ga-crop-weather

State
Georgia Crop Weather

Week Ending Date
April 29, 2007
                                                                                
Issue
GA-CW1707
Agricultural Summary
April 30, 2007    


                    CROP CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE                    

Drought conditions persisted across the State, according to the USDA, NASS, 
Georgia Field Office.  Average highs were in the 80's and average lows were 
in the 50's most of the week.  There were some scattered showers, mostly in 
the northern part of the state.  Average rainfall was 0.12 inches this week.  
The average rainfall deficit for the state was 8.48 inches.  The extremely 
dry conditions have wildfires breaking out across the southern part of the 
state.  Soil moisture conditions were rated at 35% very short, 46% short, 19% 
adequate, and 0% surplus.

Crop conditions have declined rapidly over the past month due to the Easter 
freeze and the worsening drought conditions.  Pastures and forage crops have 
suffered tremendously, causing a critical situation for livestock owners.  
Most livestock owners were purchasing feed, and some farmers even baled wheat 
to feed cattle.  Little grazing was available and hay was scarce as well.  
Cattle producers were concerned they may have to begin selling cattle in a 
few weeks to alleviate the situation.  Hay and pastures were being irrigated 
where water was available.  Irrigated crops were faring well, but dryland 
crops were suffering from the lack of rain.  Growers were waiting for 
moisture to begin planting peanuts and cotton, and in some cases they were 
irrigating the land in order to begin planting.

Other activities included field preparation for peanuts and cotton, 
fertilizer application to pastures, and the routine care of poultry and 
livestock.  County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.3 days suitable 
for fieldwork.


                                                                                
                     Crop Progress for Week Ending 04/29/07                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Crop Stage         : This Week  : Prev Week  : Prev Year  : 5 Year Avg 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :                      Percent                      
                            :                                                   
Corn Planted                :     90           89           93           91     
Corn Emerged                :     81           81           83           82     
Soybeans Planted            :      3            2            5            6     
Soybeans Emerged            :      1           NA           NA           NA     
Sorghum Planted             :     12           11           14           15     
Cotton Planted              :      4            2           22           16     
Winter Wheat Headed         :     92           87           84           87     
Apples Blooming             :     99           78           62           82     
Onions Harvested            :     24           20           26           21     
Peanuts Planted             :      2            1            4            5     
Tobacco Transplanted        :     80           66           90           80     
Watermelons Planted         :     90           88           88           89     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                                
                     Crop Condition for Week Ending 04/29/07                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Crop          :Very Poor :   Poor   :   Fair   :   Good   :Excellent 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                       Percent                        
                         :                                                      
Corn                     :     9         18         46         25         2     
Sorghum                  :     9         11         57         23         0     
Winter Wheat             :    10         20         32         34         4     
Range and Pasture        :    21         37         29         13         0     
Apples                   :    91          8          1          0         0     
Hay                      :    24         34         32         10         0     
Onions                   :     0         18         39         42         1     
Peaches                  :    49          4         39          8         0     
Tobacco                  :     3         23         49         23         2     
Watermelons              :     8         29         41         20         2     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                                
                     Soil Moisture for Week Ending 04/29/07                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :  This Week   :Previous Week :  5 Year Avg  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :                  Percent                   
                                   :                                            
Very Short                         :      35             21             NA      
Short                              :      46             40             NA      
Adequate                           :      19             37             NA      
Surplus                            :       0              2             NA      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                                
               Soil Moisture for Week Ending 04/29/07, by District              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      District      :  Very Short  :    Short     :   Adequate   :   Surplus    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                          Percent                          
                    :                                                           
District 1 (NW)     :       2             49             48             1       
District 2 (NC)     :      15             53             32             0       
District 3 (NE)     :      27             61             12             0       
District 4 (WC)     :      32             55             13             0       
District 5 (C)      :      35             47             18             0       
District 6 (EC)     :      26             52             22             0       
District 7 (SW)     :      36             46             18             0       
District 8 (SC)     :      71             19              9             1       
District 9 (SE)     :      45             53              2             0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* A list of the counties in each of the nine Georgia Agricultural Statistics 
Districts is available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga/ctyests/districts.pdf.


                                                                                
             Pasture Condition for Week Ending 04/29/07, by District            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      District      : Very Poor :   Poor    :   Fair    :   Good    : Excellent 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                          Percent                          
                    :                                                           
District 1 (NW)     :     7          23          40          30           0     
District 2 (NC)     :    21          23          34          20           2     
District 3 (NE)     :     7          38          36          19           0     
District 4 (WC)     :     9          41          39          11           0     
District 5 (C)      :    22          51          22           5           0     
District 6 (EC)     :    18          34          37          11           0     
District 7 (SW)     :    30          42          15          12           1     
District 8 (SC)     :    38          37          18           7           0     
District 9 (SE)     :    45          40          15           0           0     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* A list of the counties in each of the nine Georgia Agricultural Statistics 
Districts is available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga/ctyests/districts.pdf.


