ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date April 15, 2007 Issue GA-CW1507 Agricultural Summary April 16, 2007 FRUITS HIT HARDEST BY LAST WEEK'S FREEZE Conditions were windy with moderate temperatures this week, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Highs averaged in the upper 60's and 70's most of the week. Average lows ranged from the lower 30's to the lower 50's. Average rainfall for the week was 1.2 inches, but actual amounts varied widely throughout the state with some areas receiving very little rainfall and other areas receiving 2 to 3 inches. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 21% very short, 39% short, 38% adequate, and 2% surplus. Reports revealed more about the extent of crop damage suffered as a result of the hard freeze on April 7-8. Fruits were severely damaged by the freeze with a majority of the crops lost. Peaches and pecans were particularly hard hit. The majority of the corn crop did survive, but was set back about 2 to 3 weeks. Pastures, hayfields, turf and sod were burnt back delaying growth by 2 to 3 weeks as well. Wheat was damaged, but yield losses were hard to predict. Most crops were still suffering from lingering drought conditions, and may bounce back with significant rainfall. Irrigation continued for early planted row crops, pastures, and hayfields. Farmers were irrigating soil in order to plant crops. Other activities included the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 04/15/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn Planted : 80 73 80 75 Corn Emerged : 67 50 62 60 Sorghum Planted : 6 2 3 5 Cotton Planted : 1 0 3 3 Winter Wheat Jointing : 98 91 92 94 Winter Wheat Boot : 86 63 74 76 Winter Wheat Headed : 60 32 46 49 Apples Blooming : 58 51 43 52 Onions Harvested : 7 2 9 5 Peaches Blooming : 99 97 97 97 Tobacco Transplanted : 41 31 50 41 Watermelons Planted : 73 61 62 66 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 04/15/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn : 5 18 52 24 1 Sorghum : 28 29 32 11 0 Winter Wheat : 6 14 35 41 4 Range and Pasture : 13 33 38 15 1 Apples : 94 4 1 1 0 Hay : 16 37 35 12 0 Onions : 0 18 38 41 3 Peaches : 58 22 20 0 0 Tobacco : 12 17 58 13 0 Watermelons : 9 13 43 35 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 04/15/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 21 27 NA Short : 39 44 NA Adequate : 38 29 NA Surplus : 2 0 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil Moisture for Week Ending 04/15/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 8 31 61 0 District 2 (NC) : 2 32 59 7 District 3 (NE) : 6 47 47 0 District 4 (WC) : 2 51 47 0 District 5 (C) : 26 30 39 5 District 6 (EC) : 16 26 58 0 District 7 (SW) : 23 55 21 1 District 8 (SC) : 57 30 13 0 District 9 (SE) : 29 61 10 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 04/15/07, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 0 8 37 53 2 District 2 (NC) : 0 32 45 21 2 District 3 (NE) : 1 17 52 30 0 District 4 (WC) : 9 35 48 8 0 District 5 (C) : 22 38 31 9 0 District 6 (EC) : 10 31 53 6 0 District 7 (SW) : 21 40 24 14 1 District 8 (SC) : 18 53 21 8 0 District 9 (SE) : 36 10 47 7 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 04/15/07, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alma : 89 35 63 0.01 1 0.01 1.88 6.17 65 Alpharetta : 75 31 52 1.10 3 1.81 6.20 10.93 56 Arlington : 86 36 61 1.21 3 2.52 5.63 13.06 65 Attapulgus : 86 36 60 0.04 1 0.06 1.00 6.78 71 Blairsville : 67 25 48 0.51 4 2.54 5.71 10.16 55 Bowen : 88 35 60 0.06 1 0.17 1.34 7.26 70 Brunswick : 88 41 64 0.68 2 0.68 2.72 7.52 66 Byromville : 82 34 59 1.82 2 2.33 3.98 10.18 64 Byron : 80 37 58 1.43 5 2.05 3.97 10.24 63 Cairo : 85 37 61 0.01 1 0.02 0.96 6.89 65 Calhoun : 72 28 49 0.27 3 1.57 4.21 7.77 55 Pine Mountain : 78 32 55 1.02 3 1.79 7.04 14.19 58 Camilla : 86 35 61 0.80 2 1.11 3.59 11.48 68 Clarks Hill : 83 30 57 0.78 4 0.81 5.18 10.05 60 Cordele : 83 35 59 3.37 2 3.90 4.90 10.54 65 Covington : 78 29 54 0.96 4 1.29 4.78 10.97 58 Dahlonega : 72 28 51 1.09 4 2.20 7.39 13.21 53 Dallas : 73 32 53 0.63 3 1.59 4.70 9.67 57 Dawson : 84 35 59 2.82 1 3.63 4.75 9.52 63 Dearing : 83 35 56 0.70 3 1.37 4.55 9.55 61 Dempsey : 76 31 55 0.86 3 1.30 4.43 10.72 60 Dixie : 87 38 62 0.00 0 0.00 1.16 7.65 70 Dublin : 85 36 60 3.04 4 3.28 4.95 12.29 65 Duluth : 76 30 52 1.13 3 1.79 6.78 11.78 57 Dunwoody : 73 31 52 1.13 4 2.04 6.49 11.22 56 Eatonton : 79 27 54 0.82 3 0.93 4.56 10.90 60 Elberton : 77 32 55 2.80 4 2.94 7.30 13.57 58 Ellijay : 69 26 47 0.35 3 2.20 4.96 9.85 53 Rome : 72 31 51 0.24 1 1.39 3.40 6.66 56 Fort Valley : 81 36 58 0.91 4 1.07 2.41 6.91 65 Gainesville : 75 34 53 0.87 4 1.58 5.08 8.94 57 Georgetown : 82 32 59 2.77 3 5.13 8.21 15.76 63 Griffin : 76 34 55 0.78 4 1.19 4.26 10.63 59 Homerville : 90 32 61 0.00 0 0.05 1.79 7.22 67 Jonesboro : 76 31 54 0.94 4 1.81 4.81 10.22 58 Jacksonville : 80 34 58 2.33 4 2.64 5.61 11.76 64 Lafayette : 66 29 50 1.47 3 2.81 5.56 9.26 54 McRae : 87 29 60 1.72 2 1.74 4.01 10.59 69 Midville : 84 35 58 0.56 3 1.22 2.71 8.50 63 Nahunta : 91 32 60 0.20 1 0.21 2.14 6.72 67 Newton : 86 34 61 1.84 4 2.53 4.43 12.53 67 Plains : 82 36 60 2.00 2 2.39 4.80 11.05 66 Sasser : 84 35 59 3.08 1 3.92 5.26 11.51 63 Savannah : 85 31 60 0.00 0 0.29 2.39 6.91 67 Skidaway : 83 36 62 0.11 4 0.29 1.78 5.39 63 Sneads : 82 43 63 0.00 0 0.00 1.31 7.04 64 Statesboro : 86 36 61 1.33 3 1.33 3.21 9.15 69 Tifton : 84 38 62 0.45 2 0.45 1.97 7.63 65 Tiger : 71 27 49 1.32 3 2.67 9.49 16.30 54 Valdosta : 89 42 63 0.18 1 0.18 1.77 7.74 64 Vidalia : 86 34 62 0.70 2 0.70 2.42 9.34 67 Roopville : 78 32 54 2.49 3 3.31 5.28 11.08 61 Watkinsville : 78 33 39 1.21 4 1.63 5.76 10.73 58 Woodbine : 90 36 61 0.10 1 0.28 2.17 7.37 68 Williamson : 77 31 55 1.07 4 1.64 5.03 11.49 59 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 April 15, 2007 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Some wheat severely damaged by freeze, especially what was headed out. All wheat and fruits were destroyed last weekend. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Some cold damage was suffered on winter annuals planted as hay/grazing crops. Our one blueberry operation had a 50% loss. Severe freeze has damaged crops. Exact extent not known at this time. As a result of freezing weather on April 6-8, peaches and apples are a 100% loss. Grapes, blueberries, strawberries, figs, and wheat had significant losses as well. Too early to know the extent of the damage on nursery crops. Hard freeze last weekend resulted in major crop damage that was observed this week. Commercial vineyards loss estimated at 75-80%. Pick your own strawberries loss estimated at 60%. Container nurseries report losses up to 70% on some plants. Wheat loss estimated at 50%. Fruit, wheat, and pecans have 70%+ freeze damage. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST The freeze damaged our pastures and hay crop. We should be able to recover quickly with good rainfall. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL 2 - 2.5 inches of rain fell county wide on Saturday, 4/14. Corn recovering from freeze, some easily visible small grain damage, i.e. - bleached heads. Watermelons suffered some damage. Bermuda grass and Bahia grass pastures and hay fields frozen back and producers are having to feed hay once again. Received about 1.25 - 2.25 inches of rain countywide. Lost all peaches in the county due to freeze. Freeze hit small grains hard. Some rain over weekend but not enough. Feeding what hay is left, forages trying to come on but dry soils, cool soil temperatures are holding them back. