ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date January 21, 2008 Issue GA-CW0308 Agricultural Summary January 21, 2008 SNOW AND RAIN ALLEVIATES DROUGHT CONDITIONS Significant precipitation, which sometimes came in the form of snow and sleet in north Georgia, was received across the state, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Average high temperatures were in the upper 30's to mid-50's. Average lows were in the lower 20's to upper 30's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 4% very short, 18% short, 62% adequate, and 16% surplus. Recent precipitation has really improved soil moisture and alleviated the long-standing drought conditions. Some areas, especially in south Georgia, even reported an excess of topsoil moisture. Pond and stream levels have increased. Small grains benefited from the rains. The wheat crop was tillering well. Hay feeding to livestock continued. Hay supplies have been adequate so far thanks to peanut hay. Cold temperatures slowed the growth of winter forages and grains, but no permanent damage was expected. Other activities included applying herbicide application to wheat, ordering corn, cotton, and soybean seed, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 01/20/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------- Data collection for crop progress will resume in March 2008. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 01/20/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 3 30 59 8 Range and Pasture : 20 29 40 10 1 Vegetables : 1 7 53 38 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 01/20/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 4 9 NA Short : 18 23 NA Adequate : 62 63 NA Surplus : 16 5 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 01/20/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 14 38 46 2 District 2 (NC) : 0 21 69 10 District 3 (NE) : 7 28 65 0 District 4 (WC) : 6 40 44 10 District 5 (C) : 0 24 62 14 District 6 (EC) : 9 10 65 16 District 7 (SW) : 0 6 59 35 District 8 (SC) : 2 9 62 27 District 9 (SE) : 0 5 88 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 01/20/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 31 36 26 7 0 District 2 (NC) : 2 13 82 1 2 District 3 (NE) : 36 38 23 3 0 District 4 (WC) : 49 34 14 3 0 District 5 (C) : 28 30 37 5 0 District 6 (EC) : 8 36 46 9 1 District 7 (SW) : 8 25 42 21 4 District 8 (SC) : 8 18 48 25 1 District 9 (SE) : 3 27 45 22 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 01/20/08, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather data are not available for the week ending 01/20/08. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 January 20, 2008 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST We had a period of snow and sleet on Wednesday night that changed over to rain after midnight. We have been getting a decent amount of moisture the last few weeks. Temperatures have really been varied in January. Extreme cold in early January then a short period of near or at 70 degree weather and then snow yesterday. Estimated that most cattlemen have hay supplies that will last until March. We had wintery snow mix - added moisture to the ground, but the freezing was not a positive. Snow, sleet, and rain combination on Wednesday through Thursday added almost 1/2 inch. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Received snow on two occasions this week which provided some much needed soil moisture; accumulations of 1 to 1 1/2 inches each time depending on location. Cold temperatures have drastically slowed the growth of winter forages and grains, but no permanent damage is expected. Snow this week greatly improved soil moisture. Routine care of livestock and poultry. Cold temperatures. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Sleet and snow on Wednesday of this week. Possibly more this weekend. Some good rain also. An inch or more in most areas of the county. Small grain conditions improving due to rain. Heavy hay feeding continues for livestock due to extremely poor pasture conditions. Pond and stream levels increased slightly due to rainfall. We received nearly a half inch of snow/sleet this week combined with rainfall. This should help us to replenish most of our ponds/springs. The cold weather should impact some of our insect populations. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Have had 6" of rainfall since Christmas. Having to fly herbicide applications on wheat. Wheat crop tillering well. Hay supplies, thanks to peanut hay, seem to be adequate so far. Ryegrass pastures are good. Growers already ordering corn, cotton and soybean seed. Some rain, some cold temperatures. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Rains were great. Adequate to excess topsoil moisture. Holding ponds full due to rainfall runoff. Wheat crop looks good. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Wet and boggy. Spraying wheat for weeds. Received 1-2 inches of rain during the week with more forcasted. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.