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: September 22, 2008 Volume 08 No. 29 Days suitable for fieldwork: 4.8 Soil moisture supplies: 2% short, 70% adequate and 28% surplus. Field Crops Report Many farmers across the state waited for fields to dry out due to the excess moisture from Hurricane Ike. The quality of soybeans and rice remaining in the field deteriorated due to the standing water. The quality of sugarcane in the field deteriorated, and planting for the '09 crop was hindered. Cotton harvest started. There were reports of cotton producers shredding the fields instead of harvesting due to damages sustained from the hurricanes. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Extensive rainfall and winds from Hurricane Gustav damaged most of the vegetables. Sweet potato harvest was getting underway. More potatoes were reported rotting due to wet weather and water standing in fields. Citrus producers sustained significant damage due to the hurricanes. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Cattlemen tried to secure hay and grain for cattle until conditions improve. Many pastures were still too wet which delayed planting of winter forages. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Current Last 5 YR CROP STAGE Week Week 2007 AVG Corn Harvested 94 87 97 99 Cotton Bolls Opening 92 84 90 92 Harvested 10 5 6 19 Hay Second Cutting 93 91 99 98 Rice Ripe 100 97 100 100 Harvested 81 73 95 94 Sorghum Harvested 90 86 93 97 Soybeans Turning Color 81 68 92 87 Dropping Leaves 72 57 84 75 Harvested 42 26 46 53 Sweetpotatoes Harvested 18 15 19 26 Sugarcane Planted 42 38 85 89 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Cotton 30 30 29 11 0 Soybeans 16 28 39 17 0 Sugarcane 11 29 40 19 1 Livestock 1 9 35 50 5 Vegetables 14 22 44 19 1 Pasture 6 9 39 43 3 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 09/15/08 TO 09/21/08 AIR PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR.TO MAX MIN AVE NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM 11. Northwest LSU-Bossier City 87 54 70 76 0.01 3.83 40.84 36.81 Minden 84 54 69 75 0.00 6.13 37.32 39.81 Mooringsport 85 (53) 69 MM 0.06 4.09 35.73 33.22 Extreme/Average 87 53 69 76 0.02 4.68 37.96 37.76 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 86 55 70 76 0.01 12.92 45.34 40.24 Homer/Hill Farm 85 54 69 74 0.00 4.44 32.30 40.11 ULM-Monroe 87 58 72 76 0.03 12.79 41.54 41.76 Colmubia Lock 85 57 70 MM 1.56 12.63 43.30 43.42 Extreme/Average 87 54 70 75 0.40 10.70 40.62 41.10 3. Northeast Lake Providence 85 58 71 76 1.65 14.43 52.05 42.58 LSU-St Joseph 86 58 72 76 0.73 16.51 54.64 41.52 LSU-Winnsboro 86 57 71 76 0.85 19.42 51.68 40.81 Tallulah 82 55 70 75 0.57 13.84 49.83 42.72 Extreme/Average 86 55 72 76 1.08 16.79 53.35 41.82 4. West-Central Leesville 84 54 70 76 0.01 6.88 35.18 41.52 LSU-Rosepine 85 57 71 76 0.07 5.61 35.82 42.53 Natchitoches 84 60 71 77 0.00 4.06 36.11 39.37 Extreme/Average 85 54 71 76 0.03 6.25 35.50 40.43 5. Central Alexandria 88 60 73 78 1.31 19.62 50.22 43.37 Brusly 90 60 74 76 0.60 15.00 51.43 47.77 Bunkie 86 58 73 77 1.32 17.99 51.75 44.66 LSU-Alexandria 88 59 73 76 1.15 23.09 52.96 42.13 Extreme/Average 90 58 73 77 1.10 18.93 51.59 44.04 6. East-Central Franklinton 5SW 87 59 73 MM 1.79 9.37 42.69 MM.MM LSU-Baton Rouge 90 60 74 77 0.43 12.67 48.74 46.83 LSU-Clinton MM MM MM 76 M.MM 0.25 41.37 47.38 LSU-Hammond 88 59 74 77 0.84 6.17 49.60 49.27 Slidell 87 63 74 78 0.82 10.44 52.51 48.59 Extreme/Average 90 59 74 77 0.97 9.66 48.39 49.11 7. Southwest De Ridder 85 58 71 77 0.11 5.17 42.59 44.08 Jennings 87 61 73 78 0.98 7.66 44.75 44.41 LSU-Crowley 85 60 73 78 1.72 9.49 45.51 44.73 Extreme/Average 87 58 72 78 0.94 7.44 44.28 45.29 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 90 61 74 78 2.88 11.05 43.75 47.13 LSU-Jeanerette 89 61 74 77 0.74 15.40 50.77 47.74 Morgan City 85 65 75 78 1.45 4.50 36.03 50.36 Extreme/Average 90 61 74 78 1.69 15.40 50.77 48.19 9. Southeast Galliano 87 64 76 78 3.22 6.07 49.77 51.69 Houma MM MM MM 79 M.MM 7.80 45.35 50.22 Terrytown 3S 89 65 76 MM 2.75 8.76 63.21 MM.MM Reserve (92) 64 77 78 1.51 10.78 50.37 50.61 Extreme/Average 92 64 76 79 2.49 10.78 50.37 49.96 State State Averages 92 53 73 77 1.01 11.45 46.26 44.44 M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through September 21, 2008