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 23, 2012 Week Ending Date: April 22, 2012 Issue CW1712 According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Mississippi, there were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, April 22, 2012. Mississippi had another week with heavy rains that limited the time farmers spent in the fields. Growing Conditions for watermelons, as compared to last week, were affected by the wet weather and cool temperature. Most of the corn is planted with conditions mostly good. Soil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Crop progress for week ending April 22, 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year : average --------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn, planted : 96 92 93 92 Corn, emerged : 89 77 81 79 Cotton, planted : 13 5 6 8 Cotton, emerged : 5 -- 0 0 Hay-Cool Season, harvested : 21 16 30 22 Rice, planted : 82 60 50 42 Rice, emerged : 65 35 23 17 Peanuts, planted : 12 -- 0 0 Sorghum, planted : 38 25 33 29 Sorghum, emerged : 25 13 10 11 Soybeans, planted : 40 31 24 34 Soybeans, emerged : 26 16 12 16 Watermelons, planted : 69 52 73 77 Winter Wheat, jointing : 100 99 100 99 Winter Wheat, heading : 98 93 90 76 Winter Wheat, mature : 13 2 0 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending April 22, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Item : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Blueberries : 0 1 41 20 38 Corn : 0 3 21 53 23 Livestock : 0 5 37 39 19 Pasture : 0 4 38 41 17 Watermelons : 0 0 96 4 0 Winter Wheat : 0 5 25 54 16 Rice : 0 1 21 61 17 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments "Cooler rainy weather patterns have stopped early season spraying for early emerged pasture weeds. Some north Mississippi areas are dry, however most areas have adequate moisture and some have excess moisture. Fertilizer prices are on the rise. Fewer pasture acres will be fertilized this year." --Mike Howell, Lee "Wet weather slowed field work this past week, but some soybeans, cotton and peanuts were planted near the end of last week. We need some dry weather to finish corn fertilization and herbicide work." --Jerry Singleton, Leflore "Very little field work was done last week. There should be some crops planted early this week as the fields have dried out the last few days." --Lester Stephens, Washington "The rains and cooler weather seemed to have slowed down most farm and garden activities. If it gets down into the high 30's like it's predicted, most of the garden and row crop plants' growth will be even slower. We need some warm and dry weather!" --Houston Therrell, Rankin "For the past week or so the cooler temperatures, especially at night, have slowed growth down." --Ruby D. Rankin, Kemper "Another week of rains limited time farmers could spend in the fields. However, the rains were welcomed. Our crops are looking good and farmers are pleased." --Laura Giaccaglia, Bolivar "Some parts of the county got more rain than others. We had a good week of planting cotton, rice, and soybeans. Corn is up and looks good. Farmers will get back in the field today or tomorrow." --Don Respess, Quitman "As we can get in the field, planting is going well." --Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "From 1 to 2 inches of rain fell early in the week stopping all field work. Some herbicide spraying will be going out today and over the weekend if this next rain misses us. Cotton farmers are primed to plant when it dries." --Stephen Winters, Grenada "Rain on Tuesday and heavy rains late Friday and part of the day on Saturday reduced the number of days for farmers to get in the field. Some farmers stated that they were waiting on rains for the weekend and they would then resume their soybean plantings. Winter wheat fields look good." --Lemon Phillips, Marshall "Tate County will have 3 farmers planting peanuts this year." --Shelli Benton, Tate "Recent rains have halted field work temporarily." --Patrick Poindexter, Alcorn "More rain followed by cool weather. Very little accomplished in the field this week. Most of the corn is planted, some soybeans will be planted where fields are dry and cotton may have to wait a couple of days to let the cool temperatures pass. We need a good week to ten days in the field to get