sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: August 1, 2011 Week Ending Date: July 31, 2011 Issue: SC-CW003011 GENERAL Scattered showers brought some relief to moisture-starved crops in the period ending July 31st, 2011. Many areas of the State that badly needed rainfall received beneficial thunderstorms towards the beginning of the week as well as on Saturday and Sunday. These storms were scattered with some areas receiving intense periods of rainfall while other nearby areas received little to no rainfall. For example, Greer recorded 2.20 inches of rainfall on average for the week while nearby Anderson County recorded no measurable rainfall. The intense heat continued as well with many days registering above 100 degrees and temperatures seldom dipping below 80 degrees. While the areas that received rainfall did help topsoil conditions, overall soil moisture conditions were still deficient with reports of 27% very short, 50% short and 23% adequate. The State average temperature for the period was four degrees above normal. The State average rainfall for the period was 1.5 inches and there was an average of 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork. FIELD CROPS Ninety-eight percent of CORN had doughed while 53% of the crop had completed maturation. Corn maturation levels were 21 points ahead of the 5 year average. Even with the rainfall in the past week, many farmers were reporting the crop beyond repair and seeing very poor yields. Conditions were 46% very poor, 32% poor, 16% fair and 6% good. Ninety-one percent of the COTTON crop had squared and 59% had set bolls by the end of the week, ahead of schedule based on historical figures. Conditions improved slightly to 6% very poor, 16% poor, 44% fair, 33% good and 1% excellent. Eighty-eight percent of PEANUTS had pegged, 7 points behind last year's pace. Conditions improved to 4% very poor, 11% poor, 43% fair, 40% good and 2% excellent. Sixty percent of SOYBEANS had bloomed with 11% of the crop setting pods by the end of the week. Conditions were 12% very poor, 29% poor, 41% fair, 18% good and 0% excellent. TOBACCO harvest continued with 50% of the crop harvested by week's end, on pace with last year's harvest. Conditions deteriorated to 12% very poor, 18% poor, 32% fair, 37% good and 1% excellent as the crop continued to wilt as extreme temperatures lingered. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Ninety-nine percent of SNAPBEANS and TOMATOES had been harvested, on pace with historical figures. Ninety-three percent of CANTALOUPES and 95% of WATERMELONS had been harvested. LIVESTOCK conditions improved slightly to 2% very poor, 11% poor, 45% fair, 41% good and 1% excellent. PASTURES improved slightly to 19% very poor, 37% poor, 32% fair and 12% good. However, many producers were continuing to feed hay as the pastures were drying out and providing little feed value. Crop Progress for Week Ending July 31, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Harvested : 93 92 93 :: Peanuts, Pegged : 88 95 92 Corn, Doughed : 98 93 89 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Harvested : 99 99 100 Corn, Matured : 53 41 32 :: Soybeans, Bloomed : 60 58 52 Cotton, Squared : 91 95 93 :: Soybeans, Pods Set : 11 23 20 Cotton, Bolls Set : 59 49 48 :: Tobacco, Harvested : 50 50 42 Hay, Other Hay, Harvested : 92 93 86 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Harvested : 99 99 99 Peaches, Harvested : 82 73 69 :: Watermelons, Harvested : 95 95 91 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending July 31, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Corn : 46 32 16 6 0 :: Peanuts : 4 11 43 40 2 Cotton : 6 16 44 33 1 :: Soybeans : 12 29 41 18 0 Livestock : 2 11 45 41 1 :: Tobacco : 12 18 32 37 1 Pasture : 19 37 32 12 0 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending July 31, 2011 Bamberg and Allendale reported a Monday high temperature of 101 degrees at the same time heavy rains were developing along an area of convergence at the beaches. In the darkness of Tuesday morning, rainfall rates at the E Cooper Regional AP were recorded at 2.63 inches in 20 minutes and part of 5.20 inches in only one hour. N Inlet, near Winyah Bay Georgetown, measured 4.57 inches. Orangeburg's 1:00 p.m. Monday temperature of 96 degrees fell to a cloudy 81-degree temperature at the same hour on Tuesday. The Tuesday maximum temperatures at Florence (87) and at Charleston (84) were their "lowest" high temperatures since May 27. A Charleston National Weather Service Spotter measured a rainfall event total of 7.75 inches at Kiawah Island from nearly stationary convection on Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, Edisto Beach had received a multi-day total of 6.25 inches. Hot, humid weather was observed through the weekend. Chester and Sandy Springs recorded Friday high temperatures of 101 degrees. Pinopolis reached 102 degrees on Saturday. A frontal boundary moved southeast into the State Sunday afternoon and up against the tropical character of late July's weather. Clusters of lightning-filled storms brought localized heavy rain to parts of the north Midlands and Pee Dee. July 2011 rainfall totals ranged from 0.82 inches at Chesnee to 11.67 inches at Edisto Beach. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was four degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 103 degrees at Cades on July 30. The lowest official temperature reported was 59 degrees at Jocassee on July 29. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 6.63 inches at the E Cooper Regional AP at Mount Pleasant on July 26. The State average rainfall for the period was 1.5 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 85 degrees, Charleston 88 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 : 2.20 27.77 -2.9 Anderson : 0.00 20.18 -7.8 Columbia : 2.20 24.45 -5.3 Orangeburg : 3.77 23.18 -6.6 Charlotte, NC : 1.66 24.00 -1.8 Augusta, GA : 0.89 22.33 -5.2 Florence : 1.34 18.77 -8.0 N Myrtle Beach : 1.90 19.10 -5.8 Charleston : 2.11 21.50 -8.2 Savannah, GA : 2.32 23.39 -5.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.