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 30, 2009 Volume 09 No. 04 Days suitable for fieldwork: 2.9 Soil moisture supplies: 1% very short, 1% short, 40% adequate and 58% surplus Field Crops Report Rain fell across most of Louisiana improving moisture conditions throughout the state but delaying planting of corn, soybeans, and rice. Early planted rice began to emerge, and producers began switching from drill planting to water seeding. Sugarcane producers applied herbicides. The wheat crop showed improvement. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Vegetable, fruit, and citrus producers continued with preparation of spring and summer crops. Crawfish producers reported an improved catch, and remained busy last week due to the impact of storms on traps. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Pastures and hay fields showed improvement due to recent rainfall. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Last CROP STAGE 2009 Week 2008 5 YR AVG Corn Planted 76 58 81 68 Emerged 27 0 12 21 Rice Planted 26 11 31 26 Sorghum Planted 2 0 4 7 Winter Wheat Headed 33 15 18 27 Land Preparation Spring plowing 73 63 50 45 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Sugarcane 3 18 32 42 5 Wheat 0 3 28 64 5 Livestock 2 7 38 49 4 Vegetables 2 9 44 43 2 Pasture 2 11 41 41 5 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 03/23/09 TO 03/29/09 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 79 37 61 59 3.00 6.34 10.13 13.40 Minden 79 (34) 59 59 3.11 7.11 11.98 14.60 Mooringsport 78 36 59 MM 2.64 5.91 9.78 12.39 Extreme/Average 79 34 60 60 2.92 6.45 10.63 13.72 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 79 36 60 60 3.06 7.11 11.46 15.93 Homer/Hill Farm 79 34 58 58 2.72 6.50 10.87 14.87 ULM-Monroe 79 40 61 60 2.47 6.32 10.49 16.60 Colmubia Lock 78 39 60 MM 3.88 7.44 11.30 16.83 Extreme/Average 79 34 60 60 3.03 6.84 11.03 15.81 3. Northeast Lake Providence 78 39 61 58 2.80 6.20 11.15 16.89 LSU-St Joseph 80 40 63 61 3.41 7.09 13.94 17.15 LSU-Winnsboro 78 40 63 60 3.41 6.51 11.32 16.37 Tallulah 79 40 62 60 5.35 9.68 15.63 16.98 Extreme/Average 80 39 62 60 3.74 7.37 13.01 16.78 4. West-Central Leesville 81 36 62 61 3.66 8.38 11.00 15.32 LSU-Rosepine 80 36 62 61 3.14 8.76 12.03 15.21 Natchitoches 82 39 61 60 4.01 9.29 13.15 15.11 Extreme/Average 82 36 62 61 3.84 8.84 12.08 15.08 5. Central Alexandria 78 41 62 62 4.57 8.56 12.21 16.36 Brusly (83) 45 66 62 4.30 8.38 13.47 16.57 Bunkie 80 41 64 62 5.20 8.13 14.79 16.71 LSU-Alexandria 78 41 63 61 3.79 6.93 12.29 15.82 Extreme/Average 83 41 64 62 4.47 8.00 13.19 16.32 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 75 43 64 MM 6.23 9.50 16.13 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 81 44 66 62 3.82 8.12 13.68 15.57 LSU-Clinton MM MM MM 61 M.MM M.MM 5.88 17.10 LSU-Hammond 80 45 65 62 3.55 5.66 9.79 17.39 Slidell 80 47 64 63 5.41 7.84 11.79 17.04 Extreme/Average 81 43 65 63 4.75 7.78 12.85 17.24 7. Southwest De Ridder 82 39 64 62 3.30 6.91 12.50 15.89 Jennings 81 45 66 63 3.59 7.59 11.93 14.15 LSU-Crowley 81 45 66 63 3.85 7.99 12.44 14.51 Extreme/Average 82 39 65 64 3.58 7.50 12.29 14.15 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 83 45 68 63 3.53 5.90 11.61 15.28 LSU-Jeanerette 81 46 68 63 5.91 9.34 13.21 13.59 Morgan City 79 48 68 63 4.75 5.46 9.81 14.62 Extreme/Average 83 45 68 64 4.73 6.90 11.54 14.41 9. Southeast Galliano 80 49 69 64 0.90 2.37 6.51 15.64 Houma 79 49 68 65 4.86 5.47 8.45 14.67 Terrytown 3S 80 49 69 MM 7.36 9.12 15.79 MM.MM Reserve 77 46 65 63 3.91 5.89 10.08 17.11 Extreme/Average 80 46 68 65 4.26 5.71 10.21 15.86 State State Averages 83 34 64 62 3.93 7.27 11.93 15.55 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through March 29, 2009