ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 25, 2007 Issue GA-CW1207 Agricultural Summary March 26, 2007 MILD DROUGHT CONDITIONS The State experienced unseasonably warm weather during the first official week of spring, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. The first half of the week average highs were in the low to mid-70's, but by Sunday highs were well into the 80's. Average lows were in the mid-40's to the lower 50's most of the week. It was an extremely dry week for the State. Soil moisture levels have quickly decreased due to the warm weather and lack of rain. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 11% very short, 52% short, 37% adequate, and 0% surplus. The State is experiencing mild drought conditions. Farmers were concerned that the lack of rain would delay planting. Dry conditions were beginning to have an effect on crops and more frequent showers were needed to prevent further deterioration. Farmers were having to water wheat, but it is still in generally good condition. Blueberries were progressing rapidly toward harvest. Irrigation was being applied to blueberries and blackberries due to the dry weather. Planting continued for corn. Other activities included spring tillage, preparing land for tobacco and cotton crops, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 03/25/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn Planted : 51 25 51 NA Corn Emerged : 17 6 NA NA Winter Wheat Jointing : 68 49 69 NA Winter Wheat Boot : 20 6 23 NA Peaches Blooming : 66 33 83 NA Watermelons Planted : 32 9 27 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 03/25/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn : 0 2 33 63 2 Winter Wheat : 0 2 27 65 6 Range and Pasture : 4 18 46 31 1 Onions : 0 9 28 62 1 Peaches : 0 3 16 81 0 Vegetables : 0 2 42 55 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 03/25/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 11 1 NA Short : 52 17 NA Adequate : 37 73 NA Surplus : 0 9 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 03/25/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 9 34 56 1 District 2 (NC) : 3 59 38 0 District 3 (NE) : 3 20 76 1 District 4 (WC) : 9 52 39 0 District 5 (C) : 11 56 33 0 District 6 (EC) : 14 53 33 0 District 7 (SW) : 23 59 17 1 District 8 (SC) : 14 58 28 0 District 9 (SE) : 6 60 34 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 03/25/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 12 13 32 40 3 District 2 (NC) : 0 12 63 25 0 District 3 (NE) : 0 9 35 55 1 District 4 (WC) : 5 26 49 20 0 District 5 (C) : 8 15 45 32 0 District 6 (EC) : 1 13 68 18 0 District 7 (SW) : 5 27 32 33 3 District 8 (SC) : 2 19 50 28 1 District 9 (SE) : 1 25 45 29 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 03/25/07, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 89 39 65 0.00 0 1.77 5.93 10.34 69 Alma : 86 38 64 0.00 0 1.85 4.63 6.16 62 Alpharetta : 89 38 62 0.00 0 3.14 5.77 9.12 57 Arlington : 90 37 64 0.00 0 2.87 6.83 10.54 64 Attapulgus : 88 36 64 0.00 0 0.87 3.67 6.74 70 Blairsville : 85 28 59 0.00 0 2.99 4.25 7.62 55 Williamson : 88 39 64 0.00 0 3.11 5.30 9.85 60 Bowen : 86 38 63 0.00 0 1.28 4.62 7.20 67 Brunswick : 82 42 64 0.00 0 1.81 4.83 6.84 64 Byromville : 88 38 64 0.00 0 1.56 4.49 7.87 63 Byron : 89 38 64 0.00 0 1.52 4.32 8.19 62 Cairo : 86 39 65 0.00 0 0.90 3.77 6.88 63 Calhoun : 88 33 62 0.00 0 3.14 4.14 6.72 58 Pine Mountain : 87 40 63 0.00 0 4.28 7.87 12.40 60 Camilla : 89 37 65 0.00 0 2.42 5.87 10.37 67 Clarks Hill : 91 31 61 0.00 0 3.73 5.93 9.24 59 Cordele : 88 38 64 0.00 0 1.01 3.62 6.69 63 Covington : 86 39 63 0.00 0 3.04 5.26 9.68 61 Dahlonega : 84 34 62 0.00 0 4.77 6.50 11.01 56 Dallas : 87 39 64 0.00 0 2.55 4.54 8.08 58 Dawson : 88 36 64 0.00 0 0.98 3.99 5.90 63 Dearing : 91 39 66 0.00 0 3.40 5.69 8.77 61 Dempsey : 87 43 65 0.00 0 2.99 4.89 9.42 62 Dixie : 88 39 66 0.00 0 1.05 5.15 7.65 68 Dublin : 89 35 63 0.00 0 1.48 4.50 9.01 62 Duluth : 89 38 63 0.00 0 3.84 6.50 9.99 58 Dunwoody : 88 41 65 0.00 0 3.47 5.96 9.18 58 Eatonton : 89 35 62 0.00 0 3.07 5.71 9.97 61 Elberton : 90 33 63 0.00 0 3.66 6.14 10.63 59 Ellijay : 86 32 60 0.00 0 2.98 4.35 8.14 57 Rome : 87 35 