la-crop-weather State Louisiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 6, 2005 LA-CW1005 Days suitable for fieldwork: 1.3 Soil moisture supplies: 43% adequate and 57% surplus Field Crops Report Louisiana has been experiencing unusual weather patterns and wet conditions throughout the state. The wet conditions limited field activities for producers. Producers were hoping for dryer conditions to start spring field activities. Rice field work was restricted to water leveling. Some sugarcane fields were beginning to emerge. Rust symptoms were showing up in some wheat fields. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Strawberry producers continued harvesting and selling their crop. Rainy conditions hampered vegetable producer's ability to prepare for spring crops. Crawfish producers were harvesting with average yields being reported. Producers are hoping warmer weather will improve the size of the crawfish. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Little work was completed on pastures due to the wet conditions. Spring pastures were beginning to green up due to the rain, while livestock conditions declined. Calving was in full swing, and cattlemen began weaning and marketing early fall born calves. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Last CROP STAGE 2005 Week 2004 5 YR AVG Land Preparation Spring Plowing 8 0 8 19 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Sugarcane 5 16 42 34 3 Wheat 5 8 36 50 1 Livestock 3 15 49 31 2 Vegetables 26 29 25 16 4 Pasture 18 29 33 18 2 Weather Information Table LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 02/28/05 TO 03/06/05 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 MM MM MM 53 0.12 2.96 8.71 10.12 Minden 67 33 49 53 0.04 2.71 7.67 10.92 Mooringsport 66 38 52 MM 0.06 2.54 7.77 9.32 Extreme/Average 67 33 MM 54 M.MM M.MM M.MM 10.29 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun MM MM MM 54 0.03 4.01 8.79 11.62 LTI-Ruston 69 34 49 53 0.00 5.15 11.79 11.50 ULM-Monroe MM MM MM 54 0.00 3.90 8.11 12.01 Winnfield 70 33 50 54 0.17 3.50 8.30 11.40 Extreme/Average 70 33 49 54 0.00 5.15 11.79 11.67 3. Northeast Lake Providence 68 37 49 52 0.00 4.43 9.58 12.17 LSU-St Joseph 70 36 52 55 0.11 2.61 8.83 12.40 MM MM MM LSU-Winnsboro 70 36 52 54 0.15 3.47 9.59 11.94 Tallulah 69 38 51 54 0.00 3.69 9.70 12.16 Extreme/Average 70 36 52 55 0.13 3.04 9.21 12.14 MM MM MM 4. West-Central Leesville 72 34 52 56 0.22 4.64 7.69 11.49 LSU-Rosepine 65 35 52 56 0.23 8.30 11.10 11.19 MM MM MM Natchitoches 70 40 53 55 0.04 4.62 8.51 11.11 Extreme/Average 72 34 MM 56 M.MM M.MM M.MM 11.23 MM MM MM 5. Central Alexandria 70 41 53 56 0.27 6.46 11.07 12.03 Brusly 73 37 54 57 0.04 3.97 9.64 12.84 Bunkie 72 39 53 57 0.04 4.79 9.56 12.40 LSU-Alexandria 70 35 51 56 0.17 6.20 12.07 11.78 MM MM MM Extreme/Average 73 35 52 57 0.16 5.54 10.93 12.18 MM MM MM 6. East-Central Bogalusa 74 36 51 57 0.29 2.14 8.29 13.07 LSU-Baton Rouge MM MM MM 57 0.03 3.52 7.40 11.89 LSU-Clinton 70 (31) 49 56 0.18 3.10 10.55 13.03 LSU-Hammond (75) 34 52 57 0.13 2.66 8.47 12.81 MM MM MM Slidell 70 38 53 57 0.31 2.19 9.97 12.59 Extreme/Average 75 31 52 58 0.15 2.77 8.05 12.72 MM MM MM 7. Southwest De Ridder 68 40 53 57 0.00 6.46 8.61 11.90 Jennings 69 42 54 57 0.38 5.72 12.61 10.78 MM MM MM LSU-Crowley 64 42 51 58 0.30 5.51 11.23 11.21 MM MM MM Extreme/Average 69 40 54 58 0.38 5.72 12.61 10.84 MM MM MM 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 71 39 53 58 0.11 4.15 9.70 11.34 LSU-Jeanerette 69 42 53 58 0.23 6.34 11.03 10.37 Morgan City 69 45 55 58 0.45 6.81 11.74 11.10 Extreme/Average 71 39 MM 59 M.MM M.MM MM.MM 10.94 9. Southeast Galliano 71 43 56 59 1.02 4.36 11.64 11.50 Houma 71 44 56 60 1.08 7.77 17.35 10.98 MM MM MM NO Audubon Park MM MM MM 61 0.52 5.10 14.05 11.20 Reserve 72 42 56 58 0.20 5.00 13.37 12.79 Extreme/Average 72 42 56 60 1.08 7.77 17.35 11.74 MM MM MM State State Averages 75 31 53 57 0.33 5.20 11.87 11.82 MM MM MM M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through March 6, 2005