United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress & Condition Report Mississippi Field Office, PO Box 980 Jackson, MS 39205-0980 (601) 965-4575 * (601) 965-5622 FAX * www.nass.usda.gov Cooperating with Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce Released: March 19, 2012 Week Ending: March 18, 2012 Issue CW1212 According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Mississippi, there were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, March 18, 2012. Adequate rainfall from the winter has helped Mississippi's drought. Winter wheat started growth early due to warmer, mild conditions during the winter - this may be a problem if we have a late March or early April frost. So far, winter wheat conditions are mostly good. Weed control is a concern in pastures due to a mild winter. Last week's warm weather dried wet fields for the start of the planting season and most expect to get in the fields next week for field preparation and/or corn planting. Soil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 7 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Crop progress for week ending March 18, 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year : average --------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn, planted : 4 -- 4 15 Watermelons, planted : 3 -- 6 5 Winter Wheat, jointing : 64 -- 39 20 Winter Wheat, heading : 2 -- 1 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending March 18, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Item : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Blueberries : 0 1 6 60 33 Winter Wheat : 0 4 33 44 19 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments "We will plant some corn this week when farmers can get in the field. Wheat looks much better since nitrogen has been applied. We got in some field work already so growers have been able to burn down and till many acres." -Don Respess, Quitman "An average of almost 2" of rain ran us out of the field early in the week. As it gets dry enough to get back in the field, corn will be the most prominent crop for now. If this weather pattern continues, I expect early MG soybeans to be planted in the next couple of weeks." -Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "Winter wheat, along with other plants and trees have started their growth prematurely due to warmer, mild conditions across our area. This can be problematic if we have a late March or April cold snap. Striped rust has been found in winter wheat and is likely to get worse if we sustain warm, damp conditions. Growers should inspect their wheat acres and treat only if striped rust is confirmed in their field. It has been a tough spring to get field work done, as well as burndown. We have been predominantly wet and extremely windy. A few acres of corn were planted the previous week and are now emerging. Growers are sitting on go to get the rest of their corn acres planted and some last minute field work accomplished." -Preston Aust, Humphreys "Winter wheat nitrogen has gone over the last several weeks. Also many farmers in the county are applying burndown herbicides to fields along with doing tillage work so that they can begin planting in the next several days." -Reid Nevins, Lowndes "Late rain last week kept farmers out of the field for most of this week. Farmers are anxious to get in the field and plant corn." -Lester Stephens, Washington "Warm temperatures are keeping cool season forages, as well as weeds, actively growing. Weed control is a concern in pastures. Truck crop producers are enjoying and making use of warm temperatures, but are still holding out for another cold snap." -Charlie Bush, Simpson "While the soil is warm enough to plant, our corn fields are too wet to support the planters. More burndown is going out on cotton fields." -Stephen Winters, Grenada "Above average temperatures have provided days for producers to start preparing grounds for plantings." -Lemon Phelps, Marshall "Wheat is early and looking good but subject to late frost damage. Corn planting and other field work will be in high gear this coming week." -Jerry Singleton, Leflore "Wheat is beginning to head but varies on variety and planting date. Some leaf rust." -Randy Smith, Covington Mississippi Weather Summary for Week Ending March 18, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Air Temperature : Precipitation : :------------------------------------------- Division/Station :Max:Min:Avg:Norm:DFN:One : DFN :Rain:Four : : : : : : :Week: :Days:Weeks: -------------------------------------------------------------- Upper Delta Clarksdale 80 53 67 53 +14 1.51 +0.25 1 3.60 Cleveland 80 53 68 55 +13 1.22 -0.18 4 1.34 Lambert 5E 83 56 70 1.09 -0.24 1 3.77 Tunica 2 82 56 70 53 +17 1.11 -0.15 4 2.89 Extreme/Average 83 53 69 54 +15 1.23 -0.06 3 2.90 North-Central Batesville 2SW 83 57 69 52 +17 0.85 -0.50 1 3.85 Hickory Flat 84 53 67 51 +16 0.52 -0.88 4 2.84 Holly Springs 4 84 52 67 50 +17 0.77 -0.62 3 3.63 Independence 1W 81 51 68 51 +17 0.79 -0.40 2 3.23 University 85 54 70 52 +18 0.75 -0.60 2 3.03 Extreme/Average 85 51 68 53 +15 0.74 -0.59 2 3.32 Northeast Booneville 82 51 66 52 +14 0.23 -1.24 3 2.64 Corinth City 83 51 66 54 +12 0.53 -0.87 4 2.57 Tupelo 2 83 54 68 0.67 2 2.70 Extreme/Average 83 51 67 53 +14 0.48 -0.99 3 2.64 Lower Delta Belzoni 79 58 69 55 +14 1.14 -0.34 2 4.00 Moorhead 80 57 70 56 +14 0.91 -0.45 2 3.78 Rolling Fork 84 61 72 55 +17 1.65 +0.25 1 5.26 Yazoo City 5NNE 87 63 74 57 +17 1.68 +0.11 3 5.16 Extreme/Average 87 57 71 56 +15 1.35 -0.05 2 4.55 Central Forest 3S 89 54 70 57 +13 0.32 -1.16 2 2.84 Kosciusko 85 58 70 55 +15 0.90 -0.64 2 4.36 Winona 5E 83 55 68 52 +16 1.04 -0.43 2 2.98 Extreme/Average 89 54 69 56 +13 0.75 -0.70 2 3.39 East-Central Aberdeen 83 54 68 53 +15 0.14 -1.29 2 3.54 Columbus 86 57 71 55 +16 0.09 -1.10 2 2.85 Macon 2E 84 54 69 54 +15 0.09 -1.23 2 3.52 State University 86 56 71 54 +17 0.49 -0.91 3 3.68 Extreme/Average 86 54 69 55 +14 0.20 -1.23 2 3.40 Southwest Brookhaven City 82 46 68 57 +11 0.18 -1.22 1 2.42 Crystal Springs 83 58 70 58 +12 0.00 -1.34 0 2.30 Natchez 83 57 71 60 +11 0.00 -1.54 0 2.58 Woodville 4ESE 82 56 69 59 +10 0.26 -1.35 1 5.14 Vicksburg 82 60 72 0.80 1 4.37 Extreme/Average 83 46 70 58 +12 0.25 -1.22 1 3.36 South-Central Collins 83 54 68 57 +11 0.40 -1.12 1 3.70 Columbia 85 57 71 59 +12 0.55 -0.92 2 1.71 Monticello 88 52 70 58 +12 0.32 -1.22 1 2.02 Raleigh 82 50 66 0.13 1 2.87 Extreme/Average 88 50 69 58 +11 0.35 -1.13 1 2.58 Southeast Hattiesburg 83 53 69 59 +10 1.03 -0.44 2 4.11 Laurel 87 55 69 57 +12 0.44 -0.97 2 4.71 Waynesboro 2W 85 52 69 57 +12 1.06 -0.40 2 2.22 Extreme/Average 87 52 69 58 +11 0.84 -0.70 2 3.68 State Averages 89 46 69 56 +13 0.65 -0.78 2 3.35 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DFN = Departure from Normal.