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Record low temperatures last weekend caused cold damage to corn, small grains, pastures, hayfields, ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, turf, etc. The extent of the damage is not fully known yet but will be significant. Still very dry, needing rain really badly! Hay feeding continues to livestock if producers have any hay left to feed. We are looking to see what kind of impact that we are having from the cold weather. We are still very dry. Freeze damage on April 8th resulted in deteriorated condition of crops. Lot's of cold damage on pasture/hay field Bermuda grass - new growth has pretty much been burned back - also lots of cold damage on trees & ornamentals as well. Welcome rain! 3 to 4 inches over the weekend 4/14 to 4/15. Corn severely damaged by freezing temperatures last weekend 4/8. Fields beginning to recover. Showing new growth. Wheat as of now no injury observed. Fruit and nut trees severely damaged by freezing temperatures. Pecans were blooming out. Time will tell for all crops. The freeze last weekend damaged pecan, peach, and blueberry fruiting bodies. It also damaged small grain crops including wheat and barley. Freeze has changed everything. The freeze delivered extensive damage to cereal grain and forage grasses which are already drought stressed. The cold temperatures last weekend destroyed 90-95% of our pecan crop. Corn was frozen back to the ground but 80-85% of the corn should re-grow with no yield loss. Small grain losses are still being evaluated. Wheat losses could be 25-50%, oats could be 50-75% and rye is still too early to tell. Bermuda grass and Bahia grass had started to green-up (6-7 inch new growth). The cold killed this back to the ground. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Freeze took out 100% of pecans, put corn back 2-2 1/2 weeks but no stand or yield loss. Wheat - jury still out - had a very good crop but may have taken a very hard hit from freeze - next 5 days should tell. Cold damage in pecans severe. Corn looks bad. Rye is hurt. Wheat and oats looks ok. Pasture burnt back but greening up after rain on Saturday. Need warm temperatures and more rain. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST No noticeable cold damage to wheat. Cold damage to some corn fields. Green beans received heavy damage. Freeze damage to corn crop severe. Majority of crop did survive. Heavy leaf tissue damage with set back on growth. Wheat appears to have escaped damage. Dry weather affecting growth of wheat crop with dryland fields at close to a total loss. Freeze damage on corn, watermelons, squash, and some pecans. Very dry soils continue. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL High winds have damaged early set tobacco. Early planted corn sustained moderate damage. Rabbiteye blueberries have about a 100% loss. Very little rain from recent front. Dry. Setting tobacco and getting soil ready to plant. Having to irrigate soil to plant. Cold weather did not seem to hurt the small grains. They are at critical stage for water. Horticultural damage to plants Cold weather virtually destroyed peach crop. Other crops were only slightly damaged. We received 0.6 inches of rain over the weekend. Still very dry. Cold temperatures last week hurt corn Below freezing temperatures early Sunday morning April 8. Severely damaged rabbiteye blueberries. Those without any cold weather protection are 85-100% loss. Highbush blueberries with freeze protection had minimal 5-15% loss. Pastures, hayfields, turf and sod were burnt back delaying growth by 2-3 weeks. No tobacco had been transplanted. Some freeze damage to pecans, corn, wheat, and rye; however, it will take a few more days to survey damage. We still have not received any rainfall. It is very dry. Irrigating pastures and hayfields beside early planted row crops. Pastures, vegetables, and tobacco have all been damaged from the wind and cold. Very little relief from the drought. Still extremely dry. Cold weather causes moderate to slight damage on corn and vegetable crops. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Blueberries 80% cold damage. Wheat cold damage. Need rain. Tobacco and vegetables sand blasted. Freeze down to 27 degrees had major negative impact on crop conditions, drought continues to plague area.