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 April 2, 2012 Week Ending Date: April 1, 2012 Issue CW1412 April 2, 2012 Agricultural Summary According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Mississippi, there were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, April 1, 2012. Last week's weather provided dryer conditions that provided farmers more time in the field to plant corn, soybeans, rice and sorghum. Some producers are still waiting for fields to dry out. Wheat growth stages are early, and producers expect to harvest the wheat 2 to 3 weeks earlier than normal. Mississippi has early growth of perennial grasses and plenty of weeds, which has many producers spraying chemicals. Soil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Crop progress for week ending April 1, 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year : average --------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn, planted : 66 25 60 52 Corn, emerged : 31 9 20 26 Hay-Cool Season, harvested : 3 0 0 1 Rice, planted : 18 0 4 3 Sorghum, planted : 8 0 0 1 Soybeans, planted : 8 0 4 6 Watermelons, planted : 25 4 36 33 Winter Wheat, jointing : 89 75 89 59 Winter Wheat, heading : 50 22 6 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending April 1, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Item : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Blueberries : 0 1 11 83 5 Winter Wheat : 2 8 31 44 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments "Last week's weather provided great working conditions. Farmers were able to start planting soybeans and they went back to planting rice and corn. There is still a little corn left to plant and about half of the rice is in the ground. Farmers will be in need of a rain, but hopefully the rain will hold off towards the end of the week." --Laura Giaccaglia, Bolivar "Spring is fast arriving with early growth of perennial grasses and plenty of weeds. Many producers have been spraying when the wind would allow. Winter forages are fast maturing with the warmer than normal weather and rain." --Houston Therrell, Rankin "Rain and more rain seem to be the pattern. Burn-down is still main activity going. Corn and soybean seed will drop as soon as fields dry out." --Bill Burdine, Chickasaw "Cattle producers are enjoying good growing conditions for grass. Many are putting out fertilizer and preparing to cut hay and haylage. Field work continues for row crops and wheat is looking good. Warm weather has the flies and other insects out early. Gardens are beginning to be planted." --Richard Hay, Walthall "We had plenty of moisture and heat to germinate the crops which have been planted; mostly corn, milo, and soybeans. Seedbed preparation for all other crops was a major activity this week. Scattered showers late in the week may halt all operations for a little while." --Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "Growers had a good week planting corn, soybeans, and rice." --Don Respess, Quitman "Wet ground has kept us out of the fields. Corn is emerging from what was planted 10 days ago." --Stephen Winters, Grenada "One producer stated: Wheat was planted in mid November and heading out now. He placed a second application of wheat fertilizer spread two weeks ago. Another producer stated that they have over 80% of their corn crop planted." --Lemon Phelps, Marshall "Scattered showers last week have again delayed corn planting. Pastures are being treated for early season weed control." --Patrick Poindexter, Alcorn "Pastures continue to respond to warm temps. Some fertilizer applications of nitrogen have been made to cool season pastures. With sky high fertilizer prices, warm season pastures will receive limited fertilization. Market prices for calves continue to move calves off the farm to market 1 to 2 months earlier than normal." --Mike Howell, Lee "Producers jumped around planting this week trying to find a dry spot and get as much corn in the ground as possible. A few showers on Friday held things up a bit and rain in the forecast again for Monday. Other than corn, a little rice and a few acres of milo have been planted. We would just like to stretch the rains out a bit where we can have a few days to work in between." --Preston Aust, Humphreys "Good weather allowed for a good week in the field. Most all of the corn has been planted. Early planted corn is up and looking good. Soybean planting, as well as rice plantings are off to a good start. Most other soybean growers will start planting this coming week. A