ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date December 11, 2006 Issue GA-CW4806 Agricultural Summary December 11, 2006 FIRST FULL WEEK OF COLD WEATHER The State experienced its first week of cold winter temperatures, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Average highs for the week rose into the mid 50's, with some stations only reaching the mid 40's on Wednesday. Lows were reported in the 10's and 20's. There was no rainfall reported. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 6% very short, 27% short, 65% adequate, and 2% surplus. The freezing temperatures ended the fall vegetable harvest and limited other farm activities. The cold weather took a toll on winter pastures, young wheat, and previously short hay supplies. Producers continued to plant small grains this week. Topsoil moisture conditions remain adequate, but the low levels of local ponds and streams have some producers concerned about depleted subsoil moisture levels. Significant rainfall is needed to replenish them. Winter grazing growth has been slow due to the lack of rainfall. Cattlemen continued supplemental feeding to maintain their herds. The cotton harvest was nearly complete this week. Cotton producers were mowing cotton stalks and harrowing fields. Many hope the cold weather will reduce insect populations. Other activities included applying poultry litter to small grains and pastures, land clearing work, and routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 12/10/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent *Data for this table will resume in April 2007* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 12/10/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 2 40 57 1 Range and Pasture : 10 22 48 18 2 Vegetables : 0 3 59 37 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 12/10/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 6 NA NA Short : 27 NA NA Adequate : 65 NA NA Surplus : 2 NA NA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Soil Moisture Map data 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 12/10/06, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 36 61 3 District 2 (NC) : 0 18 80 2 District 3 (NE) : 0 11 81 8 District 4 (WC) : 1 18 80 1 District 5 (C) : 7 43 50 0 District 6 (EC) : 7 21 72 0 District 7 (SW) : 1 14 77 8 District 8 (SC) : 20 34 45 1 District 9 (SE) : 11 39 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. Pasture Condition for Week Ending 12/10/06, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 24 8 34 27 7 District 2 (NC) : 0 6 66 27 1 District 3 (NE) : 0 9 65 26 0 District 4 (WC) : 12 32 42 14 0 District 5 (C) : 21 18 51 10 0 District 6 (EC) : 12 5 57 20 6 District 7 (SW) : 0 42 35 20 3 District 8 (SC) : 12 40 36 12 0 District 9 (SE) : 15 32 44 9 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 Summary for Week Ending 12/10/06, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 68 22 43 0.00 0 2.86 6.20 43.28 50 Alma : 69 24 45 0.00 0 1.07 1.84 36.55 54 Alpharetta : 60 15 35 0.00 0 3.59 8.15 40.20 40 Arlington : 67 21 41 0.00 0 2.83 7.56 44.64 50 Attapulgus : 68 23 44 0.00 0 1.89 5.03 40.00 52 Blairsville : 58 9 31 0.00 0 4.83 9.28 45.86 47 Williamson : 61 15 38 0.00 0 3.71 5.95 29.13 46 Bowen : 67 22 43 0.00 0 2.41 4.58 33.28 52 Brunswick : 71 31 49 0.00 0 1.43 3.66 33.41 62 Byromville : 64 19 41 0.00 0 2.22 6.07 40.16 50 Byron : 63 20 40 0.00 0 2.80 6.05 31.18 49 Cairo : 68 25 45 0.00 0 1.54 4.47 31.35 61 Calhoun : 58 10 32 0.00 0 3.83 9.02 38.27 42 Pine Mountain : 62 17 38 0.00 0 5.27 7.41 36.42 45 Camilla : 68 20 43 0.00 0 3.39 6.18 42.48 51 Clarks Hill : 62 16 38 0.00 0 2.12 3.98 38.64 48 Cordele : 63 18 40 0.00 0 2.22 5.77 33.07 50 Covington : 61 15 38 0.00 0 2.78 