ms-crop-weather

Mississippi Weekly Crop Weather

Released: Monday, 3PM May 2, 2005
Week Ending May 1, 2005                 
 
This report is best viewed with a monospace font.  
                        
Issue                                       
MS-CW1705
 
Agricultural Summary 

According to the Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service, there were
4.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 1, 2005. Farmers
were able to take advantage of the dry weather during the week to work
in the field. As planting continues for most farmers, blueberry producers
across the state are making preparations to harvest their crop later this
month. Cotton and peanut farmers are looking forward to continued drying
of soils so they can continue with planting activities. The cooler
temperatures experienced during the week affected summer pasture growth
in some areas. Soil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 66 percent
adequate, and 31 percent surplus.

Item   Event      This  Last  2004   5-Yr   Very
                  Week  Week         Avg    Poor   Poor  Fair  Good  Excellent

Corn  
    Planted         93    88    97     97     2      4    28    60       6
    Emerged         83    71    91     87

Cotton
    Planted         40    18    50     39    --     --    --    --      --
    Emerged         16    --    22     16

Rice
    Planted         81    56    73     59    --     --    --    --      --
    Emerged         48    17    52     33

Sorghum
    Planted         80    53    71     59    --     --    --    --      --
    Emerged         48     9    47     36
                                 
Soybeans                               
    Planted         63    41    76     53    --     --    --    --      --
    Emerged         38    16    54     35

Wheat
    Jointing        99    97   100    100     4      7    32    51       6
    Heading         91    66    96     90

Hay Harvested
    (Cool Season)   28    17    26     37    --     --    --    --      --

Watermelons
    Planted         85    73    79     79    --     --    --    --      --


Cattle                                        2      8    32    45      13
Pasture                                       1      6    30    50      13

                                   


         Other Agricultural Comments and News
 
                         County Agent Comments
                  
"Most producers here could use a good rain. We got very little rain from
the last front. Most rice producers are having to flush some fields in
order to get a stand. Most cotton producers have planted all the early
cotton that they wanted to plant and are waiting on a good shower before
they resume planting."

                                   -- Anthony Bland, Tunica

"Cotton planting started Tuesday after a low of 35 degrees Sunday
morning. We stopped fieldwork Thursday due to the forecast of storms
Friday night. Corn planting is over and beans have a good start."

                             -- Stephen R. Winters, Grenada

"Field prep and planting were in full gear by the end of the week. Light
rains over the weekend will help get these fields off to a quick start.
Cotton growers are a little hesitant to plant with the forecast calling
for highs in the 60's for the upcoming week."

                             -- Dr. Bill Burdine, Chickasaw

"Drier weather should allow hay harvest to continue. Rains over the
weekend hopefully gave early planted corn some relief. Pastures have held
up well, but are beginning to mature at a rapid pace."

                                      -- Richard Hay, Amite

"All crops are in good condition. Cool-season hay harvest has begun.
Livestock are in good condition. Blueberries growers are making
preparations for the 2005 harvest season."

                                 -- Allen McReynolds, Wayne

"Growers in south Mississippi were finally able to get back in the field
this week. Growers will probably start planting cotton and peanuts this
week."
                                  -- Mike Howell, Covington

"Rain on Friday night helped most growers. We could have gotten a little 
more in some areas. We need some warmer weather."

	                                   -- Don Respess, Bolivar

"Cannot seem to get a good rain now. Planting for all crops is progressing 
well, and most should come to a stand. Land that had to be tilled will have 
to wait on rains before it can be planted."

	                                       -- Mack Young, Quitman

"Crops are being planted at a hectic pace. The crops that have emerged look 
good and don't seem to be damaged by the cool snap."

	                            -- Jimbo Burkhalter, Tallahatchie

"Producers have planted most of the corn acreage and are starting to plant 
soybeans and cotton."

	                                      -- Melvin Oatis, Benton

"Rainfall has delayed field preparation and planting. Cool temperatures have 
slowed corn and soybean emergence and growth."

	                                   -- Jay Phelps, Pontotoc

"Rain, from half an inch to3 inches, fell Saturday morning. Fieldwork and 
replanting are the main priority when fields dry."

	                                    -- Tommy Baird, Sunflower

"Most of the corn crop has been planted, although some low lying fields 
have required replanting. Soybean planting has been slow, but should increase
as soils dry in the next few days. Cotton that has been planted is emerging 
slowly as a result of heavy rains and cool conditions. As field conditions 
allow, cotton planting will increase quickly within the next few days."

	                                  -- Ernest Flint, Attala

"Ryegrass hay harvest continues. Cool nights and some cool days have slowed 
the growth of summer forages."

	                                   -- Houston Therrell, Rankin

"We still have a few acres of corn that need to be planted and a few producers 
are spot planting some wet areas. Soybean planting went well the last two weeks. 
Cotton planting is going slow with the rain and cool temperatures. Wheat stripe 
rust has reduced our wheat yields in many fields."

	                                 -- Dr. Dennis B. Reginelli, Noxubee

"Some fieldwork was conducted, but cooler and wetter weather slowed everything 
by week's end. Pastures continue to improve. Overall, we are behind on planting 
progress."

	                                    -- Ed Williams, Oktibbeha

"Dryer conditions have greatly improved the conditions for the corn crop. The 
plants look healthier as the soils have dried out and aren't so wet. The 
producers are working to prepare the fields for the soybean and cotton planting 
activities. Weather permitting, we will probably begin planting cotton in some 
areas next week. The pastures are looking better and the warm weather hay 
harvesting activities will be in high gear soon."

	                                           -- Bill Maily, Hinds

"Ryegrass growth is playing out. Soils are really wet after weekend rains. 
Summer pastures are growing. Cotton and peanut planting will be in full swing 
when the ground dries up."