few acres of cotton were also planted the last week of March. Farm suppliers are putting in very long hours trying to keep up with their customers demand for seed, fertilizer and chemicals." --Jerry Singleton, Leflore "Corn planting is almost complete in the county. Soybeans, cotton, rice and sorghum planting is progressing at a rapid pace. Wheat is maturing very early with the warm weather." --Lester Stephens, Washington "Corn planting has progressed very well during the past week, with some growers considering planting soybeans now as well. Wheat is on track for harvest 2 to 3 weeks earlier than normal, possibly more." --Ernest Flint, Attala "Dryer weather has allowed field work and planting to proceed. Pastures are responding to nitrogen. Most folks are waiting a bit before they plant their garden. Some weed control being applied in pastures." --Lee Taylor, Lamar "Warm temperatures have everything blooming and flourishing...trees, pastures, and weeds the same. Conditions are great for produce, unless another frost comes to pass. Livestock look good with the vigorous pastures. Livestock disease poses a threat with warm, wet conditions, but nothing has been confirmed." --Charlie Bush, Simpson "Producers area able to plant corn and some has emerged. Beef Producers are applying nitrogen to ryegrass. Some winter weeds being sprayed in pastures. Temperatures are really warm for this time of year. Most folks are waiting a week or two to plant their garden. Some beef producers have sold out to take advantage of high prices and avoid high input costs for the cattle herd." --Lee Taylor, Forrest Mississippi Weather Summary for Week Ending March 25, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Air Temperature : Precipitation : :------------------------------------------- Division/Station :Max:Min:Avg:Norm:DFN:One : DFN :Rain:Four : : : : : : :Week: :Days:Weeks: -------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Upper Delta Clarksdale 84 56 69 57 +12 0.09 -1.11 2 5.78 Cleveland 85 54 70 59 +11 0.00 -1.40 0 1.27 Lambert 5E 86 55 70 0.06 -1.16 1 5.45 Tunica 2 85 53 71 57 +14 0.18 -1.15 2 4.46 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 53 70 58 +12 0.08 -1.25 1 4.24 2. North-Central Batesville 2SW 85 50 69 56 +13 0.20 -1.12 1 4.95 Hickory Flat 84 46 66 55 +11 1.08 -0.29 2 5.45 Holly Springs 4 86 44 67 54 +13 0.54 -0.81 2 5.18 Independence 1W 83 47 66 55 +11 0.50 -0.69 2 4.43 University 85 47 69 55 +14 0.50 -0.81 2 4.67 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 44 67 57 +10 0.56 -0.77 2 4.94 3. Northeast Booneville 84 50 66 55 +11 1.02 -0.35 3 5.35 Corinth City 85 50 67 58 +9 1.10 -0.23 2 5.23 Fulton 3W 83 49 67 58 +9 1.31 -0.10 2 5.92 Tupelo 2 82 54 68 1.97 1 7.01 Verona Exp 84 51 68 57 +11 1.70 +0.37 2 6.93 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 49 67 56 +11 1.42 +0.04 2 6.09 4. Lower Delta Belzoni 82 50 68 59 +9 0.13 -1.32 1 5.84 Moorhead 84 57 71 59 +12 0.17 -1.21 1 4.96 Rolling Fork 87 55 72 59 +13 0.46 -0.94 1 5.82 Yazoo City 5NNE 88 55 74 60 +14 0.00 -1.54 0 5.98 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 50 71 60 +11 0.19 -1.21 1 5.65 5. Central Canton 83 50 69 60 +9 0.36 -1.04 2 6.37 Forest 3S 86 48 68 60 +8 0.00 -1.47 0 7.51 Kosciusko 84 54 69 58 +11 0.10 -1.41 1 6.88 Winona 5E 82 51 67 55 +12 0.08 -1.36 2 5.65 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 48 68 59 +9 0.14 -1.31 1 6.68 6. East-Central Aberdeen 83 37 62 57 +5 0.33 -1.05 1 4.84 Columbus 84 50 68 58 +10 0.57 -0.70 1 4.41 Macon 2E 83 52 69 58 +11 0.46 -0.93 1 5.46 State University 84 55 70 58 +12 0.63 -0.77 2 6.44 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 84 37 67 59 +8 0.50 -0.91 1 5.29 7. Southwest Brookhaven City 84 53 69 60 +9 0.28 -1.19 2 5.10 Crystal Springs 84 55 70 61 +9 0.13 -1.27 2 5.02 Woodville 4ESE 83 54 71 62 +9 0.00 -1.59 0 5.61 Vicksburg 84 53 71 1.12 2 5.63 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 84 53 70 61 +9 0.38 -1.09 2 5.34 8. South-Central Collins 83 50 68 60 +8 0.00 -1.44 0 6.69 Columbia 85 52 71 62 +9 0.35 -1.12 2 6.76 Monticello 88 48 71 61 +10 0.08 -1.46 1 3.77 Raleigh 82 47 67 0.00 0 6.60 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 47 69 61 +8 0.11 -1.36 1 5.96 9. Southeast Hattiesburg 84 54 70 62 +8 0.00 -1.42 0 7.63 Laurel 86 52 70 60 +10 0.07 -1.30 2 7.27 Newton Exp 85 50 69 58 +11 0.00 -1.48 0 6.97 Waynesboro 2W 87 51 71 60 +11 0.40 -0.91 1 8.81 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 50 70 61 +9 0.12 -1.33 1 7.67 State Averages 88 37 69 59 +10 0.37 -1.04 1 5.88