ga-crop-weather State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 17, 2008 Issue GA-CW1108 Agricultural Summary March 17, 2008 LITTLE AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE FROM STORMS Tornados and other severe storms, over the weekend, caused damage in Atlanta and other parts of middle and northern Georgia, according to the USDA, NASS, Georgia Field Office. Daily average high temperatures were in the upper 60's to upper 70's most of the week. Average lows were mostly in the upper 30's to upper 40's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 2% very short, 8% short, 69% adequate, and 21% surplus. Little agricultural damage was reported from the tornados and severe storms except that a few commercial pecan trees were blown down. Early corn planting has been delayed by wet, cool soil conditions in some areas. Small grains were in good condition. Hay feeding continued for livestock and hay supplies were getting short for some livestock producers. Vegetable growers started planting this week. Other activities included preparing equipment for corn planting, pasture weed control, and the routine care of poultry and livestock. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Progress for Week Ending 03/16/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage : This Week : Prev Week : Prev Year : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn Planted : 7 2 20 NA Corn Emerged : 1 0 5 NA Winter Wheat Jointing : 49 34 44 NA Winter Wheat Boot : 4 2 5 NA Peaches Blooming : 40 10 31 NA Watermelons Planted : 4 0 7 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition for Week Ending 03/16/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn : 0 1 42 57 0 Winter Wheat : 1 3 25 50 21 Range and Pasture : 11 18 45 25 1 Onions : 0 0 2 94 4 Peaches : 0 3 46 51 0 Vegetables : 0 4 45 50 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 03/16/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This Week :Previous Week : 5 Year Avg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Very Short : 2 2 NA Short : 8 6 NA Adequate : 69 53 NA Surplus : 21 39 NA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture for Week Ending 03/16/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Short : Short : Adequate : Surplus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 6 23 58 13 District 2 (NC) : 1 26 50 23 District 3 (NE) : 4 11 85 0 District 4 (WC) : 2 9 86 3 District 5 (C) : 4 7 71 18 District 6 (EC) : 0 0 80 20 District 7 (SW) : 0 3 67 30 District 8 (SC) : 0 0 57 43 District 9 (SE) : 0 7 67 26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 03/16/08, by District -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- District : Very Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : District 1 (NW) : 15 26 45 14 0 District 2 (NC) : 0 2 59 37 2 District 3 (NE) : 10 27 52 11 0 District 4 (WC) : 22 29 34 15 0 District 5 (C) : 21 21 33 25 0 District 6 (EC) : 1 6 62 30 1 District 7 (SW) : 5 11 50 30 4 District 8 (SC) : 5 14 41 10 0 District 9 (SE) : 16 9 43 30 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 03/16/08, by Station Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Temperature : Precipitation : Location :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albany : 83 37 59 0.04 1 6.01 10.44 11.72 61 Alma : 81 39 59 0.09 1 6.69 9.62 10.70 59 Alpharetta : 76 28 51 0.46 2 6.96 11.29 12.12 50 Arlington : 81 35 58 0.05 1 5.58 9.02 10.44 58 Attapulgus : 81 38 58 0.07 2 13.25 16.26 17.38 61 Blairsville : 68 19 40 1.05 4 4.52 9.19 9.19 46 Williamson : 72 22 48 0.78 1 3.25 8.02 8.02 50 Bowen : 83 38 58 0.04 1 6.97 8.95 9.96 60 Brunswick : 83 42 61 0.41 1 5.50 8.43 9.11 62 Byromville : 82 35 58 0.01 1 4.90 9.82 10.87 58 Byron : 82 34 58 0.07 2 5.44 9.38 11.64 58 Cairo : 82 39 59 0.05 2 12.67 15.99 17.15 60 Calhoun : 75 24 50 0.89 2 5.21 8.22 9.17 52 Pine Mountain : 81 31 55 0.01 1 4.73 8.34 10.82 54 