 5.97 29.98 67 ROOPVILLE 82 37 60 0.00 0 1.66 11.04 39.66 69 SASSER 85 40 64 0.00 0 0.45 5.12 27.22 72 SAVANNAH 86 38 63 0.02 2 1.27 5.84 30.20 71 SHELLMAN 85 42 65 0.00 0 1.32 6.62 24.64 75 SKIDAWAY 83 44 64 0.03 3 2.89 10.62 33.86 69 SNEADS 90 51 68 0.02 1 0.56 3.67 34.06 74 STATESBORO 83 38 63 0.01 1 0.99 4.83 26.39 72 TIFTON 84 43 66 0.01 1 1.08 3.85 28.27 72 TIGER 78 26 53 0.06 2 2.74 9.64 41.76 64 VALDOSTA 88 48 68 0.00 0 0.66 2.66 30.57 73 VIDALIA 84 40 64 0.11 3 0.11 2.93 21.33 74 WATKINSVILLE 81 36 61 0.03 1 0.60 6.12 31.10 68 WILLIAMSON 82 36 61 0.45 3 0.95 4.73 23.19 68 WOODBINE 91 42 65 0.00 0 0.59 6.64 26.26 75 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 National Agricultural Statistics Service. DISTRICT COMMENTS October 15, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Some scattered frost has already occurred. Corn silage harvest continues. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Too dry to plant winter grazing & small grains, but doing it anyway. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Very dry! Need rain really, really badly! Pasture and hayfield conditions continue to decline. Small grains that have been planted are not coming up due to lack of moisture. Small grain and winter grazing planting on hold until be we some rain. Pond and stream levels continue to drop. Corn and grain sorghum harvests nearing completion. We have noticed a drop off in temperatures, but no extra rainfall. October drought worsens conditions for livestock producers. Hay is in very short supply and grazing is virtually gone. Hay season is pretty much done for us. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Cotton yielding better than anticipated as prolonged hot, dry weather worked in our favor. Peanuts yielding below average in dry and irrigated fields with grades being barely acceptable. Still very dry, have gone over one month with no rain at all, only 4.7 inches since July 1. Making a lot of peanut hay which will be fed soon due to lack of grazing and grass hay. Just now getting into irrigated peanuts and cotton. Only grain planted is dairymen who had to water it up. Still dry. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.08" of rainfall. Cotton crop better than expected at early harvest. Peanut grades averaging high sixties (68, 69). Dry! DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Continued dry weather is taking toll on late planted peanuts even irrigated. Extreme heat in summer and drought has caused peg strength to be weak. Causing digging and combining losses. Great weather for cotton harvest. Drought has delayed small grain planting for grazing. Final hay harvest wrapping up. Mowing cotton stalks and harvesting peanuts and baling peanut hay is the main activities. Most fields ground is almost to hard to dig. Low peanut yields and grades for the most part Rain is needed to continue to plant small grains. Very low soil moisture. Pastures and hayfields have no growth and are brown from lack of rainfall. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available. Find agricultural statistics for your county, State, and the Nation at www.usda.gov/nass/. Media Contact: Douglas G. Kleweno, Director USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office Phone: 706-546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga