sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending May 15, 2005 Issue SC-CW1411 Agricultural Summary Temperatures finally cracked 90 degrees in some parts of the state last week. These warmer temperatures were welcomed and helped bring crop progress to near normal averages. Producers had ample time for field work last week as there were 5.9 days suitable. Scattered hail storms crossed the state Tuesday and Sunday of last week causing some truck crops in Barnwell county to need replanting. Georgetown county producers planted their first ever peanut crop. Average statewide rainfall for last week was just over half an inch and additional rainfall would be welcomed. Soil moisture was 1 % very short, 23 % short, 74 % adequate and 2 % surplus. Field Crops Report Twenty-one percent of the State's SOYBEANS had been planted by the end of the week. CORN condition remained mostly good as producers jump started the crop with nitrogen applications. Fifty-six percent of the COTTON crop and 60 percent of the SORGHUM crop were reported planted by week's end. PEANUT planting was 57 percent complete. TOBACCO transplanting was 100 percent complete, on par with the 5 year average. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report CANTALOUPE planting was 90 percent complete and WATERMELON planting was 95 percent complete at the end of the week with both crops remaining in mostly fair condition. CUCUMBER planting was 99 percent complete and SNAP BEAN planting was 95 percent complete with both crops in mostly good condition. Ninety-nine percent of the TOMATO crop was planted and should wrap up next week. PEACHES and APPLES were in mostly good to excellent condition. Pest control applications continued in the orchards. Small Grains, Pastures and Livestock Report LIVESTOCK and PASTURES remained in fair to mostly good condition. WINTER WHEAT heads started to fill out nicely with 99 percent headed and over half turned color. Wheat in Georgetown county had high amounts of Italian rye that could potentially impact yields and prices received at the elevator. CROP PROGRESS TABLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg :Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Barley Headed 95 94 96 :Rye Turned Color 55 64 63 Barley Turned Color 49 57 54 :Rye Ripe 1 3 19 Barley Ripe 1 1 20 :Snap Beans Planted 95 97 97 Cantaloups Planted 90 92 92 :Sorghum Planted 60 64 58 Corn Planted 99 99 98 :Soybeans Planted 21 27 22 Corn Emerged 96 98 95 :Soybeans Emerged 6 0 5 Cotton Planted 56 60 53 :Sweetpotato Planted 35 33 38 Cucumbers Planted 99 100 100 :Tobacco Planted 100 99 100 Grain Hay Harvested 65 62 69 :Tomatoes Planted 99 99 99 Oats Headed 97 98 98 :Watermelons Planted 95 95 96 Oats Turned Color 54 61 62 :Winter Wht. Headed 99 98 99 Oats Ripe 1 2 25 :Winter Wht. Turned Color 55 63 64 Peanuts Planted 57 59 57 :Winter Wht. Ripe 1 3 15 Rye Headed 98 96 97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CROP CONDITION TABLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 6 54 40 Barley 0 0 28 61 11 :Peanuts 0 0 40 60 0 Cantaloups 0 0 89 11 0 :Rye 0 0 15 78 7 Corn 1 6 29 60 4 :Snap Beans 0 0 15 65 20 Cotton 0 6 20 72 2 :Sorghum 0 0 0 100 0 Cucumbers 0 0 40 60 0 :Sweetpotato 0 0 100 0 0 Grain Hay 0 2 36 60 2 :Tobacco 0 3 29 65 3 Livestock 0 1 20 74 5 :Tomatoes 0 0 30 58 12 Oats 0 1 23 64 12 :Watermelons 0 5 62 33 0 Pastures 0 1 28 59 12 :Winter Wheat 0 1 22 68 9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending May 15, 2005 On Monday, 90 degree temperatures were reported for the first time this season. Strong storms were observed Tuesday evening over central and western South Carolina with large hail and flash flooding from intense rains. Hail, two and one half inches deep, covered the ground in York. Sunny and warm weather continued into Friday before a southward moving cold front brought clouds and thunderstorms. Additional storms developed Sunday ahead of a frontal boundary moving west to east. Orangeburg and Fairfield counties both reported high winds and damaging hail. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 92 degrees at Johnston on May 12. The lowest offi- cial temperature reported was 50 degrees at Table Rock and Caesars Head on the morning of May 11. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.25 inches at Springfield ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 11. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.6 inches. SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 70 degrees. Precipitation Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Total Total From Avg Greer 1.74 15.7 -3.9 Columbia 0.41 13.5 -3.9 Orangeburg 1.14 14.2 -3.4 Charlotte, NC 1.45 14.7 -1.9 Augusta, GA 0.55 17.0 -0.5 Florence 0.49 11.6 -3.7 Myrtle Beach 0.06 11.2 -3.2 Charleston 0.71 12.7 -2.7 Savannah, GA 0.02 14.7 -0.7 Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday. Contact Information Robert A. Graham, Director Jim Johnson, Agricultural Statistician Phone: 803-765-5333 E-mail: nass-sc@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/