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 21, 2008 Volume 08 No. 07 Days suitable for fieldwork: 5.7 Soil moisture supplies: 3% very short, 21% short, 68% adequate and 8% surplus Field Crops Report Despite weekly rain showers, the North Central Region is still 5 inches behind on average rainfall. There have been reports of seepage water on corn and soybean fields. Rice, soybeans, and sorghum were still being planted. Herbicide applications were made for broadleaf weeds; the 2,4-D restriction hampered the efforts of some producers due to the added expense. Herbicides were applied to early rice, along with some fertilizer applications, as well as flushing. Some rice fields have had first flood. The cool temperatures, as well as high winds, have affected most planted crops, such as young rice and sorghum. This has resulted in some leaf tip burn and tattering from wind, as well as a slower response to some of the herbicide applications. A lot of rice suffered from the cooler temperatures. There are reports of many rice farmers increasing their planting intentions. Corn has also been affected by the cool temperatures with some reports of corn with burned leaves due to frost earlier in the week. Soybean planting remained steady this week. Cane fieldwork progressed well. More rain would be of benefit for sugarcane producers, but the cane has not been stressed yet. Sugarcane producers were still fertilizing. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Vegetable producers sold crops and worked their spring and summer crops. Citrus producers sprayed herbicides. Crawfish harvest continued with excellent size in most cases. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report It was an excellent week of weather for livestock producers. Forages looked good, and harvest of ryegrass hay was in full swing. Some fertilizer was applied to pastures. Cattlemen remained busy as calving season continued. Some farmers completed a first cutting of hay. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Current Last 5 YR CROP STAGE Week Week 2007 AVG Corn Planted 100 98 99 98 Emerged 96 85 93 86 Cotton Planted 18 1 2 13 Hay First Cutting 14 4 10 8 Rice Planted 78 63 67 72 Emerged 59 35 52 56 Sorghum Planted 60 42 67 44 Emerged 31 0 43 26 Soybeans Planted 31 6 10 14 Winter Wheat Headed 97 91 95 85 Turning Color 7 0 5 8 Land Preparation Spring plowing 84 75 88 83 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Corn 0 4 22 65 9 Sugarcane 1 5 48 41 5 Wheat 0 1 23 58 18 Livestock 1 5 39 49 6 Vegetables 1 12 51 30 6 Pasture 1 11 41 40 7 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 04/14/08 TO 04/20/08 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 83 36 60 64 0.40 2.55 13.57 16.85 Minden 82 34 55 64 0.50 2.81 15.18 18.53 Mooringsport (84) 38 59 MM 0.53 2.47 14.44 15.44 Extreme/Average 84 34 58 65 0.48 2.61 14.40 17.17 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 82 32 56 64 0.37 2.89 11.34 19.63 Homer/Hill Farm 81 35 57 63 0.58 2.99 13.42 18.78 ULM-Monroe 82 36 58 65 0.36 2.77 11.40 20.79 Colmubia Lock 79 36 54 MM 0.48 3.03 13.23 21.43 Extreme/Average 82 32 57 65 0.45 2.92 12.35 19.68 3. Northeast Lake Providence 79 39 57 64 0.60 2.64 16.40 21.67 LSU-St Joseph 82 36 59 66 0.76 3.25 16.78 21.38 LSU-Winnsboro 81 33 57 65 0.65 3.23 16.48 20.74 Tallulah 77 38 56 64 0.80 3.14 18.28 21.26 Extreme/Average 82 33 57 65 0.70 3.07 16.99 21.20 4. West-Central Leesville 78 (31) 56 65 0.03 1.21 14.54 18.68 LSU-Rosepine 80 37 58 65 0.67 1.78 15.41 18.47 Natchitoches 80 32 57 65 0.36 7.83 19.59 18.53 Extreme/Average 80 31 57 65 0.35 3.61 16.51 18.50 5. Central Alexandria 80 41 58 66 0.93 2.31 18.25 20.21 Brusly 77 33 57 66 0.14 1.52 17.57 20.96 Bunkie 78 36 59 66 0.67 1.45 16.95 20.98 LSU-Alexandria 81 38 59 66 0.98 2.29 17.21 19.26 Extreme/Average 81 33 58 67 0.68 1.89 17.50 20.19 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 78 37 57 MM 0.18 1.80 14.84 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 78 35 58 67 0.16 2.19 16.58 19.61 LSU-Clinton 78 34 57 65 0.31 2.95 18.91 21.60 LSU-Hammond 79 32 57 66 0.53 2.32 17.84 21.86 Slidell 74 35 58 67 0.65 7.23 21.23 20.67 Extreme/Average 79 32 57 67 0.37 3.30 17.88 21.61 7. Southwest De Ridder 80 38 59 66 1.58 2.14 19.78 19.06 Jennings 78 39 60 67 0.19 1.48 17.80 17.13 LSU-Crowley 79 39 61 68 0.27 0.77 16.63 17.76 Extreme/Average 80 38 60 68 0.68 1.46 18.07 17.29 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 78 39 59 68 0.13 1.24 12.63 19.36 LSU-Jeanerette 78 40 61 67 0.17 2.38 12.76 17.18 Morgan City 78 44 61 68 0.28 0.57 10.35 17.81 Extreme/Average 78 39 60 68 0.19 1.40 11.91 18.07 9. Southeast Galliano 79 42 61 68 0.22 0.43 17.64 19.02 Houma 80 39 60 69 0.09 1.71 10.67 18.08 Terrytown 3S 79 43 62 MM 0.18 5.07 20.56 MM.MM Reserve 76 41 60 67 0.24 1.98 15.61 21.13 Extreme/Average 80 39 61 69 0.18 2.30 16.12 19.56 State State Averages 84 31 58 67 0.48 2.43 16.03 19.30 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through April 20, 2008