sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending July 31, 2005 Issue SC-CW1423 Agricultural Summary State high temperatures last week topped the 100-degree mark for the first time since 2002. Sweltering temperatures across the area caused much loss of soil moisture and a slight decline in the condition of some crops. Thursday a cold front made its way across the State dropping copious amounts of rain across many areas and causing some flash flooding in the Midlands. Damage from several days of heavy thundershowers, penny-sized hail, and high winds had not been assessed at week's end. Soil moisture was 4% very short, 21% short, 66% adequate and 9% surplus. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Field Crops Report CORN remained in good condition, however, smut disease on corn ears was reported in some counties. The crop was also not maturing at the normal rate due to the searing temperatures, but harvesting had begun at week's end. Slightly more than half the SOYBEAN crop had bloomed and remained in mostly good shape. COTTON also remained in good condition, although development of the crop continued behind normal. SORGHUM crop progress continued near normal with the crop in good condition. PEANUT pegging made rapid progress last week, and that crop also continued in good condition. Growers were also finishing weed control spray applications, but no significant disease or insect damage was reported. TOBACCO topping was completed last week. The crop remained in fair to mostly good condition. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report WATERMELON and CANTALOUPE harvesting continued behind normal for the season. Summer vegetable harvesting was winding down with SNAP BEAN and TOMATO harvesting almost completed. PEACHES were 64 percent harvested by week's end and the crop was good shape despite the higher than normal temperatures. APPLE condition remained fair to mostly good. Small Grains, Pastures and Livestock Report LIVESTOCK remained in good condition last week, and PASTURES remained in fair to mostly good condition. Summer HAY harvesting was slightly ahead of normal, but on par with the previous year, and the crop condition remained fair to mostly good. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg :Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Cantaloups Harvested 89 98 97 :Snap Beans Harvested 99 100 99 Corn Dough Stage 93 94 91 :Sorghum Headed 84 97 80 Corn Matured 34 42 44 :Sorghum Turned Color 49 56 49 Corn Harvested 1 3 6 :Sorghum Matured 10 26 10 Cotton Squared 90 97 95 :Soybeans Bloomed 55 62 49 Cotton Bolls Set 47 63 55 :Soybeans Pods Set 17 33 26 Other Hay Harvested 82 85 78 :Tobacco Harvested 40 44 38 Peaches Harvested 64 64 68 :Tomatoes Harvested 99 99 99 Peanuts Pegged 88 90 92 :Watermelons Harvested 83 95 96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONDITION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel- Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 0 33 67 0 :Peaches 0 0 4 92 4 Cantaloups 0 6 54 40 0 :Peanuts 0 1 17 75 7 Corn 0 1 13 74 12 :Sorghum 0 1 13 82 4 Cotton 0 4 26 64 6 :Soybeans 0 4 24 62 10 Hay 2 3 34 56 5 :Sweetpotato 0 0 90 10 0 Livestock 0 0 15 81 4 :Tobacco 0 2 36 56 6 Pastures 0 1 26 66 7 :Watermelons 0 4 61 35 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending July 31, 2005 High pressure, anchored over the Southeast, brought South Carolina its hottest summer weather since 2002. Light winds, coupled with nearly cloud free, 14-hour sunshine, combined to send afternoon high temperatures to 100 degrees or higher. On Tuesday, McEntire AP reported a heat index value of 121 degrees. Darlington reported 121 degrees on Wednesday and Myrtle Beach observed 123 degrees on Thursday. An approaching boundary of cooler air forced storms to develop Thursday afternoon and evening. At least 15 counties reported damaging high winds. Increased cloud cover and frequent thundershowers over the weekend helped reduce high temperatures by ten degrees or more. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 105 degrees at Cheraw on July 27. The lowest official temperature reported was 61 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of July 30. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.83 inches at the University of South Carolina in Columbia between 5:00 PM July 30 and 5:00 PM July 31. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.8 inches. SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 84 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 83 degrees. Precipitation Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Total Total From Avg Greer 2.19 36.6 5.9 Columbia 3.61 33.2 3.4 Orangeburg 1.93 26.3 -2.9 Charlotte, NC 2.30 26.6 0.8 Augusta, GA 0.41 33.2 5.7 Florence 3.33 27.4 0.7 Myrtle Beach 0.42 16.7 -8.2 Charleston 0.78 23.9 -5.8 Savannah, GA 0.97 27.8 -1.2 Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday. Contact Information Robert A. Graham, Director Jean Besco, IT Specialist Phone: 803-765-5333 E-mail: nass-sc@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/sc