LA-WEATHER United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Louisiana Field Office Crop Weather Cooperating with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture Louisiana Field Office · 5825 Florida Blvd · Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 922-1362 · (225) 922-0744 FAX www.nass.usda.gov/la Released: March 19, 2007 Volume 07 No. 03 Days suitable for fieldwork: 5.2 Soil moisture supplies: 16% short, 74% adequate and 10% surplus Field Crops Report Spring rains and cooler temperatures limited field activities for some producers. Corn planted jumped to 54 percent, far surpassing the average of 19 percent. Rice producers were just beginning to plant but were having problems with blackbirds, ducks, and shortage of seed. Sugarcane producers were concluding their pre- and post-application of herbicides, along with cultivating and preparing for fertilizer application. Soybean producers were anxiously preparing their fields for planting due to good prices. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Citrus trees were blooming unaffected by the cool weather and producers finished up fertilizing. Vegetable producers continued preparing land for planting, while planting was already underway for some. Crawfish farmers were harvesting crawfish with reports of catches increasing. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Calving continued as well as some feeding. Cattlemen were fertilizing and spraying weeds in pastures throughout the week. Winter pastures were growing well with the spring-like temperatures. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Last CROP STAGE 2007 Week 2006 5 YR AVG Corn Planted 54 19 33 19 Rice Planted 4 2 3 4 Wheat Headed 1 0 21 5 Land Preparation Spring plowing 42 32 34 29 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Sugarcane 2 15 47 29 7 Wheat 0 4 36 47 13 Livestock 1 6 38 51 4 Vegetables 0 13 54 29 4 Pasture 1 10 42 44 3 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 03/12/07 TO 03/18/07 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 77 37 63 56 0.18 1.44 10.36 11.80 Minden 77 35 61 56 0.41 1.94 11.12 12.84 Mooringsport 77 39 62 MM 1.19 1.60 11.89 10.96 Extreme/Average 77 35 62 57 0.59 1.66 11.12 12.09 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 79 (33) 61 57 0.81 1.29 10.19 13.90 Homer/Hill Farm 77 37 61 55 0.88 2.80 12.09 13.00 ULM-Monroe 81 34 61 57 0.61 1.15 8.21 14.41 Winnfield MM MM MM 57 M.MM M.MM 6.37 13.61 Extreme/Average 81 33 61 57 0.77 1.98 10.15 13.83 3. Northeast Lake Providence 81 38 63 56 0.00 1.59 8.90 14.58 LSU-St Joseph (84) 33 63 58 0.01 2.11 11.13 14.88 LSU-Winnsboro 83 34 63 57 0.05 1.47 9.31 14.22 Tallulah 82 36 64 57 0.02 1.30 8.50 14.68 Extreme/Average 84 33 63 58 0.02 1.62 9.46 14.54 4. West-Central Leesville 80 35 62 59 1.60 1.77 8.91 13.53 LSU-Rosepine 77 36 63 59 1.69 1.85 11.64 13.35 Natchitoches 78 34 63 58 1.00 1.29 8.44 13.25 Extreme/Average 80 34 62 59 1.43 1.57 10.04 13.27 5. Central Alexandria 80 41 65 60 0.46 3.08 12.31 14.31 Brusly 78 37 62 60 1.21 2.04 11.80 14.76 Bunkie 79 38 64 60 0.17 0.99 9.89 14.62 LSU-Alexandria 80 40 63 59 0.17 0.67 9.94 13.94 Extreme/Average 80 37 64 60 0.50 1.23 10.54 14.34 6. East-Central Bogalusa 79 38 62 60 1.82 2.58 10.15 15.69 LSU-Baton Rouge 80 38 64 60 1.70 2.45 10.85 13.81 LSU-Clinton 77 36 62 59 0.88 1.74 9.83 15.11 LSU-Hammond 80 41 63 60 0.17 0.85 7.92 15.21 Slidell 78 37 64 61 1.52 2.30 10.24 14.98 Extreme/Average 80 36 63 61 1.22 1.91 9.64 15.08 7. Southwest De Ridder 79 40 64 60 2.30 2.73 12.64 14.06 Jennings 78 42 63 60 1.40 2.27 12.29 12.55 LSU-Crowley 78 42 64 61 1.25 1.61 12.22 12.93 Extreme/Average 79 40 64 61 1.65 2.20 12.38 12.58 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 80 41 64 61 1.68 2.39 9.30 13.38 LSU-Jeanerette 80 42 64 61 1.56 2.24 10.96 12.02 Morgan City 78 48 64 61 2.32 2.75 9.20 12.97 Extreme/Average 80 41 64 62 1.85 2.46 9.82 12.74 9. Southeast Galliano 77 43 65 62 1.52 1.98 8.92 13.70 Houma 82 43 65 63 1.66 2.51 10.16 12.91 NO Audubon Park 79 46 67 64 1.13 1.81 7.13 13.24 Reserve 76 41 63 61 1.42 2.51 10.38 15.07 Extreme/Average 82 41 65 63 1.36 2.10 8.81 13.90 State State Averages 84 33 63 60 1.03 1.84 10.32 13.65 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through March 18, 2007