sc-crop-weather State South Carolina Crop Weather Release Date, Week Ending Date Week Ending September 18, 2005 Issue SC-CW1430 Agricultural Summary Hot and dry conditions were experienced most of last week. Rainshowers from Tropical Storm Ophelia provided some relief for moisture starved crops in Horry and Georgetown counties. Crop conditions across the rest of the state continued to deteriorate as yield potential will not be realized under such short moisture conditions. Soil moisture was 22% very short, 41% short and 37% adequate. There were no significant insect or disease problems to report. Livestock condition fell slightly. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Field Crops Condition CORN maturity was reached last week slightly ahead of last year and harvest was 80 percent complete. SOYBEAN bloom was completed with 96 percent of pods set. Plants were also starting to mature under the warm dry conditions. COTTON harvest should begin next week. Bolls were opening faster than normal and producers were still hopeful good yields will be realized. SORGHUM harvest was slightly ahead of last year but behind the five year average. PEANUT harvest was slow going last week as many growers are still hopeful that a timely rain can help soften soils for digging. Peanut harvest was 8 percent completed. TOBACCO harvest was near completion with 99 percent of the crop harvested and 71 percent of the stalks destroyed at week's end. Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops Report PEACHES were 99 percent harvested by week's end and should wrap up this week. APPLE harvest moved right along, ahead of last year and the five year average. Apples remained in mostly good condition. Livestock, Pastures and Small Grains Report LIVESTOCK condition fell slightly from last week and animals were starting to feel the effects from the drought. PASTURE condition declined rapidly last week. Producers have been hesitant to seed any small grains including WINTER GRAZINGS under such short moisture conditions. CROP PROGRESS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 Yr : 5 Yr Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg :Crop Phase 2005 2004 Avg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Percent-- --Percent-- Apples Harvested 49 39 42 :Soybeans Bloomed 100 99 99 Corn Matured 100 99 100 :Soybeans Pods Set 96 96 91 Corn Harvested 80 83 82 :Soybeans Turning Color 18 19 21 Cotton Bolls Set 100 99 99 :Soybeans Leaves Dropped 4 6 8 Cotton Open Bolls 54 59 50 :Soybeans Mature 1 1 2 Peaches Harvested 99 99 100 :Sweetpotato Harvested 15 14 20 Peanuts Harvested 8 13 14 :Tobacco Harvested 99 98 97 Sorghum Turned Color 95 98 95 :Tobacco Stalks Dest. 71 58 68 Sorghum Matured 68 69 68 :Winter Grz. Planted 15 19 19 Sorghum Harvested 35 34 42 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Condition Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Excel- Very Excel- Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent :Crop Poor Poor Fair Good lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Percent -- -- Percent-- Apples 0 10 20 70 0 :Peanuts 1 6 22 66 5 Cotton 0 6 31 61 2 :Sorghum 0 1 5 94 0 Livestock 0 1 22 74 3 :Soybeans 3 13 35 42 7 Pastures 5 19 36 40 0 :Sweetpotato 0 0 45 55 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending September 18, 2005 At noon on Monday, Tropical Storm Ophelia was positioned 200 miles east- southeast of Charleston and drifting northwest. Passing rainshowers and gusting winds were observed along the beaches. Ophelia was reclassified a hurricane at 5:30 PM Tuesday. During the day on Wednesday Hurricane Ophelia tracked northward approximately 100 miles offshore, closing to 70 miles between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Winds in Charleston County gusted to 56 mph atop the Ben Sawyer Bridge and at 61 mph in N. Myrtle Beach. Excessive rains fell in both Georgetown and Horry counties. N. Myrtle measured an event total on 6.30 inches. Rapid clearing followed the exiting feature early Thursday. Afternoon temperatures began a steady climb into the mid 90’s through the weekend. With the exception of late afternoon thundershowers along the coast on Sunday, inland sites reported hot and dry conditions to end the week. For the period, the state average temperature was five degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 99 degrees at Darlington on September 17 and at Cades on September 18. The lowest official temperature reported was 53 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of September 12. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.22 inches at N. Myrtle Beach AP on September 14. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.2 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 81 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 78 degrees. Precipitation Weekly Jan 1 Deviation Total Total From Avg Greer 0.00 40.3 3.1 Columbia 0.00 36.6 -1.2 Orangeburg 0.09 30.7 -7.0 Charlotte, NC 0.11 28.7 -3.1 Augusta, GA 0.00 37.6 3.3 Florence 0.00 33.1 -1.4 Myrtle Beach 6.34 27.8 -6.2 Charleston 0.25 33.5 -7.0 Savannah, GA 0.30 33.4 -6.1 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/sc