63 0.00 0 2.21 3.20 5.47 59 Fort Valley : 89 39 64 0.00 0 1.23 3.22 5.85 66 Gainesville : 86 42 62 0.00 0 3.06 4.79 7.36 59 Georgetown : 86 36 63 0.00 0 2.89 5.78 10.63 63 Griffin : 88 42 65 0.00 0 2.92 4.89 9.44 60 Homerville : 87 32 62 0.00 0 1.39 5.55 7.22 64 Jonesboro : 89 40 63 0.00 0 2.82 4.53 8.41 59 Jacksonville : 89 37 63 0.00 0 2.70 5.07 9.12 62 Lafayette : 86 34 64 0.00 0 2.73 3.65 6.45 57 McRae : 89 32 60 0.00 0 2.13 5.78 8.85 64 Midville : 90 35 64 0.00 0 1.75 4.69 7.63 62 Nahunta : 87 33 62 0.00 0 1.87 4.90 6.52 65 Newton : 89 37 63 0.00 0 1.76 6.04 10.00 68 Plains : 88 39 64 0.00 0 2.35 5.55 8.66 65 Sasser : 86 38 64 0.00 0 1.18 4.74 7.61 61 Savannah : 88 35 62 0.04 2 2.24 4.72 6.91 65 Skidaway : 83 41 62 0.09 3 1.42 3.90 5.19 61 Sneads : 87 44 67 0.00 0 1.16 4.07 7.04 68 Statesboro : 89 35 64 0.00 0 1.66 4.56 7.82 66 Tifton : 85 42 65 0.00 0 1.52 4.41 7.18 62 Tiger : 84 28 58 0.00 0 6.59 8.03 13.63 55 Valdosta : 87 42 67 0.00 0 1.08 5.10 7.56 63 Vidalia : 88 38 65 0.00 0 1.54 5.04 8.64 65 Roopville : 89 35 63 0.00 0 1.80 3.63 7.77 63 Watkinsville : 87 40 64 0.00 0 3.79 6.00 9.38 60 Woodbine : 87 37 63 0.00 0 1.81 5.61 7.27 66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 March 25, 2007 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST It is starting to get dry, to the point we are seeing effects on pastures, crops, etc. A lot of ponds are lower than usual for this time of year. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Soil moisture is quickly decreasing due to warm weather and lack of rain; forage crops will likely begin to decline without more frequent showers. Warm weather this week improved pasture conditions - some primary tillage in vegetable and corn fields. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Dry weather is taking a toll on small grain development and area pastures. Producers are still feeding hay at a full winter rate. Dryland corn planting has ceased until it rains. Warm. Hot actually for March. Weather has helped bring wheat out especially that with soil borne mosaic virus. Clover for seed approaching 50% bloom. Bermuda grass trying to green up but low soil moisture isn't helping. Need rain. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Warm! High temperatures in the 80's several days. Hopefully, pastures and hayfields will begin to green up soon! Need rain really bad. Corn planting continues. Heavy hay feeding to livestock continues by producers who still have some hay left to feed. We have been dry over the past two weeks. While it has been dry, we do need a shower or two to settle most of the pollen and dust. Dry! Irrigation has cranked up to supply water to small grains and to help with corn planting. Burndown on fields continues. Need rain! We need significant rainfall. Ryegrass and cereal grain forages are suffering. Ryegrass hay production is reduced and is falling behind schedule due to limited rainfall. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Soil moisture is extremely dry. Ryegrass pastures still good, alfalfa and fescue growing well. Wheat has good potential, need some rain on planted corn. Some cotton land being broken. Having to water wheat. Need rain! DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Moisture critical. Having to irrigate most corn to get stand. Some wheat being irrigated. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Corn planting wrapping up. Need some rain. Wheat needs rainfall. Having some nutritional problems in wheat. Nitrogen prices are high and causing some concerns. Preparing tobacco dirt. Greenhouse tobacco plants looking good. Pastures and hay fields beginning to green some. Burning some woodland but drought has caused it to cease. Need rain to continue planting in some areas. Need rain. Farmers are preparing land to plant tobacco and bedding land for cotton. Corn is nearly all planted with an increase in number of acres over last few years. Still no rain, soils getting very dry. Blueberries progressing rapidly toward harvest. Irrigation being applied to blueberries and blackberries due to dry weather. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Need rain. Spring tillage has begun.