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: May 21, 2012 Week Ending Date: May 20, 2012 Issue CW2112 According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Mississippi, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, May 20, 2012. Scattered showers continue to keep some northeast Mississippi areas too wet while other areas are short on moisture. Crop conditions are mostly good to excellent. There have been reports of moderate to heavy insect pressure in some areas. Now that winter wheat harvest has started, double crop soybeans are being planted. Soil moisture was rated 3 percent very short 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Crop progress for week ending May 20, 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year : average --------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn, emerged : 100 100 99 99 Corn, silked : 11 3 0 1 Cotton, planted : 93 90 73 70 Cotton, emerged : 80 68 35 47 Hay-Cool Season, harvested : 80 67 69 71 Peanuts, planted : 85 60 77 58 Rice, planted : 100 100 91 91 Rice, emerged : 98 96 82 82 Sorghum, planted : 95 90 66 75 Sorghum, emerged : 87 75 53 62 Soybeans, planted : 92 90 75 82 Soybeans, emerged : 83 80 57 71 Sweet Potatoes, planted : 25 5 1 1 Watermelons, planted : 98 94 91 97 Winter Wheat, mature : 84 68 44 33 Winter Wheat, harvested : 20 3 12 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending May 20, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Item : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Blueberries : 0 1 6 28 65 Corn : 0 3 9 53 35 Cotton : 0 3 24 54 19 Hay : 0 13 26 44 17 Livestock : 0 3 28 48 21 Pasture : 0 2 24 54 20 Rice : 0 2 23 54 21 Sorghum : 0 5 30 51 14 Soybeans : 0 2 23 57 18 Watermelons : 0 1 4 34 61 Winter Wheat : 0 8 20 58 14 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments "Wheat harvest is in full swing. Soybeans are the only crop still being planted. Crops are off to a good start. Insect pressure has been moderate to heavy in some areas. We are in need of a good general rain." --Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie "The crops are looking good right now. Almost all are planted. We've got some sweet potatoes still to plant and the ground is in good shape for it right now. If the weather will hold for another week we will have everything in." --Brent Gray, Yalobusha "Pop up showers continue to keep some northeast Mississippi areas too wet for field work. Other areas are actually short on moisture. Pastures are doing well where some form of fertilization has been applied; other non fertilized pastures are growing slow. Fertilizer cost is the primary concern for cattlemen at this time. Producers are waiting for the calf markets to rebound from the April slump." --Mike Howell, Lee "Overall, the crops are looking excellent and ahead of average growth for this time of the year. Also, dry weather is arriving ahead of normal. Wheat harvest is under way." --Jerry Singleton, Leflore "The 10-day forecast does not look promising. Corn is up, watermelons are setting fruit, fertilizer is on fields for second hay cutting, and we are running out of moisture. Not much insect pressure to note, but weeds are hot topic in pastures. Overall, we're a little ahead of schedule but behind on rain." --Charlie Bush, Simpson "Farmers are busy harvesting wheat and irrigating crops. We are in need of a rain." --Laura Giaccaglia, Bolivar "Showers were hit and miss. Most cotton is being sprayed for thrips. Wheat harvest has started and yields and quality appear to be good." --Don Respess, Quitman "Things are looking good. We could use a shower to get herbicides activated." --Stephen Winters, Grenada "The county had scattered showers which will help crops and conditions." --Lemon Phelps, Marshall "Pop up thunderstorms have some producers wet while leaving others bone dry. Wheat harvest is in full swing. Double crop soybeans are being planted." --Strider McCrory, Sunflower "Wheat harvest is fast coming to an end in the county. A good many yields have been in the 50-60 bushel range. Corn is tasseling rapidly. Soybeans and cotton are mostly planted and there is some spraying for thrips in the cotton." --Lester Stephens, Washington "Most of our crops are progressing