                                                                               
         Weather Summary for Week Ending 04/29/07, by Station Location         
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   Temperature   :             Precipitation             :     
    Location   :-----------------:---------------------------------------:Soil 
               : Max : Min : Avg :Weekly : Days :30 Day :60 Day : Season :Temp 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albany         : 86    53    72    0.01     1     2.67    4.25    13.01    77  
Alma           : 89    48    71    0.00     0     0.01    1.65     6.17    71  
Alpharetta     : 83    45    65    0.42     1     2.17    4.69    11.35    65  
Arlington      : 85    50    69    0.00     0     2.52    5.13    13.06    72  
Attapulgus     : 86    50    69    0.03     1     0.42    1.21     7.16    80  
Blairsville    : 80    39    61    0.36     2     2.90    5.29    10.52    62  
Williamson     : 82    47    66    0.08     1     1.72    4.36    11.57    68  
Bowen          : 87    49    71    0.02     1     0.71    1.99     7.91    77  
Brunswick      : 90    54    72    0.01     1     0.69    2.45     7.53    70  
Byromville     : 85    52    70    0.00     0     3.16    4.49    11.03    71  
Byron          : 84    49    69    0.00     0     2.05    3.38    10.24    69  
Cairo          : 86    52    70    0.02     2     0.75    1.61     7.63    68  
Calhoun        : 83    41    65    0.08     1     1.17    3.52     7.89    65  
Pine Mountain  : 82    46    66    0.13     1     1.92    5.69    14.32    67  
Camilla        : 86    52    71    0.10     1     1.56    3.89    11.93    76  
Clarks Hill    : 86    44    67    0.08     1     0.89    4.50    10.13    68  
Cordele        : 85    53    71    0.00     0     4.28    5.07    10.97    71  
Covington      : 82    45    67    0.09     1     1.38    4.04    11.06    68  
Dahlonega      : 79    44    64    0.41     1     2.61    6.34    13.62    62  
Dallas         : 83    46    66    0.09     1     1.68    3.90     9.76    65  
Dawson         : 84    51    69    0.00     0     4.60    5.19    10.50    69  
Dearing        : 84    51    70    0.17     1     1.89    5.11    10.66    67  
Dempsey        : 82    47    67    0.08     1     1.38    3.96    10.80    72  
Dixie          : 87    51    72    0.00     0     0.46    1.45     8.11    78  
Dublin         : 85    49    69    0.00     0     3.28    4.45    12.29    71  
Duluth         : 83    44    65    0.57     1     2.20    5.68    12.35    64  
Dunwoody       : 81    46    66    0.38     1     2.26    5.25    11.60    64  
Eatonton       : 83    43    67    0.00     0     0.93    3.85    10.90    70  
Elberton       : 85    47    68    0.03     1     2.98    6.00    13.61    66  
Ellijay        : 79    40    62    0.21     2     1.95    4.19    10.09    63  
Rome           : 83    43    65    0.17     2     1.36    2.77     6.83    65  
Fort Valley    : 84    49    69    0.00     0     1.28    2.27     7.13    74  
Gainesville    : 82    47    66    0.20     1     1.78    4.24     9.14    65  
Georgetown     : 83    48    67    0.20     1     5.33    7.75    15.96    73  
Griffin        : 82    48    67    0.06     2     1.25    3.75    10.69    66  
Homerville     : 89    44    71    0.01     1     0.06    1.20     7.28    72  
Jonesboro      : 83    47    66    0.15     2     1.96    4.37    10.37    66  
Jacksonville   : 83    49    68    0.17     1     2.81    5.29    11.93    70  
Lafayette      : 81    44    66    1.23     1     4.04    5.88    10.49    63  
McRae          : 87    43    68    0.20     1     1.94    3.94    10.79    74  
Midville       : 86    50    71    0.04     1     2.73    4.35    10.36    70  
Nahunta        : 89    45    70    0.01     1     0.33    2.17     6.85    73  
Newton         : 86    50    70    0.04     1     2.57    4.09    12.57    73  
Plains         : 83    44    68    0.00     0     2.39    4.38    11.05    73  
Sasser         : 84    51    69    0.21     1     5.78    6.52    13.39    71  
Savannah       : 90    48    70    0.00     0     0.08    2.22     6.99    73  
Skidaway       : 85    53    70    0.08     5     0.64    2.06     5.86    69  
Sneads         : 87    57    71    0.00     0     0.00    1.16     7.04    72  
Statesboro     : 88    52    71    0.00     0     1.33    2.91     9.15    77  
Tifton         : 84    55    71    0.00     0     0.45    1.97     7.63    70  
Tiger          : 80    38    61    0.47     2     3.04    8.52    16.77    63  
Valdosta       : 88    54    73    0.02     1     0.48    1.47     8.04    68  
Vidalia        : 89    45    71    0.00     0     0.70    1.94     9.34    73  
Roopville      : 84    42    65    0.08     1     3.39    4.70    11.16    70  
Watkinsville   : 83    49    68    0.02     1     1.37    4.70    10.75    68  
Woodbine       : 91    47    70    0.00     0     0.96    2.62     8.23    73  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Weather data are supplied by the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring 
Network (AEMN) and the office of the State Climatologist, University of 
Georgia.  For detailed Georgia weather data, visit the AEMN homepage at 
www.georgiaweather.net.


