sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: June 13, 2011 Week Ending Date: June 12, 2011 Issue: SC-CW002311 GENERAL Crop conditions deteriorated quickly over the week ending June 12th, 2011. Hot, dry weather contributed to many farm operators expecting significant yield reductions for major crops, including corn, tobacco and soybeans. Pasture conditions continued to decline under the high temperatures, putting stress on livestock and creating concerns for enough feed in later months. The only noteworthy rainfall came from isolated thunderstorms in the Upstate region, where hail and heavy rains were reported on Thursday and Friday. Rain was needed to mitigate considerable losses for many of the major crops in the State. Soil moisture conditions were listed as 38% very short, 48% short and 14% adequate. The State average temperature for the period was six degrees above normal, with Barnwell reaching 100 degrees on Sunday. The State average rainfall for the week was 0.2 inches. There was an average of 6.6 days suitable for field work. FIELD CROPS Fifty percent of the CORN had silked with 5% of the crop starting to dough, on pace with last year's mark. Conditions declined to 18% very poor, 36% poor, 27% fair, 18% good, and 1% excellent. Many corn growers reported their corn crop started turning brown, causing early concerns over yield potential for the crop. COTTON planting was 96% complete, remaining two points behind the five year average and three points behind last year. PEANUT planting was 97% complete, almost catching up to last year's pace and meeting the five year average. SOYBEAN planting slowed with 78% planted, still ahead of the five year average, but remained in limbo due to dry soil conditions. Sixty six percent of the crop had emerged, 11 points ahead of the five year average. WINTER WHEAT finished maturing to 100% ripe and harvest was 55% complete. Conditions were 2% poor, 15% fair, 66% good, and 17% excellent. OATS progressed to 100% ripe, and harvest continued with 70% of the harvest completed. Conditions were 1% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair, 72% good, and 6% excellent. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST LIVESTOCK conditions dropped to 1% very poor, 12% poor, 35% fair, 50% good, and 2% excellent. PASTURES were 20% very poor, 28% poor, 40% fair, and 12% good, causing stress among many livestock owners. PEACH conditions were 20% fair, 74% good, and 6% excellent. CANTALOUP conditions were 7% poor, 43% fair, 49% good, and 1% excellent. TOMATO harvest was 20% underway, with conditions at 2% poor, 44% fair, 48% good, and 6% excellent. Forty eight percent of CUCUMBERS had been harvested, 4 points behind last year. Conditions were 8% very poor, 15% poor, 40% fair, and 37% good. SNAPBEAN harvest remained at 30%, with conditions dropping to 25% poor, 49% fair, 25% good, and 1% excellent. TOBACCO conditions also fell to 1% very poor, 12% poor, 54% fair, and 33% good. WATERMELON harvest began and was 15% completed by the end of the week. Conditions were 6% poor, 41% fair, and 53% good. Crop Progress for Week Ending June 12, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Harvested : 15 4 5 :: Peanuts, Planted : 97 98 97 Corn, Silked : 50 50 37 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Harvested : 30 30 32 Corn, Doughed : 5 5 3 :: Soybeans, Planted : 78 74 71 Cotton, Planted : 96 99 98 :: Soybeans, Emerged : 66 57 55 Cotton, Squared : 3 4 7 :: Tobacco, Topped : 10 17 8 Cucumbers, Fresh, Harvested : 48 52 48 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Harvested : 20 14 13 Hay, Grain Hay, Harvested : 98 98 97 :: Watermelons, Harvested : 15 7 3 Oats, Ripe : 100 95 93 :: Winter Wheat, Ripe : 100 95 93 Oats, Harvested : 70 61 58 :: Winter Wheat, Harvested : 55 50 46 Peaches, Harvested : 32 16 15 :: : ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending June 12, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup : 0 7 43 49 1 :: Peanuts : 1 13 43 41 2 Corn : 18 36 27 18 1 :: Snapbeans : 0 25 49 25 1 Cotton : 4 22 47 27 0 :: Soybeans : 8 30 44 18 0 Cucumbers : 8 15 40 37 0 :: Tobacco : 1 12 54 33 0 Livestock : 1 12 35 50 2 :: Tomatoes : 0 2 44 48 6 Oats : 1 3 18 72 6 :: Watermelons : 0 6 41 53 0 Pasture : 20 28 40 12 0 :: Winter Wheat : 0 2 15 66 17 Peaches : 0 0 20 74 6 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending June 12, 2011 Monday's temporary shift in direction for surface winds lowered inland maximum temperatures by a noticeable five to eight degrees. On Tuesday morning, Ridgeville, Allendale and the Conway AP all cooled to 64 degrees. The dry character of the stable airmass was reflected in a Wednesday, 3:00 p.m., Columbia Metro Airport observation of 96 degrees with just 31 percent relative humidity. The Sandhill Experiment Station reported another 24-hour open pan evaporation water loss of 0.44 inches. Seabreeze conditions kept the afternoon high temperature at Ft. Johnson, located on the Charleston Harbor, at 82 degrees. Areas of convective rain developed on Thursday but were mostly centered across the Upstate. Jocassee Dam received 1.09 inches of rain. More intense storms formed late Friday afternoon across the same area. Large hail fell over parts of Anderson County and Walhalla received 1.40 inches of rain. Saturday's weather included more heat and increased coverage in late afternoon storms for portions of central South Carolina. Clarks Hill topped the Saturday high temperature readings with 98 degrees. Catawba measured 1.75 inches of rain during a downpour. Walterboro and Saluda reported Sunday high temperatures of 96 degrees. Thunderstorms over Lake Keowee produced 1.75-inch diameter hail. Southward-moving storms on Sunday evening brought rainfall amounts of 0.83 inches to Mullins and 0.70 inches at Dillon. The Charleston AP has yet to record any measurable rain for June and only 0.01 inches since May 11. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 100 degrees at Givhans and Barnwell on June 12. The lowest official temperature reported was 59 degrees at Winnsboro on June 8. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.12 inches at Liberty ending at 7:00 a.m. on June 11. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.2 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 83 degrees, Charleston 86 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 82 degrees. Precipitation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Total : Total : Deviation : for Week : for 2011 : from Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer : 0.61 21.15 -2.5 Anderson : 0.51 15.76 -6.3 Columbia : 0.08 16.48 -4.6 Orangeburg : 0.00 15.68 -5.4 Charlotte, NC : 0.15 17.69 -2.3 Augusta, GA : 0.04 16.34 -4.5 Florence : 0.00 13.86 -4.9 N Myrtle Beach : 0.00 15.28 -2.1 Charleston : 0.00 10.19 -9.6 Savannah, GA : 0.10 12.40 -7.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.