sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending August 7, 2005 Issue SC-CW1424 Agricultural Summary Slightly cooler temperatures last week were appreciated by crops, animals and people alike. The cool front also brought large amounts of rain to some areas with 5 inches reported in Allendale county last Monday. Peanut growers were routinely applying fungicides, while cotton and soybean growers were scouting for insects pests such as stink bugs and worms. No outbreaks of disease or insect infestations have been reported as of yet. Soil moisture was 3% very short, 6% short, 83% adequate and 8% surplus. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Field Crops Report CORN remained in good condition with most of the crop doughed and about half matured. Only a small amount of corn had been harvested by week's end because many growers were afraid the wet fields would not support the heavy equipment needed. SOYBEAN's had started turning color and remained in mostly good shape. Most of the COTTON crop had squared and bolls had started opening while the crop remained in mostly good condition. 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. TOBACCO harvesting was a little more than half complete and growers had begun destroying the stalks. The crop remained in fair to mostly good condition. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report WATERMELON and CANTALOUPE harvesting continued slightly behind normal for the season. TOMATO harvesting should be completed this week. PEACHES were 70 percent harvested by week's end and the crop was in good shape despite all the moisture. APPLE condition remained fair to mostly good. Livestock, Pastures and Small Grains 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. Crop Progress Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg :Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Cantaloups Harvested 97 99 99 :Sorghum Turned Color 59 64 57 Corn Dough Stage 98 98 95 :Sorghum Matured 16 34 16 Corn Matured 50 59 59 :Sorghum Harvested 1 2 3 Corn Harvested 5 5 10 :Soybeans Bloomed 68 76 62 Cotton Squared 95 99 98 :Soybeans Pods Set 26 46 33 Cotton Bolls Set 57 78 70 :Soybeans Turning Color 1 1 1 Cotton Open Bolls 1 3 2 :Tobacco Harvested 54 56 52 Other Hay Harvested 87 89 84 :Tobacco Stalks Dest. 2 5 6 Peaches Harvested 70 72 74 :Tomatoes Harvested 99 99 99 Peanuts Pegged 92 93 95 :Watermelons Harvested 90 98 98 Sorghum Headed 94 98 85 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Condition Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel- Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 0 33 67 0 :Peanuts 0 0 6 80 14 Corn 0 2 11 72 15 :Sorghum 0 2 8 87 3 Cotton 0 4 25 65 6 :Soybeans 0 2 18 69 11 Livestock 0 0 17 77 6 :Sweetpotato 0 0 89 11 0 Pastures 0 1 20 70 9 :Tobacco 0 2 35 56 7 Peaches 1 1 4 86 8 : ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending August 7, 2005 A boundary of cooler, less humid air slowly moved south through South Carolina on Monday. With the exception of a few sea breeze thundershowers near the coast on Tuesday, inland sites observed a beautiful summer day. The week’s highest temperatures were reported on Thursday with mid-90 degree heat common throughout the central sections. Hail and damaging winds accompanied severe storms across the upstate on Friday. The weekend weather was influenced by a low pressure feature, southeast of Charleston, which forced bands of thundershowers into the coastal counties and westward. The week ended with seasonal upper 80 degree warmth and passing rainshowers. For the period, the state average temperature was one degree below normal. The highest official temperature reported was 97 degrees at Darlington and Cheraw on August 4. The lowest official temperature reported was 59 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of August 1. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 5.00 inches at Allendale ending at 7:00 am on August 1. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches. SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 82 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 82 degrees. Precipitation Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Total Total From Avg Greer 0.77 37.4 5.7 Columbia 0.30 33.5 2.5 Orangeburg 0.57 26.9 -3.6 Charlotte, NC 0.08 26.7 0.1 Augusta, GA 0.56 33.8 5.3 Florence 1.24 28.7 0.6 Myrtle Beach 0.00 16.7 -9.4 Charleston 0.63 24.5 -6.7 Savannah, GA 0.82 28.6 -2.0 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