sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending April 24, 2005 Issue SC-CW1408 Agricultural Summary Rain and unseasonably cool temperatures slowed some farm activities across the State this past weekend. Drier weather at the beginning of last week, however, allowed many growers to get their crops into the ground. Vegetable planting picked up considerably during the period. Early varieties of peaches had golf ball sized fruit already, and growers were thinning them heavily. Soil moisture was 8% short, 83% adequate and 9% surplus. There were 5.6 days suitable for field work. Field Crops Report Seven percent of the State's SOYBEANS had been planted by the end of the week. CORN was in fair to mostly good condition with planting at 88 percent with 68 percent of the crop emerged. Five percent of the COTTON crop and 24 percent of the SORGHUM crop were reported planted by week's end. PEANUT planting was 7 percent complete. TOBACCO transplanting was 65 percent complete at the end of last week, and the crop was reported in good condition. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report CANTALOUPE planting was 70 percent complete and WATERMELON planting was 78 percent complete at the end of the week with both crops in fair condition. CUCUMBER planting was 89 percent complete and SNAP BEAN planting was 75 percent complete with both crops in good condition. Ninety-three percent of the TOMATO crop was planted and was in fair to good shape with 12 percent in excellent condition. PEACHES were in mostly good to excellent condition. Small Grains, Pastures and Livestock Report LIVESTOCK remained in fair to mostly good condition as did PASTURES. All SMALL GRAINS were in mostly good condition except BARLEY which was in fair to excellent shape. Sixty-six percent of WINTER WHEAT, 48 percent of BARLEY, 80 percent of RYE, and 69 percent of OATS had headed by week's end, with 5 percent, 7 percent, 9 percent and 9 percent turning color respectively. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg :Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Barley Headed 48 53 52 :Rye Headed 80 83 80 Barley Turned Color 7 10 9 :Rye Turned Color 9 7 10 Cantaloups Planted 70 81 76 :Snap Beans Planted 75 78 72 Corn Planted 88 94 88 :Sorghum Planted 24 31 29 Corn Emerged 68 73 67 :Soybeans Planted 7 7 6 Cotton Planted 5 6 8 :Tobacco Planted 65 74 68 Cucumbers Planted 89 86 88 :Tomatoes Planted 93 95 91 Grain Hay Harvested 22 24 26 :Watermelons Planted 78 82 85 Oats Headed 69 74 76 :Winter Wht. Headed 66 79 75 Oats Turned Color 9 6 11 :Winter Wht. Turned Color 5 6 7 Peanuts Planted 7 9 12 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Condition Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel- Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 0 25 25 50 :Peaches 0 0 4 73 23 Barley 0 0 28 46 26 :Rye 0 0 17 79 4 Cantaloups 0 0 85 12 3 :Snap Beans 0 0 15 80 5 Corn 0 2 21 72 5 :Tobacco 0 1 23 73 3 Cucumbers 0 0 25 66 9 :Tomatoes 0 0 40 48 12 Livestock 0 0 23 65 12 :Watermelons 0 2 75 22 1 Oats 0 2 24 63 11 :Winter Wheat 0 1 23 66 10 Pastures 0 1 27 58 14 : ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Information Robert A. Graham, Director Jean Besco, Computer Specialist Phone: 803-765-5333 E-mail: nass-sc@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/