ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date January 14, 2007 Issue GA-CW0207 Agricultural Summary January 16, 2007 WARM WEATHER CONTINUES The State experienced normal winter temperatures at the start of the week, but unseasonably warm weather had returned by the end of the week, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Average highs ranged from the 50's and lower 60's the first half of the week to upper 60's and lower 70's the second half of the week. Lows in the State were near freezing until the warm weather returned bringing with it lows in the upper 40's and low 50's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 0% very short, 7% short, 79% adequate, and 14% surplus. Small grains continued to flourish in many areas. Farmers continued spraying wheat for weeds although some farmers were waiting for the ground to dry before they could spray. Some producers prepared to start topdressing small grains. Heavy hay feeding to livestock continued to make up for a lack of winter grazing and hay supplies continued to dwindle. It was all but impossible to find any hay for sale. Rains in recent weeks have increased water levels in some ponds, but much more rain is needed to return to normal levels. Other activities included fixing or putting up cattle fencing, seeding trays with tobacco seed to put in greenhouses, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 01/14/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data collection for crop progress will resume in April 2007. Crop Condition for Week Ending 01/14/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 2 27 64 7 Range and Pasture : 7 12 45 32 4 Vegetables : 0 3 33 63 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 01/14/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 0 0 NA Short : 7 4 NA Adequate : 79 72 NA Surplus : 14 24 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 01/14/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 8 76 16 District 2 (NC) : 0 9 72 19 District 3 (NE) : 0 4 83 13 District 4 (WC) : 0 0 63 37 District 5 (C) : 1 4 82 13 District 6 (EC) : 0 1 88 11 District 7 (SW) : 0 8 71 21 District 8 (SC) : 0 11 80 9 District 9 (SE) : 0 14 84 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 01/14/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 23 13 40 24 0 District 2 (NC) : 0 0 61 36 3 District 3 (NE) : 0 5 70 21 4 District 4 (WC) : 1 32 39 24 5 District 5 (C) : 20 14 25 41 0 District 6 (EC) : 0 2 64 27 7 District 7 (SW) : 0 18 30 44 8 District 8 (SC) : 7 15 41 32 5 District 9 (SE) : 0 32 44 24 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 01/14/07, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data collection for weather will resume January 22, 2007. *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 January 14, 2007 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Received much needed rain early in the week, up to 3 inches in some parts of the county. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Spring like weather in January! DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Small grains continue to look good. Some producers getting ready to start top dressing small grains soon. Heavy hay feeding to livestock continues and hay supplies continue to dwindle. All but impossible to find any hay for sale. We have gotten a mixture of weather extremes over the past week. We have gotten warm and sunny days, heavy rainfall and cold temperatures. As a result, we've seen early budding on some trees. It's becoming quite an unpredictable set of circumstances. Farmers are feeding a lot of hay to make up for a lack of winter grazing. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Nearly 6" of rain since Dec. 22. Farmers having to wait for ground to dry to spray weeds in wheat. Wheat growing maybe a little too fast due to warm weather and moisture. Winter pasture very good in many places. Unseasonably warm and dry. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Spraying wheat for winter weeds. Some small grains yellow due to cloudy days and nitrogen deficiency. Fixing or putting up cattle fencing. Seeding trays with tobacco seed to put in greenhouses. Wet and damp and cold. Warm winter temperatures have advanced low chill; our fruit to bloom. Recent rains have helped to start to fill some ponds. More rain is needed to help with these shortages. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.