well, with one of the earliest starts in several years." --Ernest Flint, Attala "Dry and hot conditions this past week allowed many forage producers to put up some ryegrass hay without rain on it. Some 1st cuttings of summer perennial grasses have also benefited from the dry conditions. Livestock are looking better than they were with the grazing forages growing faster and some of those winter hair coats shedding." --Houston Therrell, Rankin "All Row crops are looking good after the rain we received last week and wheat harvest has begun in the last several days." --Reid Nevins, Lowndes "There have been several afternoon thunder showers and fronts that have come through the area. However, certain portions of the county have received only a small amount of rain or none." --Ann H. Davis, Wilkinson "We really need a rain. Most of the rye grass hay has been harvested. Corn and horticultural crops are doing well but need a good soaking rain. Gardens need rain and weeds are starting to be a problem in pastures and field crops." --Lee Taylor, Lamar "We really could use a good county wide soaking rain. Corn is tassling and needs rain to fill out the ear. Rye grass hay harvest is finishing up. Corn is being irrigated. Cattleman are enjoying high prices but are wondering when the bottom will fall out." --Lee Taylor, Forrest "Need rain. Pastures are getting short." --Tommy Bishop, Jasper Mississippi Weather Summary for Week Ending May 20, 2012. X X X X X X X X X Air Precipitation Temperature Weekly Rn Four Max Min Ave Nrm DFN Total DFN Ds Weeks ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Upper Delta Clarksdale 90 58 73 72 +1 0.00 -1.15 0 1.08 Cleveland 92 58 74 73 +1 0.01 -1.25 1 0.27 Lambert 5E 93 55 72 0.00 -1.33 0 1.14 Tunica 2 90 60 74 71 +3 0.00 -1.30 0 1.78 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 93 55 73 72 +1 0.00 -1.25 0 1.07 2. North-Central Batesville 2SW 90 56 72 70 +2 0.00 -1.26 0 1.22 Hickory Flat 88 53 69 68 +1 0.02 -1.24 1 1.91 Holly Springs 4 88 51 68 67 +1 1.21 -0.05 1 3.16 Independence 1W 88 54 70 69 +1 0.04 -1.22 2 0.92 University 90 55 71 69 +2 0.12 -1.20 1 1.86 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 90 51 70 69 +1 0.28 -0.98 1 1.81 3. Northeast Booneville 85 55 68 69 -1 0.01 -1.46 1 1.88 Corinth City 88 57 70 71 -1 0.14 -1.19 2 1.63 Fulton 3W 86 55 69 71 -2 0.67 -0.80 1 2.44 Tupelo 2 86 58 71 0.00 0 2.10 Verona Exp 90 58 71 70 +1 0.78 -0.27 1 3.85 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 90 55 70 69 +1 0.32 -1.01 1 2.45 4. Lower Delta Belzoni 87 58 72 72 0 0.00 -1.44 0 1.48 Moorhead 90 58 74 73 +1 0.01 -1.18 1 1.26 Rolling Fork 92 59 75 72 +3 0.00 -1.19 0 1.66 Yazoo City 5NNE 92 59 75 73 +2 0.00 -1.27 0 1.39 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 92 58 74 73 +1 0.00 -1.26 0 1.44 5. Central Canton 89 56 71 72 -1 0.05 -1.26 1 3.68 Forest 3S 86 54 71 71 0 0.01 -1.06 1 2.75 Kosciusko 87 59 72 71 +1 0.00 -1.23 0 1.91 Winona 5E 87 55 69 67 +2 0.02 -1.11 1 4.17 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 89 54 71 71 0 0.02 -1.16 1 3.13 6. East-Central Aberdeen 87 43 67 70 -3 0.00 -1.25 0 2.04 Columbus 91 56 73 71 +2 0.00 -0.91 0 1.15 Louisville MM MM MM 69 0.02 -1.15 1 3.53 Macon 2E 86 57 71 71 0 0.18 -0.80 1 2.51 State University 88 60 73 71 +2 0.32 -0.78 2 3.37 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 91 43 71 71 0 0.10 -1.06 1 2.27 7. Southwest Brookhaven City 88 56 71 72 -1 0.03 -1.20 1 1.95 Crystal Springs 87 58 71 73 -2 0.00 -1.05 0 2.28 Natchez 88 55 70 73 -3 0.00 -1.24 0 2.28 Vicksburg 88 58 72 0.00 0 2.69 Woodville 4ESE 88 58 72 73 -1 0.00 -1.33 0 1.93 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 88 55 71 73 -2 0.01 -1.21 0 2.23 8. South-Central Collins 89 58 72 71 +1 0.00 -1.33 0 0.40 Columbia 91 60 74 73 +1 0.00 -1.26 0 1.38 Monticello 93 57 74 72 +2 0.05 -1.33 1 0.22 Raleigh 87 54 70 0.00 0 3.44 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 93 54 72 73 -1 0.01 -1.25 0 1.36 9. Southeast Hattiesburg 88 60 73 73 0 0.00 -1.19 0 2.61 Newton Exp 90 58 72 71 +1 0.00 -0.91 0 5.56 Waynesboro 2W 91 59 74 71 +3 0.00 -1.18 0 2.99 ---------------------------------------------------------- Extreme/Average 91 58 73 72 +1 0.00 -1.12 0 3.72 State Averages 93 43 72 71 +1 0.07 -1.14 0 2.30