6.02 28.89 46 Dahlonega : 58 16 37 0.00 0 4.02 12.41 43.55 44 Dallas : 59 16 35 0.00 0 4.32 8.34 38.93 45 Dawson : 63 21 41 0.00 0 2.46 4.82 28.61 53 Dearing : 63 18 41 0.03 1 2.67 3.85 34.06 53 Dempsey : 61 16 38 0.00 0 3.73 7.32 30.35 43 Dixie : 70 27 46 0.00 0 2.11 5.82 35.16 54 Dublin : 64 17 40 0.00 0 1.98 5.90 31.97 51 Duluth : 61 16 36 0.00 0 3.57 8.07 39.87 48 Dunwoody : 60 16 36 0.00 0 4.26 8.55 40.83 45 Eatonton : 63 13 38 0.00 0 2.60 5.35 29.81 45 Elberton : 62 15 38 0.00 0 1.94 6.63 34.84 46 Ellijay : 57 10 32 0.00 0 3.53 8.64 43.60 42 Rome : 58 14 33 0.00 0 3.17 8.96 38.94 44 Fort Valley : 63 21 41 0.00 0 2.30 4.23 25.04 46 Gainesville : 59 20 39 0.00 0 2.42 7.20 34.09 49 Georgetown : 64 16 40 0.00 0 4.37 9.05 34.32 49 Griffin : 60 18 39 0.00 0 3.74 7.39 31.95 48 Homerville : 72 19 44 0.00 0 1.42 3.43 28.17 54 Jonesboro : 62 17 38 0.00 0 3.68 7.02 40.64 45 Jacksonville : 64 19 41 0.00 0 2.34 4.74 29.40 51 Lafayette : 56 12 32 0.00 0 2.53 9.41 41.29 43 McRae : 66 14 39 0.00 0 2.24 6.72 33.45 50 Midville : 65 17 40 0.01 1 2.70 5.24 27.03 49 Nahunta : 73 21 45 0.00 0 0.79 2.00 27.48 56 Newton : 68 22 42 0.00 0 3.95 8.04 45.88 54 Plains : 65 20 41 0.00 0 2.53 8.12 44.80 47 Sasser : 63 22 41 0.00 0 2.52 5.65 32.87 49 Savannah : 71 20 44 0.00 0 1.95 3.27 33.47 53 Skidaway : 66 27 46 0.05 1 1.34 2.96 36.80 54 Sneads : 68 29 47 0.00 0 1.17 2.92 36.96 55 Statesboro : 67 18 42 0.05 1 1.78 3.84 30.23 50 Tifton : 67 23 45 0.00 0 2.63 4.58 32.85 54 Tiger : 58 10 34 0.00 0 5.66 14.43 56.18 42 Valdosta : 72 28 48 0.03 2 2.78 6.48 37.05 58 Vidalia : 69 23 43 0.00 0 2.12 4.30 25.53 52 Roopville : 62 17 37 0.00 0 5.45 9.47 49.13 47 Watkinsville : 62 17 40 0.00 0 2.39 5.96 37.03 47 Woodbine : 74 28 48 0.00 0 1.44 4.05 30.31 59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Weather data 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. DISTRICT COMMENTS December 10, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Low temperatures in the teens have limited some activities. Severe cold weather this week - routine care of livestock and poultry. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Cold! Small grain and winter grazing growth slowed drastically by cold temperatures; starting to need rain again. Cold and windy. Little grazing available...still. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Cold and windy! Heavy hay feeding by livestock producers. We have gotten our share of cold weather which should reduce our insect problems. Need rain! Cattlemen are feeding a lot of hay and supplements to maintain their herds. Winter grazing has grown slow due to a lack of rain. Ponds and watering holes are very low. Farmers planted wheat, rye and oats this week. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Extreme cold takes a toll on winter pasture, young wheat and already short hay supplies. Corn planting intentions up significantly due to no contract offers from peanut buyers. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Cotton harvest 90% complete. Small grain planting continues. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Keeping warm. Mowing cotton stalks, Harrowing land. Picking cotton. Planting wheat. Land clearing and field cleanup around edges. Applying poultry litter to pastures and small grains. Only the cold crops are good the rest of the vegetables was killed by the freeze. Cold temperatures. Top soil is adequate but concerned over low pond levels, and very depleted subsoil moisture. Need good winter rains. Freezing temperatures puts and end to fall vegetable harvest. Cotton harvest is nearing completion, there are a few fields left to be picked. Wheat acreage is up significantly. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.