LA-WEATHER United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Louisiana Field Office Crop Weather Cooperating with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and the Louisiana State University Ag Center Louisiana Field Office · 5825 Florida Blvd · Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 922-1362 · (225) 922-0744 FAX www.nass.usda.gov/la Released: April 7, 2008 Volume 08 No. 05 Days suitable for fieldwork: 4.6 Soil moisture supplies: 10% short, 61% adequate and 29% surplus Field Crops Report Wet conditions across the state provided adequate moisture to aid corn plantings but hindered farmers slightly. Corn and rice farmers continued to be busy planting crops. Sugarcane farmers were busy spraying and fertilizing fields. Sorghum planting was underway. Winter wheat farmers were scouting fields for insects and disease. Soybean planting will begin soon. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Vegetable producers were harvesting greenhouse tomatoes and preparing to plant bell peppers and watermelons. Strawberry producers continued harvesting and selling their crop. Citrus producers scouted for insects. Crawfish producers continued harvesting. Latest price drop will affect decisions on whether to drain and begin planting. Rain will help maintain ponds longer without pumping. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Cool nights across the state continued to slow the growth of pasture. Some fertilizer was being applied to pastures. Cattlemen continued working cattle as calving season continued. Summer pastures continued to green up with the additional rainfall and grazing conditions improved. Some farmers were able to make first cutting of hay. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Current Last 5 YR CROP STAGE Week Week 2007 AVG Corn Planted 94 87 91 82 Emerged 53 14 71 48 Hay First Cutting 1 0 2 1 Rice Planted 51 35 47 46 Emerged 23 0 19 21 Sorghum Planted 16 5 35 17 Winter Wheat Headed 52 21 66 49 Land Preparation Spring plowing 71 50 78 64 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Sugarcane 1 4 47 45 3 Wheat 0 4 24 56 16 Livestock 1 6 38 53 2 Vegetables 1 12 46 36 5 Pasture 3 13 36 44 4 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 03/31/08 TO 04/06/08 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 84 51 65 61 2.01 2.81 13.06 14.75 Minden 83 48 64 60 2.11 2.59 14.48 16.12 Mooringsport 82 48 64 MM 1.76 2.90 13.73 13.62 Extreme/Average 84 48 65 61 1.96 2.77 13.76 15.07 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 84 44 64 61 2.35 3.26 10.91 17.44 Homer/Hill Farm 83 46 62 60 1.88 2.85 12.51 16.40 ULM-Monroe 84 48 65 61 2.39 3.49 11.02 18.27 Colmubia Lock 85 50 65 MM 2.45 3.20 12.65 18.63 Extreme/Average 85 44 64 62 2.27 3.20 11.77 17.35 3. Northeast Lake Providence 82 49 63 60 2.37 3.26 16.13 18.78 LSU-St Joseph 84 52 68 62 2.47 3.08 15.58 18.87 LSU-Winnsboro 84 50 64 61 2.31 3.14 15.32 18.08 Tallulah 82 49 65 61 2.64 4.50 17.39 18.73 Extreme/Average 84 49 65 62 2.45 3.50 16.11 18.54 4. West-Central Leesville 85 (43) 68 63 1.12 2.39 14.45 16.68 LSU-Rosepine 82 58 71 62 0.28 1.67 13.92 16.55 Natchitoches (87) 56 68 62 7.34 8.39 19.10 16.50 Extreme/Average 87 43 68 62 4.23 5.39 16.78 16.45 5. Central Alexandria 85 51 69 63 1.24 2.38 17.29 17.93 Brusly 86 56 73 63 1.24 2.31 17.43 18.24 Bunkie 84 52 69 64 0.78 2.39 16.28 18.41 LSU-Alexandria 86 50 69 63 1.21 2.43 16.14 17.21 Extreme/Average 86 50 69 64 1.08 2.40 16.57 17.86 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 82 52 70 MM 1.35 2.33 14.46 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 85 54 72 64 1.44 2.49 15.87 17.10 LSU-Clinton 83 51 70 63 1.15 2.64 17.22 18.81 LSU-Hammond 85 53 71 63 1.44 2.87 18.16 19.19 Slidell 82 56 71 64 5.93 6.82 19.93 18.54 Extreme/Average 85 51 71 64 2.26 3.43 17.13 18.95 7. Southwest De Ridder 81 49 67 64 0.49 2.53 18.13 17.21 Jennings 83 53 71 64 1.25 3.28 17.57 15.34 LSU-Crowley 83 54 71 65 0.47 3.73 16.35 15.77 Extreme/Average 83 49 70 65 0.74 3.18 17.35 15.39 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 83 56 72 65 1.02 1.78 12.44 16.90 LSU-Jeanerette 84 55 73 64 1.93 3.17 12.52 14.94 Morgan City 82 59 73 65 0.17 0.93 9.95 15.88 Extreme/Average 84 55 72 65 1.04 1.96 11.64 15.83 9. Southeast Galliano 82 60 72 66 0.21 1.24 17.42 17.05 Houma 85 56 73 66 0.47 0.77 9.43 16.03 Terrytown 3S 84 60 72 MM 3.87 4.73 19.77 MM.MM Reserve 83 56 71 65 1.62 2.60 15.15 18.73 Extreme/Average 85 56 72 66 1.54 2.34 13.43 17.36 State State Averages 87 43 69 64 1.81 3.07 15.15 17.03 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through April 6, 2008