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: August 13, 2007 Volume 07 No. 24 Days suitable for fieldwork: 6.6 Soil moisture supplies: 3% very short, 34% short, 58% adequate and 5% surplus Field Crops Report Very hot and dry conditions were experienced throughout the state last week. Dry conditions allowed many rice producers to harvest, with reports of good yields in many areas. Soybean producers were applying fungicides and insecticides. The dry conditions allowed corn farmers to begin their harvest. Sugarcane producers were planting cane and spraying for borers. Sorghum producers were busy harvesting, with the percent harvested last week well ahead of the 5-year average. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Vegetable producers were planting and working land. Citrus producers were spraying for insect control. Crawfish producers were preparing their ponds for next season. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report The hot and dry weather allowed cattlemen to make significant progress in the second cutting of hay. Livestock conditions were generally good despite the extremely hot temperatures. PERCENT OF PROGRESS CROP STAGE Current Week Last Week 2006 5 YR AVG Corn Mature 99 85 99 94 Harvested 20 0 38 24 Cotton Setting Bolls 100 99 100 100 Bolls Opening 9 0 34 14 Hay Second Cutting 83 68 78 75 Peaches Harvested 99 93 100 98 Rice Headed 98 90 98 95 Ripe 64 50 74 67 Harvested 35 20 38 41 Sorghum Turning Color 87 75 93 88 Mature 73 24 58 56 Harvested 32 4 28 17 Soybeans Setting Pods 98 96 93 88 Turning Color 38 14 58 31 Dropping Leaves 15 0 37 14 Sugarcane Planted 8 0 7 9 CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES ITEM VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Corn 0 5 15 49 31 Cotton 3 9 28 58 2 Rice 0 3 42 48 7 Sorghum 0 10 26 54 10 Soybeans 0 6 23 63 8 Sugarcane 0 2 32 43 23 Livestock 0 3 25 64 8 Vegetables 7 14 44 31 4 Pasture 0 3 23 65 9 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 08/06/07 TO 08/12/07 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVG NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City101 (69) 85 83 0.00 1.69 35.75 32.96 Minden 100 70 84 82 0.00 1.10 39.13 35.47 Mooringsport 100 71 85 MM 0.00 4.38 39.02 29.05 Extreme/Average 101 69 85 83 0.00 2.39 37.97 33.62 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 101 68 85 83 0.00 0.17 31.04 35.94 Homer/Hill Farm 102 70 85 82 0.00 0.34 34.03 35.50 ULM-Monroe 102 73 87 83 0.01 4.50 27.97 37.56 Colmubia Lock 99 74 86 MM 0.00 1.30 28.19 39.04 Extreme/Average 102 68 86 82 0.00 1.58 30.31 36.63 3. Northeast Lake Providence 99 73 86 82 0.00 3.97 29.68 38.82 LSU-St Joseph 102 71 85 82 0.00 9.23 35.59 37.36 LSU-Winnsboro 102 73 87 82 0.14 3.35 35.72 36.93 Tallulah 102 73 86 82 0.00 3.69 26.70 38.60 Extreme/Average 102 71 86 83 0.04 5.06 33.66 37.87 4. West-Central Leesville 100 70 85 82 0.00 1.96 30.21 36.20 LSU-Rosepine 102 71 83 82 0.06 2.37 36.61 36.97 Natchitoches 100 69 83 84 0.00 4.77 29.17 35.02 Extreme/Average 102 69 84 82 0.02 3.03 32.00 35.66 5. Central Alexandria 103 77 88 83 0.00 5.02 32.80 37.80 Brusly 101 72 84 81 0.00 3.91 36.65 40.92 Bunkie 100 76 86 83 0.04 5.75 35.17 39.20 LSU-Alexandria 106 71 87 82 0.07 5.24 34.02 36.40 Extreme/Average 106 71 86 83 0.03 4.98 35.28 38.32 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 101 75 86 MM 0.10 1.61 22.85 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 103 75 87 82 0.00 3.66 36.41 39.82 LSU-Clinton 101 70 85 81 0.00 1.29 29.70 40.93 LSU-Hammond 103 71 86 82 0.00 6.62 34.02 41.79 Slidell 99 73 86 82 0.52 3.45 32.41 41.10 Extreme/Average 103 70 86 82 0.12 3.30 31.09 42.17 7. Southwest De Ridder 101 75 86 83 0.00 3.85 42.10 38.12 Jennings 101 75 85 82 0.08 6.74 37.86 37.09 LSU-Crowley 100 76 87 82 0.00 3.55 38.92 38.00 Extreme/Average 101 75 86 83 0.03 4.71 39.63 38.01 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 100 75 85 82 0.68 6.71 36.57 39.51 LSU-Jeanerette 101 74 86 81 0.30 5.05 38.32 39.54 Morgan City 101 75 87 81 0.04 5.09 28.86 40.80 Extreme/Average 101 74 86 83 0.34 5.62 34.58 40.09 9. Southeast Galliano 97 74 86 82 1.46 9.63 32.98 42.48 Houma 103 73 86 83 0.29 8.68 34.55 41.29 Terrytown 3S (107) 79 89 MM 0.03 5.81 41.52 MM.MM Reserve 102 75 87 82 0.00 5.40 47.94 42.94 Extreme/Average 107 73 87 83 0.45 7.38 39.25 41.34 State State Averages 107 69 86 83 0.11 4.32 35.15 38.33 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through August 12, 2007