ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 18, 2007 Issue GA-CW0707 Agricultural Summary February 19, 2007 AGRICULTURE IMPACTED BY COLD WEATHER The State experienced mild temperatures at the beginning of the week, but cold, windy weather soon returned, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. The week began with average high temperatures near 70. On Wednesday, a cold front moved through the state and highs dropped back down to the 40's and 50's for the remainder of the week. Average lows were mostly in the 20's and lower 30's. On Tuesday, rain fell throughout the State, offsetting the soil moisture loss from the recent cold winds. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 0% very short, 6% short, 80% adequate, and 14% surplus. The cold weather had a wide and varying impact on agriculture this week. Small grains producers welcomed the cold temperatures and the slow down in growth that resulted. Small grains were generally doing very well. There was also some hope that the latest cold front would suppress the insect population. Alternatively, the cold weather had a negative impact on the growth of fescue and winter grazing, and left blueberry producers concerned about damage to blueberry crops. Growers performed field work in preparation for spring crops. Other activities included pruning in commercial vineyards, small grain fertilization, 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 02/18/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data collection for crop progress will resume on March 5, 2007. Crop Condition for Week Ending 02/18/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 2 28 65 5 Range and Pasture : 5 20 43 31 1 Vegetables : 0 2 44 53 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 02/18/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 0 0 NA Short : 6 5 NA Adequate : 80 81 NA Surplus : 14 14 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 02/18/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 13 83 4 District 2 (NC) : 0 12 77 11 District 3 (NE) : 0 3 83 14 District 4 (WC) : 0 8 80 12 District 5 (C) : 0 8 84 8 District 6 (EC) : 0 1 85 14 District 7 (SW) : 0 4 70 26 District 8 (SC) : 0 4 78 18 District 9 (SE) : 0 9 82 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 02/18/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 24 17 30 29 0 District 2 (NC) : 1 10 63 24 2 District 3 (NE) : 0 16 39 44 1 District 4 (WC) : 0 32 43 25 0 District 5 (C) : 11 20 33 34 2 District 6 (EC) : 0 6 69 25 0 District 7 (SW) : 1 39 24 32 4 District 8 (SC) : 6 16 52 24 2 District 9 (SE) : 1 13 41 43 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 Summary for Week Ending 02/18/07, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 71 21 45 1.18 1 5.51 8.56 8.56 50 Alma : 72 23 46 0.41 1 2.88 4.29 4.29 51 Alpharetta : 68 19 37 0.37 2 2.37 4.73 4.73 39 Arlington : 73 22 44 1.33 2 5.20 7.51 7.51 49 Attapulgus : 70 21 44 0.55 1 3.15 5.78 5.78 51 Blairsville : 64 14 32 0.50 3 2.11 4.48 4.48 43 Williamson : 69 19 39 0.48 2 3.80 6.47 6.47 44 Bowen : 70 24 44 0.79 1 3.67 5.92 5.92 51 Brunswick : 72 28 49 0.61 1 3.22 4.80 4.80 57 Byromville : 71 21 43 0.54 3 3.63 6.24 6.24 48 Byron : 70 25 43 0.77 2 3.97 6.27 6.27 49 Cairo : 71 22 45 0.32 1 3.19 5.93 5.93 56 Calhoun : 67 18 35 0.17 2 2.08 3.57 3.57 40 Pine Mountain : 69 18 39 0.87 1 4.34 7.15 7.15 44 Camilla : 72 21 44 0.58 1 4.06 7.89 7.89 50 Clarks Hill : 73 19 42 0.62 2 2.52 4.87 4.87 46 Cordele : 70 23 44 0.50 2 3.54 5.65 5.65 