sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: April 4, 2011 Week Ending Date: April 3, 2011 Issue: SC-CW001311 GENERAL Much of South Carolina observed persistent rainfall and below average temperatures for the week ending April 3, 2011. Growers of small grains welcomed the needed rain. However, the continual precipitation delayed field preparations and the planting of spring crops for many farmers. Several northern counties experienced a frost this week, but only minor damages to crops were reported. Soil moisture levels were reported at 3% short, 72% adequate, and 25% surplus. With steady rainfall, there was a statewide average of 3.1 days that were suitable for fieldwork. FIELD CROPS Forty-two percent of CORN had been planted with 18% of the crop emerged, ending at the five year average by week's end. TOBACCO transplanting had fallen slightly behind schedule with 6% of the crop transplanted. The rain encouraged improvements in small grains due to the moisture activating recent fertilizer applications. WINTER WHEAT had just begun to head with 6% headed. Conditions were 16% fair, 78% good, and 6% excellent. Eight percent of OATS had headed and conditions were reported as 2% poor, 21% fair, 73% good, and 4% excellent. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST LIVESTOCK conditions were 19% fair, 78% good, and 3% excellent. PASTURES were 1% poor, 43% fair, 54% good, and 2% excellent. Both SNAPBEANS and TOMATOES had fallen behind the five-year average with 20% and 32% planted, respectively. Sixteen percent of CUCUMBERS had been planted. Both CANTALOUP and WATERMELON plantings were behind the five-year average with 20% and 24% planted, respectively. PEACH conditions were 11% fair, 88% good, and 1% excellent. Crop Progress for Week Ending April 3, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Planted : 20 18 22 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Planted : 20 17 26 Corn, Planted : 42 37 40 :: Tobacco, Transplanted : 6 7 7 Corn, Emerged : 18 11 18 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Planted : 32 41 37 Cucumbers, Fresh, Planted : 16 13 15 :: Watermelons, Planted : 24 27 33 Oats, Headed : 8 0 11 :: Winter Wheat, Headed : 6 0 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending April 3, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Livestock : 0 0 19 78 3 :: Peaches : 0 0 11 88 1 Oats : 0 2 21 73 4 :: Winter Wheat : 0 0 16 78 6 Pasture : 0 1 43 54 2 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending April 3, 2011 The week started with a cold and wet day for much of the State. At 1:00 p.m., Shaw AFB in Sumter reported drizzle, 41 degrees and northeast winds of 17 mph. Sandy Run's high temperature only made it to 44 degrees. During the 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning, Barnwell measured 0.76 inches of rain. Chester and Rock Hill recorded a Tuesday morning freeze of 31 degrees. Another round of localized heavy rain affected the Upstate and by Wednesday morning Jocassee Dam had measured 0.89 inches in their gauge. Stormy weather spread east during the daylight hours on Wednesday with occasional lightning for the Midlands and across the Lowcountry. Edisto Beach received 1.20 inches in passing thunderstorms. Unsettled weather continued into Thursday evening. Florence and Sandy Run recorded a 24-hour rainfall amount of 0.82 inches. At the end of March, Jocassee had received 16.68 inches of rain while Jamestown only 3.46 inches. Colder temperatures and dry air moved into the mountains Friday morning and slowly spread southeast. Surface winds gusted to 39 mph at the Columbia AP on Saturday during the frontal pass. The Charleston AP and Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station both managed to warm up to 74 degrees Saturday afternoon, ahead of the boundary. On Sunday morning, the Marlboro County Jetport reported 32 degrees for a minimum temperature. Diminishing winds and bright sunshine allowed for a fast return to milder conditions on Sunday afternoon. Aiken and Clemson AP warmed to 79 degrees. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees below normal. The highest official temperature reported was 80 degrees at Columbia Metro AP and Walhalla on April 3. The lowest official temperature reported was 29 degrees at Chesterfield and Pelion on March 29. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.50 inches at Summerville ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 29. The State average rainfall for the period was 1.6 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 61 degrees, Charleston 62 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 59 degrees. Precipitation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Total : Total : Deviation : for Week : for 2011 : from Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer : 1.14 13.48 -0.9 Anderson : 1.12 11.67 -2.4 Columbia : 1.66 9.91 -3.6 Orangeburg : 1.76 10.19 -3.3 Charlotte, NC : 1.29 9.32 -3.0 Augusta, GA : 1.81 11.87 -1.7 Florence : 2.39 8.87 -2.6 N Myrtle Beach : 1.61 9.31 -2.0 Charleston : 1.33 7.78 -3.7 Savannah, GA : 2.05 10.18 -0.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.