	                                          -- Lee Taylor, Forrest

"Heavy rains have washed out some vegetable gardens. We will be looking for 
damage to other crops today."

	                                     -- Mark Gillie, Greene

"Nighttime temps in the 40's are delaying the growth of summer grasses, 
corn and vegetable crops. Cattle are in good shape. Ryegrass hay harvest has 
been difficult due to rain."

	                                       -- Chuck Grantham, Jones

"Producers continue to take advantage of sunshine to fertilize, spray and 
plant. Cool nights are hindering corn seedlings. Rain early Saturday will 
slow field operations early this week."

	                                   -- Victor Lee, Newton

"Moderate hail damage was received to some crops in a portion of the 
county. All indications are that the crops were not in a growth stage 
that will have an impact on yields."

	                             -- Florieda K. Mason, Perry

"On Saturday, April 30, we had approximately 4 inches of rain in a short 
period of time. Ponds are full and the ground is very wet."

	                                 -- Judith Breland, Stone

"April showers bring May flowers; so with Saturday's deluge of rain, 
south Mississippi should look like a very large flower store. Ryegrass 
is beginning to seed out and quality is headed downhill with each 
additional day of maturity."

	                                    -- Stan Pace, Stone

                                
Weather Information Table
          
Weather Summary from April 25, 2005 to May 1, 2005 for Mississippi

                       Air             Precipitation      4 Inch Soil   Avg
                   Temperature      Weekly      Rn  Four  Temperature   Pan
                Max Min Avg Nrm DFN  Total  DFN Ds Weeks  Max Min Avg  Evap
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Upper Delta
Charleston                   65      0.88 -0.43  3  8.13                   
Cleveland        86  42  61  65  -4  0.87 -0.32  2  5.47                   
Tunica           74  44  59  65  -6  1.72 +0.39  6  5.62                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  86  42  60  66  -6  1.16 -0.10  4  6.41                   

2. North-Central
Hickory Flat     75  34  56  63  -7  0.76 -0.50  2  5.89                   
Calhoun City     81  37  56  65  -9  1.08 -0.24  3  5.31                   
Independence     76  35  55  63  -8  1.06 -0.13  3  5.82                   
Oxford           80  38  58  63  -5  0.87 -0.36  2  6.46                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  81  34  56  64  -8  0.94 -0.32  3  5.87                   

3. Northeast
Booneville       74  38  54  63  -9  1.12 -0.17  4  5.68                   
Iuka             76  30  51  61 -10  1.82 +0.56  4  5.97                   
Ripley           75  35  54  63  -9  0.98 -0.28  3  5.50                   
Tupelo           80  41  58          1.64        3  5.67                   
Verona           78  40  57  64  -7  1.15 +0.03  3  5.17                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  80  30  55  64  -9  1.34 +0.08  3  5.60                   

4. Lower Delta
Moorhead         84  42  61  67  -6  1.34 +0.08  4  4.57                   
Rolling Fork     86  44  62  67  -5  1.31 +0.05  4  5.68                   
Stoneville       87  47  63  67  -4  0.91 -0.35  3  3.05                   
Yazoo City       85  40  62  68  -6  1.94 +0.61  3  7.56                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  87  40  62  68  -6  1.38 +0.06  4  5.22                   

5. Central
Canton           84  40  59  67  -8  2.44 +1.04  3  6.42                   
Carthage         85  37  59  65  -6  1.64 +0.31  3  4.83                   
Lexington        83  34  57  65  -8  2.30 +1.04  3  6.87                   
Eupora           83  36  57  64  -7  0.98 -0.21  3  4.86                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  85  34  58  66  -8  1.84 +0.53  3  5.75                   

6. East-Central
Aberdeen         81  37  57  65  -8  1.47 +0.26  2  6.62                   
Houston          80  36  57  63  -6  1.63 +0.44  3  5.02                   
Louisville       82  40  60  64  -4  2.11 +0.83  3  3.73                   
State University 84  38  60  65  -5  1.56 +0.32  4  7.19                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  84  36  58  66  -8  1.55 +0.29  3  6.28                   

7. Southwest
Crystal Springs  85  45  61  68  -7  1.35 +0.07  3  3.72                   
Natchez          84  42  61  68  -7  0.28 -1.05  2  1.76                   
Oakley           85  40  62  66  -4  1.29 +0.04  3  2.72                   
Vicksburg        83  42  61          2.24        4  5.50                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  85  40  62  68  -6  1.29 -0.04  3  3.43                   

8. South-Central
Collins          85  42  60  67  -7  1.53 +0.22  3  4.35                   
Columbia         85  44  63  68  -5  1.99 +0.66  4  6.51                   
Tylertown        85  42  62  68  -6  1.77 +0.44  4  5.52                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  85  42  62  68  -6  1.76 +0.43  4  5.46                   

9. Southeast
Beaumont         87  44  62          2.14        3  3.10                   
Hattiesburg      83  42  61  68  -7  1.58 +0.32  4  4.54                   
Laurel           88  43  62  67  -5  1.91 +0.72  4  5.87                   
Newton           85  34  58  65  -7  1.97 +0.76  3  8.02                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  88  34  61  67  -6  1.90 +0.71  4  5.38                   

10. Coastal
Gulfport         83  51  68  71  -3  2.81 +1.60  3 10.76                   
Poplarville      84  47  62  69  -7  6.73 +5.47  5  9.85                   
Waveland         82  49  66  69  -3  3.11 +1.85  2  8.37                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  84  47  65  69  -4  4.22 +3.01  3  9.66                   

State Averages   88  30  60  66  -6  1.70 +0.43  3  5.72                   

DFN = Departure from Normal.