la-crop-weather State Louisiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date December 4, 2005 Days suitable for fieldwork: 5.4 Soil moisture supplies: 22% very short, 25% short, 50% adequate and 3% surplus Field Crops Report Scattered showers were received again across the state last week. The showers helped restore some soil moisture. Producers were preparing for next year's crop season by working on equipment and cultivating fields. Sugarcane producers were making excellent progress with harvesting of the crop. Producers were reporting better sugar and tonnage than with earlier harvested cane. Winter wheat planting edged closer to completion. Germination of winter wheat remained in line with last year and the 5-year average, thanks to the recent showers. Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Report Citrus producers were selling satsumas and oranges. Vegetable producers were selling broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Pecan harvesting continued, surpassing last year and the 5-year average. Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report Livestock and pasture conditions improved last week as showers moved across the state. Cattlemen continued planting ryegrass and top-dressing winter pastures. Crop Progress Table PERCENT OF PROGRESS Last CROP STAGE 2005 Week 2004 5 YR AVG Pecans Harvested 83 75 80 77 Sugarcane Harvested 69 56 71 71 Wheat Planted 97 90 79 86 Emerged 70 65 71 74 Crop Condition Table CONDITIONS IN PERCENTAGES CROP VERY POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Sugarcane 8 20 57 10 5 Livestock 4 18 46 29 3 Vegetables 24 30 31 14 1 Pasture 29 31 27 13 0 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA LOUISIANA WEATHER SUMMARY FROM 11/28/05 TO 12/04/05 AIR PRECIPITATION 4 INCH SOIL TEMPERATURE WEEKLY FOUR YR. TO TEMPERATURE MAX MIN AVG NRM TOTAL WEEKS DATE NORM MAX MIN AVG 1. Northwest LSU-Bossier City MM MM MM 50 0.17 0.93 33.24 47.32 Minden 82 28 52 50 0.16 0.52 31.49 50.92 Mooringsport 82 30 54 MM 0.81 1.52 32.45 44.04 Extreme/Average 82 28 53 51 0.49 1.02 32.45 48.67 2. North-Central LSU-Calhoun 80 25 50 51 0.33 0.76 34.69 50.72 Homer/Hill Farm 77 27 49 49 0.66 1.41 39.21 51.40 ULM-Monroe (83)(23) 52 51 0.33 0.98 31.20 52.79 Winnfield 80 27 53 50 0.37 1.16 40.09 53.92 Extreme/Average 83 23 51 51 0.35 0.96 37.39 51.97 3. Northeast Lake Providence 79 29 51 50 0.42 0.78 36.86 53.81 LSU-St Joseph 82 29 54 53 0.32 1.97 38.95 51.56 MM MM MM LSU-Winnsboro 82 25 53 51 0.31 2.12 40.70 51.51 Tallulah 80 25 53 51 0.33 1.15 36.32 53.33 Extreme/Average 82 25 53 52 0.35 1.51 38.84 52.49 MM MM MM 4. West-Central Leesville 81 31 56 53 0.20 3.35 40.76 52.47 LSU-Rosepine 81 34 56 53 0.14 2.35 33.80 53.82 MM MM MM Natchitoches 80 29 54 52 0.20 1.09 32.76 49.72 Extreme/Average 81 29 55 52 0.18 2.26 32.76 51.10 MM MM MM 5. Central Alexandria 82 34 56 54 0.68 4.71 37.89 55.85 Brusly 78 30 55 55 0.62 2.25 46.10 58.08 Bunkie 79 34 55 54 0.18 3.16 56.25 56.47 LSU-Alexandria 81 30 53 53 0.13 3.54 38.41 54.91 MM MM MM Extreme/Average 82 30 55 54 0.33 3.80 38.41 55.87 MM MM MM 6. East-Central Bogalusa 77 33 55 54 0.00 1.60 39.97 59.71 LSU-Baton Rouge 80 34 58 56 0.37 3.59 42.64 56.98 LSU-Clinton 77 32 55 54 0.30 1.65 42.28 58.23 LSU-Hammond 79 31 57 55 0.00 1.33 40.78 59.34 MM MM MM Slidell 77 36 58 56 0.04 2.22 62.29 58.60 Extreme/Average 80 31 57 55 0.10 2.19 42.64 59.52 MM MM MM 7. Southwest De Ridder 80 34 57 54 0.10 2.53 48.89 55.55 Jennings 77 35 56 55 0.42 3.31 47.22 56.10 MM MM MM LSU-Crowley 78 37 56 56 0.59 2.74 46.97 55.74 MM MM MM Extreme/Average 80 34 57 56 0.26 2.92 47.22 56.84 MM MM MM 8. South-Central Donaldsonville 79 35 57 56 0.13 1.70 44.38 57.53 LSU-Jeanerette 78 37 58 56 0.14 2.83 51.37 57.97 Morgan City 80 41 63 57 0.00 2.36 43.51 61.20 Extreme/Average 80 35 59 57 0.09 2.30 47.88 58.83 9. Southeast Galliano 80 39 65 58 0.00 1.41 69.02 62.00 Houma 79 37 61 58 0.00 1.68 61.77 59.86 MM MM MM NO Audubon Park MM MM MM 59 0.00 1.51 56.49 59.73 Reserve 79 38 61 57 0.00 2.25 53.07 60.77 Extreme/Average 80 37 62 59 0.00 1.78 MM.MM 60.25 MM MM MM State State Averages 83 23 56 54 0.24 2.21 40.08 54.69 MM MM MM M = Missing ( ) = Extremes Yr. To Date = Through December 4, 2005