49 Covington : 68 19 40 0.60 1 3.37 6.19 6.19 43 Dahlonega : 63 19 36 0.62 2 2.49 5.82 5.82 40 Dallas : 68 20 37 0.27 2 2.41 4.97 4.97 42 Dawson : 70 20 43 0.62 3 3.69 4.85 4.85 49 Dearing : 71 23 44 0.64 1 2.83 5.00 5.00 49 Dempsey : 68 21 40 0.45 1 3.49 6.29 6.29 43 Dixie : 73 23 46 0.30 1 4.19 6.49 6.49 52 Dublin : 73 22 44 0.50 1 3.89 7.34 7.34 50 Duluth : 69 19 37 0.30 2 2.53 5.00 5.00 43 Dunwoody : 68 20 37 0.36 2 2.50 4.73 4.73 41 Eatonton : 70 16 41 0.77 2 3.59 6.34 6.34 44 Elberton : 71 21 41 0.94 2 3.04 6.27 6.27 45 Ellijay : 64 13 33 0.30 2 2.41 4.93 4.93 39 Rome : 68 20 36 0.16 1 1.94 3.26 3.26 42 Fort Valley : 70 19 42 0.53 1 2.91 4.50 4.50 47 Gainesville : 67 23 38 0.37 2 2.01 3.86 3.86 44 Georgetown : 72 18 42 1.00 2 3.55 7.57 7.57 48 Griffin : 68 22 40 0.46 1 3.48 6.37 6.37 45 Homerville : 74 21 46 0.38 1 4.10 5.43 5.43 54 Jonesboro : 69 20 39 0.26 1 2.95 5.41 5.41 43 Jacksonville : 70 20 42 0.52 2 3.26 6.15 6.15 48 Lafayette : 65 15 35 0.27 3 1.92 3.71 3.71 41 McRae : 72 19 43 0.72 1 4.32 6.58 6.58 50 Midville : 71 24 45 0.72 2 3.98 5.80 5.80 50 Nahunta : 74 22 47 0.99 2 3.24 4.59 4.59 53 Newton : 73 21 44 0.68 1 5.17 8.10 8.10 53 Plains : 68 22 42 1.13 2 3.93 6.25 6.25 47 Sasser : 68 21 43 0.82 2 4.45 6.34 6.34 49 Savannah : 73 22 47 0.27 1 2.47 4.52 4.52 53 Skidaway : 68 26 47 0.31 1 2.39 3.61 3.61 50 Sneads : 70 26 47 0.49 1 3.37 5.73 5.73 53 Statesboro : 72 23 45 0.26 1 3.46 5.94 5.94 50 Tifton : 71 24 45 0.59 1 3.23 5.66 5.66 52 Tiger : 63 18 35 0.48 2 2.43 6.81 6.81 39 Valdosta : 73 26 47 0.55 1 3.90 5.97 5.97 56 Vidalia : 70 23 46 0.49 1 4.59 6.92 6.92 52 Roopville : 70 19 38 0.27 2 2.90 5.80 5.80 45 Watkinsville : 70 30 49 0.25 2 2.21 2.21 2.21 51 Woodbine : 75 25 49 0.47 1 3.62 5.20 5.20 56 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Weather data are 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 February 18, 2007 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Bitter cold winds much of last week led to increased soil moisture loss and slowed growth of fescue and winter grazing. Very cold conditions this week - pruning in commercial vineyards and the routine care of livestock and poultry are major activities. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Rain on Tuesday alleviated the need for water. Before conditions were getting extremely dry. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Cold! DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL The cold front has brought us cooler than normal temperatures. We received major rainfall on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll see a suppression of insect pests from this latest cold front. Small grain fertilization continues as producers can get back into fields. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Cold temperatures good for wheat. Ryegrass/small grain pastures doing very well. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.59" of rainfall. Winter wheat remains good. Some slow down in growth due to cold temperatures. Growers doing more field work in preparation for spring crop. Soils dry enough to get into most areas. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Cold temperatures this weekend could hurt the early blueberry crop if temperatures get as low as predicted. It will take a few days to estimate if and the amount of damage done. Rain and cold temperatures slow field work. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Several days of below average temperatures but no major problems.