caught up from all the rain we've had. Some wheat starting to turn and some fields having to be sprayed a second time as the early burn down wears off." --Preston Aust, Humphreys "The county received 3 ½ to 4 inches of rain last week." --Juli Hughes, Choctaw "This week there has been heavy rainfall. Fields have been wet the first of the week and farmers have not been able to get into fields. The weekend has been significantly cooler. Vegetable crop farmers observed a slower growth progress in the fields. Temperatures fell into the upper 40's at night and the high of 66 for today." --Anita Webb, Scott "Corn planting is complete. Soybeans are going in between rains. Biggest issue is burn-down as some failures have occurred." --Dr. Bill Burdine, Chickasaw "We have finished corn planting and are now waiting on fields to dry out to begin planting soybeans, cotton and peanuts. Nitrogen applications on corn will start going out soon, if we can catch a dry spell and allow fields to dry out some." --Reid Nevins, Lowndes "Cool temperatures are slowing down planting along with wet soils. Too cold to plant cotton or soybeans." --Randy Smith, Covington "Watermelons are now being transplanted into fields that are dry enough for fieldwork. Occasional showers and mild temperatures have pastures looking good. Most field and sweet corn is planted and emerging with vigor." --Charlie Bush, Simpson Mississippi Weather Summary for Week Ending April 22, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Air Temperature : Precipitation :------------------------------------------ Division/Station :Max:Min:Avg:Norm:DFN:One : DFN :Rain:Four : : : : : :Week: :Days:Weeks ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Upper Delta Clarksdale 85 44 62 64 -2 1.00 -0.19 2 3.38 Cleveland 87 44 62 64 -2 1.39 +0.06 4 2.80 Lambert 5E 85 42 62 2.48 +1.36 3 4.38 Tunica 2 85 48 63 63 0 0.60 -0.73 2 1.28 -------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 42 62 64 -2 1.37 +0.11 3 2.96 2. North-Central Batesville 2SW 85 41 61 61 0 2.10 +0.91 3 3.65 Hickory Flat 82 36 59 60 -1 1.38 +0.12 4 2.55 Holly Springs 4 84 38 59 59 0 3.66 +2.47 3 4.20 Independence 1W 82 39 58 61 -3 2.45 +1.33 3 3.72 University 85 37 60 61 -1 1.78 +0.59 4 3.39 --------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 36 59 62 -3 2.27 +1.01 3 3.50 3. Northeast Booneville 81 38 59 61 -2 1.63 +0.44 4 2.82 Corinth City 83 40 59 63 -4 1.22 +0.03 4 2.52 Fulton 3W 81 39 60 63 -3 1.66 +0.45 2 3.77 Tupelo 2 78 42 60 1.56 5 3.76 Verona Exp 84 46 63 62 +1 2.02 +0.83 3 4.02 --------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 84 38 60 62 -2 1.62 +0.43 4 3.38 4. Lower Delta Belzoni 84 44 61 64 -3 1.97 +0.64 3 3.34 Moorhead 85 51 63 65 -2 1.34 +0.03 3 4.12 Rolling Fork 82 45 61 64 -3 1.66 +0.38 3 4.15 Yazoo City 5NNE 89 49 65 65 0 2.77 +1.41 2 5.01 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 89 44 63 65 -2 1.94 +0.63 3 4.16 5. Central Canton 85 47 64 65 -1 2.52 +1.19 3 5.91 Forest 3S 87 44 66 64 +2 1.25 -0.10 2 1.99 Kosciusko 79 43 60 63 -3 3.76 +2.43 2 4.79 Winona 5E 82 40 61 59 +2 2.91 +1.65 3 3.67 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 87 40 63 63 0 2.61 +1.28 3 4.09 6. East-Central Aberdeen 83 41 62 62 0 2.17 +0.98 3 3.04 Columbus 79 48 63 64 -1 3.00 +1.71 2 4.11 Macon 2E 85 43 62 62 0 0.94 -0.37 2 1.78 State University 85 45 64 63 +1 3.48 +2.19 2 4.37 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 85 41 63 63 0 2.40 +1.10 2 3.33 7. Southwest Brookhaven City 83 47 65 64 +1 3.27 +1.80 2 6.62 Crystal Springs 84 44 64 65 -1 2.77 +1.38 2 5.94 Oakley Exp 86 44 63 64 -1 1.57 +0.20 3 4.06 Natchez MM MM MM 66 0.28 -1.12 2 3.25 Vicksburg 85 46 64 3.23 4 6.54 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 44 64 65 -1 2.22 +0.83 3 6.24 8. South-Central Collins 86 42 64 65 -1 1.60 +0.34 2 3.70 Columbia 86 48 67 66 +1 1.41 +0.05 2 4.09 Monticello 82 44 64 65 -1 1.78 +0.38 2 4.66 Raleigh 84 44 65 0.82 2 3.20 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 86 42 65 65 0 1.40 +0.07 2 3.91 9. Southeast Hattiesburg 84 50 67 66 +1 1.51 +0.25 2 3.07 Waynesboro 2W 86 45 67 64 +3 1.56 +0.52 2 2.63 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Extreme/Average 86 45 67 65 +2 1.54 +0.34 2 2.85 State Averages 89 36 63 64 -1 1.99 +0.70 3 3.92 DFN = Departure from Normal.