ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 25, 2008 Issue GA-CW0808 Agricultural Summary February 25, 2008 RAINS DELAYED FIELDWORK Most of the state received significant rainfall during the week, particularly in southern and middle Georgia where some areas received as much as 7 to 8 inches, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Daily average high temperatures were in the mid-50's to upper 60's. Lows averaged from the lower 30's to the mid-40's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 3% very short, 10% short, 59% adequate, and 28% surplus. Rains during the week delayed fieldwork. Vegetable growers prepared fields while other farmers were topdressing small grains and winter grazing as weather permitted. Recent precipitation coupled with warm weather has improved the condition of small grains and other crops. Other activities included fertilizing and spraying weeds in pastures and hayfields, feeding hay to livestock, 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 02/24/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 02/24/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter Wheat : 1 3 25 57 14 Range and Pasture : 16 24 39 19 2 Vegetables : 0 3 48 47 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 02/24/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 3 4 NA Short : 10 18 NA Adequate : 59 64 NA Surplus : 28 14 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 02/24/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 10 30 58 2 District 2 (NC) : 2 13 73 12 District 3 (NE) : 4 22 74 0 District 4 (WC) : 3 8 68 21 District 5 (C) : 6 12 58 24 District 6 (EC) : 0 18 50 32 District 7 (SW) : 0 0 50 50 District 8 (SC) : 0 1 47 52 District 9 (SE) : 0 2 64 34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 02/24/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 27 31 35 7 0 District 2 (NC) : 10 19 52 18 1 District 3 (NE) : 22 33 41 4 0 District 4 (WC) : 27 34 25 13 1 District 5 (C) : 20 16 28 33 3 District 6 (EC) : 4 34 45 17 0 District 7 (SW) : 6 14 42 32 6 District 8 (SC) : 7 14 43 31 5 District 9 (SE) : 12 12 61 14 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 02/24/08, 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 02/24/2008. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 24, 2008 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Over the past few weeks we have received nearly 1/2 inch each time it rained. This has made improvements, hopefully not cosmetic. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Received much needed rain last week - over 4 inches in much of the county. Rain this week prevented much field work, routine care of livestock and poultry were the major activities. Heavy rains and warm weather have the wheat and small grains jumping this week. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Beneficial rains continue. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL A good rain received over most of the county. Those that can afford it are beginning to fertilize cool season pastures and hayfields, some weed control. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Welcome rain! Some farmers topdressing small grains and winter grazing as weather permits. Pond and stream levels continue to rise. Hay supplies for many livestock producers getting extremely low and heavy hay feeding to livestock continues due to extremely poor pasture conditions. We have gotten our share of the recent rains, however we are still at a deficit. Fields are wet from the rains last week. Not complaining! DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Getting a lot of rain, over 12" since Christmas. Having a hard time getting wheat fertilized. Hay seems to be sufficient despite a pretty good bit of freezing weather. Warmer days ought to really start making fertilized wheat show up well. Got much needed rain last week. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received a large amount of rainfall this week - over 7 inches in most parts of the county. Received 0.33" of rainfall. Wheat improving with warmer weather and nitrogen applications. Field preparation for vegetable (greenbeans) planting. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Heavy rainfall amounts have come to our region which have delayed field work. Wet, wet, wet!! DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Got a lot of rain this week. Praise the Lord, we were getting dry.