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: April 30, 2007 Volume 07 No. 09 Days suitable for fieldwork: 4.7 Soil moisture supplies: 11% short, 75% adequate and 14% surplus Field Crops Report Rainfall came last week, slowing down activities, but it was very beneficial to all crops. Rice producers were applying herbicides and fertilizer on their fields. Winter wheat was progressing, with percent headed and turning color slightly above the five year average. The rainfall gave a needed boost to sugarcane and grain sorghum. Corn was 100% emerged, with 63% in good or excellent condition. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Cool nights and warm days helped vegetable growing conditions. Vegetable producers were working and fertilizing their crops. Crawfish ponds were starting to shut down due to low prices. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pasture conditions showed improvement due to the recent rain and warmer weather. Hay producers were cutting hay. Cattle producers continued working cattle and marketing calves. PERCENT OF PROGRESS CROP STAGE Current Week Last Week 2006 5 YR AVG Corn Emerged 100 96 100 98 Cotton Planted 22 3 52 44 Emerged 14 0 35 18 Hay First Cutting 13 11 32 15 Rice Planted 81 70 88 83 Emerged 68 57 74 69 Sorghum Planted 86 75 79 56 Emerged 71 60 57 38 Soybeans Planted 32 14 44 32 Emerged 19 5 32 18 Wheat Headed 99 97 100 96 Turning Color 29 7 71 27 Land Preparation -Spring plowing 91 88 93 93 CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES ITEM VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Corn 0 1 36 58 5 Rice 0 9 49 41 1 Sugarcane 0 8 41 41 10 Wheat 0 2 36 58 4 Livestock 0 4 37 54 5 Vegetables 0 12 32 51 5 Pasture 1 5 40 50 4 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 04/16/07 TO 04/22/07 AIR PRECIPITATION 4 INCH SOIL TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO TEMPERATURE MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM MAX MIN AVE 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 84 56 70 67 1.28 2.36 13.48 18.12 Minden 81 47 65 66 2.10 4.34 16.38 19.96 Mooringsport 84 49 67 MM 0.62 2.10 17.42 16.42 Extreme/Average 84 47 67 67 1.33 2.93 15.76 18.45 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 83 45 65 67 1.61 4.45 15.09 20.91 Homer/Hill Farm 84 50 68 65 2.56 5.55 18.50 20.13 ULM-Monroe 84 46 67 67 1.09 4.30 12.94 22.23 Winnfield MM MM MM 66 M.MM M.MM 6.37 21.43 Extreme/Average 84 45 67 67 1.75 4.77 15.51 21.04 3. Northeast Lake Providence 83 52 67 66 1.58 4.34 13.75 23.27 LSU-St Joseph 84 (39) 68 68 0.41 1.71 14.46 22.82 LSU-Winnsboro 83 49 68 67 1.29 2.89 14.83 22.20 Tallulah 83 52 68 67 0.80 1.84 11.78 22.71 Extreme/Average 84 39 68 68 1.02 2.70 13.71 22.67 4. West-Central Leesville 82 50 68 68 1.97 4.01 14.96 19.91 LSU-Rosepine 88 51 68 68 2.06 3.88 18.09 19.63 Natchitoches 81 48 66 68 1.44 3.71 12.98 19.78 Extreme/Average 88 48 67 68 1.82 3.87 15.34 19.74 5. Central Alexandria 87 54 70 69 1.20 3.60 17.11 21.49 Brusly 85 54 70 68 4.28 6.35 18.36 22.42 Bunkie 86 56 72 69 0.40 2.95 15.34 22.50 LSU-Alexandria (91) 57 72 68 1.35 3.34 14.73 20.48 Extreme/Average 91 54 71 69 1.81 4.06 16.14 21.55 6. East-Central Bogalusa 85 52 70 68 1.30 3.51 13.18 23.60 LSU-Baton Rouge 85 55 72 69 1.78 3.91 15.03 21.00 LSU-Clinton 83 52 70 68 1.35 3.96 14.13 23.15 LSU-Hammond 84 52 70 68 1.90 4.59 14.02 23.26 Slidell 85 54 71 69 1.28 4.11 14.65 21.98 Extreme/Average 85 52 71 69 1.52 4.02 14.22 23.05 7. Southwest De Ridder 82 47 68 69 1.74 4.53 18.82 20.18 Jennings 84 56 70 69 2.03 4.80 17.88 18.25 LSU-Crowley 84 58 72 70 1.13 4.16 16.88 19.00 Extreme/Average 84 47 70 70 1.63 4.50 17.86 18.48 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 86 54 71 70 0.69 3.00 13.25 20.67 LSU-Jeanerette 84 49 68 70 0.78 3.65 14.88 18.44 Morgan City 87 58 72 70 0.19 2.23 12.10 18.97 Extreme/Average 87 49 70 70 0.55 2.96 13.41 19.34 9. Southeast Galliano 84 58 73 70 2.00 3.02 11.94 20.24 Houma 88 57 73 71 0.66 2.78 13.16 19.28 NO Audubon Park 85 62 75 72 0.64 1.81 9.11 20.29 Reserve 84 56 71 69 0.42 1.90 14.94 22.43 Extreme/Average 88 56 73 71 0.93 2.38 12.29 20.78 State State Averages 91 39 70 69 1.43 3.69 15.13 20.61 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through April 29, 2007