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 27, 2007 Volume 07 No. 26 Days suitable for fieldwork: 6.8 Soil moisture supplies: 22% very short, 41% short and 37% adequate Field Crops Report Hot and generally dry weather was experienced throughout the state last week. Corn producers were busy harvesting, with 66% harvested, which was slightly behind the 5-year average. Some soybean producers were spraying for stinkbugs, but most fields were facing low insect pressure. Soybeans were in need of rain to finish filling pods. Sorghum harvest reached 75%, well ahead of the 5-year average of 54%. Dry conditions allowed rice farmers to continue harvesting, with reports of good yields. Sugarcane producers were busy planting and spraying ripener. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Vegetable producers were planting and working fall crops. Citrus producers were spraying for insects. Crawfish producers were busy preparing their ponds. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Cattlemen were busy cutting hay. The hot, dry weather continued to take a toll on pasture conditions. Livestock conditions were generally good despite the hot and dry conditions. PERCENT OF PROGRESS CROP STAGE Current Week Last Week 2006 5 YR AVG Corn Harvested 66 45 88 69 Cotton Bolls Opening 37 29 76 44 Hay Second Cutting 93 89 88 87 Rice Headed 100 99 99 99 Ripe 88 79 93 90 Harvested 69 55 71 69 Sorghum Turning Color 97 94 99 97 Mature 93 86 82 83 Harvested 75 54 65 54 Soybeans Setting Pods 100 99 99 97 Turning Color 57 46 70 48 Dropping Leaves 33 23 52 32 Harvested 7 0 17 11 Sugarcane Planted 43 20 30 37 Sweet Potatoes Harvested 4 1 8 7 CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES ITEM VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Corn 2 3 13 51 31 Cotton 5 12 30 52 1 Soybeans 2 7 27 56 8 Sugarcane 0 0 31 43 26 Livestock 0 7 36 50 7 Vegetables 14 27 35 23 1 Pasture 7 18 35 35 5 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 08/20/07 TO 08/26/07 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVG NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City MM MM MM 81 M.MM 0.90 35.55 34.22 Minden 99 70 84 81 2.52 2.53 42.39 36.62 Mooringsport 96 71 84 MM 0.00 3.80 40.04 30.28 Extreme/Average 99 70 84 81 1.26 3.17 41.22 34.88 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 100 70 85 82 0.01 0.11 31.97 37.34 Homer/Hill Farm 99 69 84 80 0.00 0.59 34.57 36.71 ULM-Monroe 99 (68) 85 82 0.00 1.82 28.15 38.82 Colmubia Lock 104 71 86 MM 0.00 0.27 30.86 40.58 Extreme/Average 104 68 85 81 0.00 0.70 31.39 37.96 3. Northeast Lake Providence 97 72 85 81 0.30 1.23 29.98 40.08 LSU-St Joseph 100 72 85 81 0.04 6.16 35.63 38.76 LSU-Winnsboro (106) 71 87 81 0.00 0.93 36.75 38.30 Tallulah 99 72 85 80 1.20 3.94 27.90 39.94 Extreme/Average 106 71 85 81 0.39 3.07 34.12 39.19 4. West-Central Leesville 97 68 82 80 0.09 2.53 32.37 37.79 LSU-Rosepine 95 70 83 81 0.00 1.21 37.19 38.67 Natchitoches 97 70 84 82 0.00 1.86 28.77 36.61 Extreme/Average 97 68 83 81 0.03 1.87 32.78 37.20 5. Central Alexandria 96 70 85 83 0.05 2.79 33.49 39.77 Brusly 96 70 82 81 0.00 3.71 37.34 43.54 Bunkie 97 71 84 81 0.00 1.39 35.80 40.91 LSU-Alexandria 101 68 85 81 0.00 1.69 34.18 38.15 Extreme/Average 101 68 84 82 0.01 2.40 35.77 40.14 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 96 71 84 MM 0.03 1.12 23.17 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 97 72 84 81 0.00 3.78 38.27 42.44 LSU-Clinton 96 68 83 80 0.00 0.91 30.10 43.25 LSU-Hammond 96 71 83 81 0.12 6.13 34.96 44.74 Slidell 95 73 84 81 0.04 1.25 32.46 43.65 Extreme/Average 97 68 84 81 0.04 2.64 32.22 44.62 7. Southwest De Ridder 95 72 84 82 0.00 1.34 43.20 39.95 Jennings 95 73 84 81 1.62 5.22 41.13 39.19 LSU-Crowley 96 72 84 82 1.40 4.23 42.64 40.24 Extreme/Average 96 72 84 82 1.01 3.60 42.32 40.31 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 95 71 83 82 0.30 2.58 36.87 42.03 LSU-Jeanerette 96 73 84 81 0.32 2.35 39.00 42.35 Morgan City 93 75 84 81 2.67 5.92 32.39 44.11 Extreme/Average 96 71 83 82 1.10 3.62 36.09 42.89 9. Southeast Galliano 93 74 84 82 0.12 3.57 32.81 45.64 Houma 97 71 84 82 0.05 5.63 37.44 44.23 Terrytown 3S 94 77 86 MM 0.14 1.65 41.66 MM.MM Reserve 95 74 85 81 0.80 4.18 49.09 45.31 Extreme/Average 97 71 85 82 0.28 3.76 40.25 44.15 State State Averages 106 68 84 82 0.42 2.74 36.51 40.31 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through August 26, 2007