DISTRICT COMMENTS
April 30, 2007

DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST
Very Hard Freeze on April 7 and 8th.  Lots of damage to fruit crops and early 
Bermuda grass Hay.


DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL
Many farmers are cutting frost damaged ryegrass to get the salvage value 
fearing more dry weather. Some ryegrass / small grains appear dead from 
earlier cold weather.

Routine care of livestock and poultry this week.  Some fertilizer application 
to pastures - rain improved moisture situation but more is needed.

Peaches all lost.  Pastures and forage crops in danger from continued dry 
spell. Wheat not filling out.


DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST
Conditions are declining rapidly. We missed a good chance at rain on 
Thursday. Less than 1/10 inch. Some parts of county got no rain.


DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL
Pastures and hayfields are trying to come on, but lack of moisture is holding 
them back.  Cool season grasses have had growth and a slim cutting of hay 
beginning to put down.  Some new pastures planted, but the outlook for 
moisture to help them isn't promising. Wheat hurt badly by the freeze.

DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL
STILL NO RAIN!!! EXTREMELY DRY!!! Pastures, hayfields, and crops needing 
rain. Conditions of all continue to decline due to the drought. Corn planting 
nearing completion. Hay feeding continues for livestock due to very poor 
pasture conditions.

Scattered showers have not been adequate to keep crop conditions from getting 
worse in our area. Winter annual hay & silage crop yields are around 60% of 
what they should be. The forage quality of these crops will be much lower as 
well. Bermuda grass was killed back by the Easter freeze and has not had the 
moisture to really come back like what is needed.

We need rainfall plain and simple.

Small grain injury showing up more this past week. 2 fields showed 80 to 90 
percent damage. Most all fields have some damage, but are limited to 5 to 10 
percent. Lack of rain is biggest issue. Small grains need water to fill out 
the kernels. Corn is yellowing due to lack of water and nitrogen. Producers 
running out of hay. Afraid some may have to sell due to low hay reserves and 
poor grazing on summer pastures. Planting of cotton and other crops simply 
stopped for now. Irrigation systems running to keep up with water demand.

After surveying wheat fields after the Easter weekend frost, there appears to 
be 20 to 60% damage depending on how cold it got in particular areas. Pecan 
trees that were damaged have not refoliated at this time. About 90% of the 
early blueberry varieties were damaged.

Extreme drought conditions persist. Even if it rains today it would be too 
late to help the wheat, oats and rye crops. Cattlemen are having to feed a 
lot of purchased feed. There is very little grazing available. Winter grazing 
fields have dried up and spring pasture has been severely hurt by the drought 
and freeze Easter weekend. Most cattle, horse, and goat owners have no hay or 
any source locally to buy from.


DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL
Replanted 1/3 corn crop, wheat damage from freeze still showing up, pecan 
damage may be back into '05 wood making trees barren next year too. Just 
started planting cotton.


DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST
Corn recovering from slight frost damage.  Replanting frost damaged 
greenbeans.  Wheat in good condition; one field damaged from frost.  Field 
prep for peanuts and cotton.


DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL
Dry! Between freeze, drought, and wind, we have taken a triple hit and 
concern for forest fires is extreme. Irrigated crops look okay but dryland is 
being hammered.  Farmers are baling wheat to feed to cattle. Hay is very 
short, almost exhausted, and no grazing. Cattle producers are facing a 
serious challenge on how to feed them.  In a few weeks, we may be selling 
cattle.  If we got rain today, we would still be 4 weeks off from cutting hay 
or getting substantial grazing. Some early planted corn, young pecan trees 
and blueberries were hit the hardest with the freeze on April 8 and the wind 
damage the week following has affected some vegetables and tobacco. Growers 
are waiting for moisture to begin peanut and cotton planting. We are starting 
off on the wrong foot and worst I have ever seen in my career.

Growers are going to have to irrigate to begin planting cotton and peanuts.  
Rainfall is critically needed for dryland crops.

Extremely dry, no row crop soil preparation or planting being done by 
farmers. Hay and pastures being irrigated where water is available.


DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST
The crops are terrible.  Cold has damaged the crops and it is so dry.  It is 
about as bad as it can get.  Please help.