ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date December 18, 2006 Issue GA-CW4806 Agricultural Summary December 18, 2006 WARM WEATHER REPLACES LAST WEEK'S COLD The State experienced near record high temperatures this week, replacing the cold that stalled farming activities last week, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Average highs rose into the upper 60's and low 70's. Average lows were recorded in the low 40's. There was only a trace of rainfall reported for the week. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 12% very short, 41% short, 46% adequate, and 1% surplus. A few farmers were still harvesting cotton fields this week. Others were planting wheat, rye, and oats. The lack of rain has led to less than favorable conditions for land preparation in heavy soils. Some cattle were seen grazing harvested and abandoned cotton fields. Dry conditions have prevented the growth of winter grazing and wheat. The shortage of hay stocks and poor winter grazing conditions have been hard on cattle producers. The Vidalia onion crop was more than 90% planted this week. The cabbage harvest was in full swing. Many are still hopeful last week's cold weather will reduce insect populations. Other activities included routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 12/17/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 12/17/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 1 4 42 52 1 Range and Pasture : 11 24 44 20 1 Vegetables : 1 5 48 44 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 12/17/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 12 6 NA Short : 41 27 NA Adequate : 46 65 NA Surplus : 1 2 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Soil Moisture Map 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 12/17/06, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 29 67 4 District 2 (NC) : 0 33 65 2 District 3 (NE) : 0 37 61 2 District 4 (WC) : 10 42 48 0 District 5 (C) : 22 38 40 0 District 6 (EC) : 8 44 48 0 District 7 (SW) : 15 47 37 1 District 8 (SC) : 20 50 29 1 District 9 (SE) : 24 44 32 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. Pasture Condition for Week Ending 12/17/06, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 25 13 24 33 5 District 2 (NC) : 0 12 62 24 2 District 3 (NE) : 0 8 71 21 0 District 4 (WC) : 2 36 45 17 0 District 5 (C) : 19 24 30 27 0 District 6 (EC) : 16 9 51 19 5 District 7 (SW) : 7 37 41 13 2 District 8 (SC) : 13 44 31 12 0 District 9 (SE) : 13 27 46 14 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 12/17/06, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 76 42 58 0.00 0 0.80 5.62 43.28 57 Alma : 78 44 60 0.00 0 0.47 1.75 36.55 59 Alpharetta : 70 30 47 0.10 3 0.43 6.60 40.30 43 Arlington : 77 39 56 0.00 0 0.45 5.86 44.64 55 Attapulgus : 76 41 59 0.39 2 0.87 4.68 40.39 60 Blairsville : 74 24 45 0.14 3 1.25 7.76 46.00 48 Williamson : 74 31 54 0.00 0 0.56 5.70 29.13 51 Bowen : 75 44 59 0.17 1 0.91 4.56 33.45 59 Brunswick : 77 50 61 0.09 2 0.78 3.27 33.50 64 Byromville : 76 40 57 0.01 1 0.17 5.25 40.17 55 Byron : 75 35 55 0.04 1 0.47 5.63 31.22 54 Cairo : 76 43 60 0.42 2 0.76 4.03 31.77 62 Calhoun : 74 27 47 0.14 2 0.72 7.15 38.41 48 Pine Mountain : 74 36 54 0.12 3 1.51 7.38 36.54 52 Camilla : 77 38 58 0.00 0 0.53 5.62 42.48 59 Clarks Hill : 76 29 48 0.02 2 1.05 3.84 38.66 50 Cordele : 75 35 55 0.01 1 0.42 5.05 33.08 55 Covington : 74 30 52 0.01 1 0.23 5.65 28.90 51 Dahlonega : 72 29 50 0.16 2 0.88 8.50 43.71 46 Dallas : 73 32 52 0.14 2 1.05 7.27 39.07 49 Dawson : 74 39 56 0.00 0 0.45 4.15 28.61 56 Dearing : 76 33 54 0.26 3 1.08 4.04 34.32 54 Dempsey : 74 37 55 0.00 0 0.52 7.03 30.35 52 Dixie : 77 41 60 0.24 1 0.50 4.72 35.40 60 Dublin : 75 35 55 0.00 0 0.43 5.81 31.97 54 Duluth : 75 29 49 0.07 3 0.62 6.60 39.94 50 Dunwoody : 74 33 52 0.09 3 0.84 7.14 40.92 49 Eatonton : 75 27 50 0.02 2 0.31 5.18 29.83 50 Elberton : 75 27 50 0.01 1 0.78 5.81 34.85 48 Ellijay : 72 28 47 0.24 3 1.09 6.88 43.84 46 Rome : 73 28 48 0.29 2 0.62 7.09 39.23 49 Fort Valley : 75 39 56 0.04 3 0.42 4.02 25.08 54 Gainesville : 74 32 50 0.03 3 0.61 4.89 34.12 51 Georgetown : 74 35 56 0.00 0 0.81 6.80 34.32 56 Griffin : 74 34 55 0.00 0 0.51 7.04 31.95 53 Homerville : 79 39 59 0.02 1 0.17 2.42 28.19 60 Jonesboro : 76 31 51 0.02 2 0.53 6.40 40.66 49 Jacksonville : 74 37 55 0.06 1 0.35 4.52 29.46 54 Lafayette : 71 27 50 0.23 2 0.60 7.00 41.52 48 McRae : 76 33 54 0.00 0 0.55 5.68 33.45 56 Midville : 76 34 55 0.04 1 1.35 5.20 27.07 55 Nahunta : 78 40 59 0.09 2 0.36 1.73 27.57 60 Newton : 77 39 57 0.00 0 0.52 7.02 45.88 60 Plains : 75 40 57 0.00 0 0.33 6.05 44.80 54 Sasser : 74 40 56 0.01 1 0.57 4.56 32.88 55 Savannah : 80 39 58 0.31 2 1.39 3.44 33.78 58 Skidaway : 75 44 58 0.71 2 1.22 3.57 37.51 56 Sneads : 82 46 60 0.00 0 1.03 2.20 36.96 57 Statesboro : 77 36 56 0.00 0 1.18 3.80 30.23 56 Tifton : 76 45 60 0.00 0 0.84 4.42 32.85 58 Tiger : 72 24 45 0.14 2 1.90 10.64 56.32 44 Valdosta : 78 46 62 0.03 2 0.57 5.09 37.08 61 Vidalia : 77 40 58 0.00 0 0.87 4.13 25.53 58 Roopville : 73 33 52 0.15 1 1.27 8.60 49.28 52 Watkinsville : 73 33 53 0.01 1 0.25 4.95 37.04 50 Woodbine : 79 44 60 0.02 1 0.79 3.29 30.33 63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 18, 2006 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Routine care of livestock and poultry. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Warm and dry. Dry conditions remain; little grazing available; winter grazing not growing due to dry conditions. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL We have been experiencing pretty much the same weather patterns as most of the state. The cold snap was a welcomed change. Hopefully, we'll see a reduction in insect infestations. Cattlemen are feeding more hay than normal due to a lack of winter grazing. The lack of rain has hurt the grazing. Farmers are still harvesting a few cotton fields. Farmers planted wheat, rye, and oats this week. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Dry, dry! DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Cotton harvest continues. Increase in cattle grazing harvested and disaster cotton fields. Lack of rain has contributed to less than favorable land preparation conditions on heavy soils. Winter pastures and wheat continue to decline due to extremely dry conditions. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Organic Vidalia Onion planting now underway. Vidalia onion crop 95% planted and looking good. Cabbage harvest in full swing.