Camilla : 81 35 58 0.05 1 9.88 15.29 16.47 60 Clarks Hill : 77 28 54 1.15 3 5.90 9.72 10.59 55 Cordele : 82 36 58 0.00 0 5.23 9.78 10.74 58 Covington : 78 30 55 0.55 2 3.59 7.01 7.93 54 Dahlonega : 72 27 52 1.31 2 8.30 13.28 14.51 49 Dallas : 74 30 53 0.97 2 6.66 9.74 10.49 51 Dawson : 82 35 58 0.01 1 5.11 9.85 11.05 59 Dearing : 76 32 57 1.09 2 7.01 10.92 12.26 56 Dempsey : 80 33 56 0.11 2 2.99 5.97 7.09 55 Dixie : 77 40 59 0.12 1 11.65 15.00 15.93 61 Dublin : 81 34 58 0.61 2 7.14 10.37 11.90 58 Duluth : 76 28 52 0.75 2 5.90 9.01 10.12 51 Dunwoody : 75 30 53 0.88 2 6.72 10.03 10.88 51 Eatonton : 75 27 54 0.35 2 4.92 9.39 11.20 54 Elberton : 78 28 54 0.25 2 4.65 8.12 8.96 53 Ellijay : 71 25 48 0.63 2 4.70 7.47 8.14 49 Rome : 73 19 45 0.75 2 3.38 6.33 6.33 47 Fort Valley : 82 35 57 0.24 2 5.11 7.96 10.36 57 Gainesville : 74 30 52 2.64 2 8.00 12.51 13.30 53 Georgetown : 81 25 54 0.00 0 4.98 13.21 14.07 57 Homerville : 81 38 59 0.22 2 9.33 12.13 13.30 62 Jonesboro : 78 30 55 0.56 2 4.63 7.55 8.95 53 Jeffersonville : 81 33 57 0.28 3 7.03 10.68 12.77 57 Lafayette : 74 27 53 1.25 2 6.15 10.41 12.50 51 McRae : 83 32 57 0.05 2 7.61 12.32 13.18 59 Midville : 72 27 49 0.76 1 4.94 8.77 8.77 53 Newton : 81 36 58 0.08 2 7.64 11.62 12.75 60 Plains : 72 24 49 0.51 1 4.05 9.30 9.30 52 Sasser : 32 32 32 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 32 Savannah : 83 38 59 0.39 2 3.93 6.50 7.30 61 Skidaway : 80 40 58 0.27 3 4.56 8.75 9.34 58 Sneads : 80 44 61 0.11 2 11.89 15.89 17.22 60 Statesboro : 80 34 58 0.92 2 7.57 10.40 11.01 61 Tiger : 72 26 48 1.36 2 8.44 13.59 14.75 48 Valdosta : 78 42 61 0.12 1 10.04 12.88 13.81 60 Vidalia : 81 39 59 0.11 3 8.38 11.08 11.82 59 Roopville : 79 30 54 0.88 3 6.98 10.16 11.61 54 Watkinsville : 74 29 55 0.24 2 4.44 7.49 8.40 54 Woodbine : 82 39 60 0.54 2 6.41 9.35 10.13 64 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 16, 2008 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST We had some agriculture damage due to the tornado on Saturday, March 15. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Heavy rain this week - routine care of livestock and poultry - some pasture weed control and overseeding early this week. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Soil temperatures still a little cool. Some corn in the ground. Still wet. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Stormy weather! High winds, large hail and heavy rains on Friday and Saturday. Small grain conditions continue to improve due to rain and the fact most farmers have been able to get their small grains topdressed now. Pasture conditions continue to be very poor and heavy hay feeding continues for livestock. Hay supplies are getting very short for some livestock producers. We have had a diverse range of weather conditions ranging from cold, hail, sleet, and snow. The temperatures have warmed up significantly. Some fields are wet. Small grains looking good! DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Drying out, still slightly cool for corn planting although it will start very soon. Wheat looking good, no insects, fertilized but seeing some S deficiency in sandy areas. Rough weather Saturday night brought hail and high wind. Little agricultural damage except commercial pecans where trees were blown down in spots. Scattered showers, some high winds lightning from storms Saturday evening. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Early corn planting delayed due to wet soil conditions. Wheat crop looks better with less soil saturation. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Planted tomatoes on plastic. Preparing equipment for corn planting. Most farmers are trying to decide what to plant due to increase in commodity prices. Feeding livestock and general poultry operation work. Started planting vegetables this week following last week's cold weather. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.