ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 18, 2008 Issue GA-CW0708 Agricultural Summary February 18, 2008 SMALL GRAINS IN MOSTLY GOOD CONDITION Temperatures dropped some this week, but overall the weather remained fairly warm for this time of year, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Daily average high temperatures were in the upper 50's to lower 70's. Lows averaged from the upper 20's to the upper 40's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 4% very short, 18% short, 64% adequate, and 14% surplus. Most of south and middle Georgia received significant rainfall over the weekend. The rain delayed some producers who were topdressing wheat and other small grains. Small grains remained in mostly good condition, but growth has been slow. Farmers were spraying for weeds and applying nitrogen where possible. In north Georgia, the lack of rain was taking a toll on pastures. Livestock producers were feeding hay to livestock and hay supplies were beginning to run low. Wide fluctuations in temperature this winter have caused some worries about the fruit crops. Blueberry growers, in particular, were worried about the extremely cold temperatures in January. Other activities included planting pine trees and blueberries, taking soil samples, mowing stalks and harrowing, spreading lime and poultry litter, feeding hay to livestock, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 02/17/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 02/17/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 0 3 33 54 10 Range and Pasture : 15 26 41 16 2 Vegetables : 2 6 50 40 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 02/17/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 4 5 NA Short : 18 17 NA Adequate : 64 63 NA Surplus : 14 15 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 02/17/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 10 37 45 8 District 2 (NC) : 3 22 68 7 District 3 (NE) : 7 28 65 0 District 4 (WC) : 6 9 65 20 District 5 (C) : 6 11 70 13 District 6 (EC) : 5 22 63 10 District 7 (SW) : 0 5 60 35 District 8 (SC) : 2 18 68 12 District 9 (SE) : 0 24 62 14 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 02/17/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 27 32 31 7 3 District 2 (NC) : 12 24 55 8 1 District 3 (NE) : 26 37 33 4 0 District 4 (WC) : 17 34 33 16 0 District 5 (C) : 17 22 28 31 2 District 6 (EC) : 5 38 46 11 0 District 7 (SW) : 6 13 50 26 5 District 8 (SC) : 8 18 50 21 3 District 9 (SE) : 15 7 63 15 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 02/17/08, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 77 27 53 0.18 2 4.28 5.81 5.81 54 Alma : 79 27 54 0.04 2 2.41 4.02 4.02 55 Alpharetta : 69 21 47 2.12 3 5.38 6.94 6.94 44 Arlington : 77 24 51 0.28 3 3.50 5.02 5.02 53 Attapulgus : 75 25 50 0.08 1 3.00 4.13 4.13 56 Blairsville : 66 16 43 1.97 3 5.49 7.66 7.66 46 Williamson : 71 20 50 0.50 2 3.50 5.71 5.71 49 Bowen : 78 26 52 0.49 2 2.19 3.40 3.40 56 Brunswick : 76 29 55 0.51 2 2.17 3.61 3.61 59 Byromville : 77 23 52 0.54 2 4.89 6.50 6.50 53 Byron : 75 23 52 0.72 2 3.96 6.87 6.87 53 Cairo : 75 25 53 1.46 2 4.59 5.78 5.78 57 Calhoun : 66 20 45 1.04 3 3.08 4.65 4.65 47 Pine Mountain : 72 21 50 0.69 2 3.82 6.76 6.76 50 Camilla : 76 24 52 0.36 2 5.52 6.88 6.88 54 Clarks Hill : 75 25 51 0.63 2 3.55 5.26 5.26 51 Cordele : 76 24 52 0.52 2 4.86 6.02 6.02 53 Covington : 72 21 51 0.66 3 3.14 4.89 4.89 49 Dahlonega : 67 18 46 2.09 3 5.81 7.93 7.93 45 Dallas : 68 20 48 1.41 3 3.45 4.84 4.84 47 Dawson : 75 23 52 0.42 2 4.91 6.21 6.21 54 Dearing : 74 23 53 0.77 1 3.92 6.02 6.02 53 Dempsey : 72 21 50 0.41 2 2.70 4.41 4.41 49 Dixie : 77 27 53 0.60 3 3.33 4.45 4.45 56 Dublin : 77 24 53 1.21 1 3.91 5.97 5.97 54 Duluth : 70 22 47 1.62 3 3.80 5.50 5.50 48 Dunwoody : 69 21 48 1.57 3 3.99 5.54 5.54 47 Eatonton : 73 20 49 0.15 1 3.65 6.28 6.28 49 Elberton : 71 22 50 0.95 2 3.50 5.25 5.25 49 Ellijay : 66 16 44 1.47 3 3.33 4.54 4.54 44 Rome : 70 21 46 0.83 3 3.34 4.78 4.78 47 Fort Valley : 76 24 52 0.85 2 3.31 6.02 6.02 52 Gainesville : 68 22 46 1.70 3 5.26 6.72 6.72 49 Georgetown : 72 25 51 2.36 3 8.93 10.94 10.94 53 Homerville : 81 23 52 0.04 2 2.23 3.97 3.97 57 Jonesboro : 71 24 50 0.54 2 2.78 4.68 4.68 48 Jeffersonville : 77 22 52 1.37 2 4.58 7.10 7.10 53 Lafayette : 67 17 45 1.62 2 4.77 7.42 7.42 46 McRae : 78 23 51 0.18 3 4.38 5.61 5.61 54 Newton : 77 24 51 0.34 2 4.08 5.34 5.34 54 Plains : 72 22 51 1.39 2 5.79 7.38 7.38 51 Sasser : 32 32 32 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 32 Savannah : 79 28 53 0.58 2 1.80 3.37 3.37 57 Skidaway : 73 29 53 0.56 2 2.32 4.78 4.78 54 Sneads : 73 32 54 2.05 3 5.74 7.17 7.17 56 Statesboro : 74 27 53 0.62 2 2.25 3.44 3.44 55 Tiger : 66 18 43 1.73 3 5.30 7.62 7.62 44 Valdosta : 80 28 55 0.30 2 2.48 3.77 3.77 57 Vidalia : 77 27 54 0.67 3 2.43 3.67 3.67 56 Roopville : 70 22 48 1.03 3 3.58 5.29 5.29 49 Watkinsville : 70 22 50 0.51 2 2.85 4.35 4.35 49 Woodbine : 81 27 54 0.48 2 2.21 3.72 3.72 60 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 17, 2008 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Routine care of livestock and poultry this week. Much of the Fescue was killed by the drought this past summer, so the normal cool season grazing is short or non existent this winter. Several folks planted small grain temp. winter grazing and it is just beginning to show and jump a bit following the colder winter days. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Top soil moisture levels change rapidly because even though we have had timely rains, subsoils are still extremely dry so the top soil moisture dries up quickly. Producers are trying to finish topdressing wheat crop. Rain over the weekend has delayed some who are topdressing wheat and other small grains. Some storm damage on February 17th; still evaluating extent of damage. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Small grain conditions continued to improve slightly. Pond and stream levels raising slightly. Heavy hay feeding continues for livestock and some farmer's hay supplies are getting short. The weather has been somewhat unpredictable which has caused some worries with some of the fruit crops in the county. Growers fertilizing small grains. Growers spraying for weeds in small grains. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Ground just now drying to allow topdressing of wheat, many growers beginning to spread lime and chicken litter on fields. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Received 1.12" of rainfall. Wheat growth slow. Nitrogen applications applied. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Planting pine trees, and blueberries. Tobacco transplants in greenhouses look good. Cold snap concerned blueberry growers. Taking soil samples. General farm work and mowing stalks and some harrowing. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.