Mississippi Weekly Crop Weather

Released: Monday, 3PM August 23, 2004
Week Ending August 22, 2004                 
 
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Issue                                       
MS-CW3404

Agricultural Summary 
                                         
According to the Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service, there were
5.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 22, 2004. Dry
weather conditions during the week allowed for harvesting to continue
before rain showers arrived over the weekend. Cooler temperatures
experienced a few weeks ago has caused a delay in cotton maturation with
the open boll stage not progressing as well as it has in the past.
Farmers have seen an increase in hay production due to rains experienced
in late June and early July. Soil moisture was rated 10 percent very
short, 22 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.

Item   Event      This  Last  2003   5-Yr   Very
                  Week  Week         Avg    Poor   Poor  Fair  Good  Excellent

Corn 
     Dough         100   99   100    100      1     3     17     47      32
     Dent           99   94    97     98
     Mature         90   70    68     80
     Harvested      40   17    15     32
 Silage Harvested   96   92    96     81
               
Cotton
     Setting Bolls 100   98    98    100      2     7     23     47      21
     Open Bolls     22    7    19     40
               
Rice
     Heading       100   98    97     95      0     1     10     60      29
     Mature         40   20    27     30
     Harvested       3    1     4      3
            
Sorghum 
     Turning Color  97   95    97     96      0     1     16     64      19
     Mature         75   55    66     66
     Harvested      24    5    13     21
          
Soybeans
     Setting Pods  100   99    98     99      1     6     14     46      33
     Turning Color  70   54    51     47
   Shedding Leaves  50   34    31     29
     Harvested      25    9    11      7
     
Hay Harvested
    (Warm Season)   74   70    84     80      7     6     30     46      11

Sweetpotatoes                                 1     8     36     46       9


Cattle                                        2     6     15     59      18
Pasture                                       5     8     22     53      12



         Other Agricultural Comments and News
 
                         County Agent Comments
                  
"As weeks pass, it has become more apparent that late planted and
weather-damaged cotton will not likely have time to produce a "normal"
crop this year. Recent cool weather has caused many fields to begin the
final stages of maturation with reddening leaves showing in most fields.
Corn and soybean harvesting has started, but local showers will likely
hold up progress for now."

                                           -- Ernie Flint, Attala

"Warmer temperatures and scattered showers summarize the weather for the
past week. Most showers were one-half inch or less. Row crops continue
maturing with corn harvest to begin right away. Soybeans really need rain
to fill pods. Cotton is developing slowly with no open bolls observed
thus far. Pastures and hay fields need more rain if we are to have an
ample forage supply this winter."

                                          -- Ed Williams, Oktibbeha

"A dry period allowed farmers to gather a good bit of hay, but rains this
week have halted hay harvesting. Farmers are preparing to break ground
for planting of winter forages."

                                         -- Perry Brumfield, Lincoln 

"High humidity is helping to promote plant disease in fall horticulture
crops and landscape plants."

                                                 -- Mark Gillie, Greene

"Pastures and hay fields are beginning to show some stress due to the
lack of rain." 

                                           -- Walter Walker, Jackson

"Rainfall received at the end of the week will be of benefit to soybeans
and cotton. Most corn is mature and harvesting had started before the
rainfall."
                                              -- Jay Phelps, Pontotoc

"We received about one inch of rain last night which stopped all soybean,
rice and corn harvesting. Some cotton is being sprayed for plant bugs,
but most of it is finished."

	                                     -- Don Respess, Bolivar

"Cotton and late soybeans need a good rain. Milo, early beans and rice 
need dry weather."

	                                             -- Mack Young, Quitman

"We are still in need of some rain in most areas of the county. Crops are 
drying down fast with little or no moisture. Potential yields for all crops
are good."

	                                            -- Melvin Oatis, Benton

"Beans are drying down slowly, even after desiccations. We will start cutting 
again after the rain clears out. The rain should help our pastures, hay fields,
and cotton."

	                                 -- Stephen R. Winters, Grenada

"Corn harvest has begun with above average yields. Cotton is still trying to
set bolls. Hot, dry weather has hurt late beans, and much needed rain was 
welcomed late last week. Insect pressure has been light, but some spider mites
are showing up in cotton."

	                                            -- Tim Needham, Tippah

"Excellent progress was being made harvesting corn and soybeans until the rains
started falling Friday and continued throughout the weekend. In the harvested 
fields, some disking, liming and fall fertilizer applications have been 
completed."

	                                    -- Jerry Singleton, Leflore

"Rains stopped harvest Thursday night. Good yields are being reported. No 
cotton has been defoliated at this time, and there has been little insect
spraying taking place."

	                                   -- Tommy Baird, Sunflower

"Forages of all types have been showing slowed growth patterns since the rains
have slowed down in frequency and amount. Armyworms have made themselves known
in the area, but don't seem to be as bad as previous years."

	                                      -- Houston Therrell, Rankin

"Although isolated rains fell this past week, more rain is needed. Corn and 
soybean harvest began. Cotton roots that were damaged from the early heavy 
rains are still showing problems. Sweetpotato harvest will begin in earnest
within the week. Insect pressures remain light in most areas."

	                             -- Dr. Bill Burdine, Chickasaw

"Light rain showers Saturday were not enough to significantly improve soil 
moisture conditions. Late soybeans desperately need rain to avoid tremendous 
yield loss. Corn for grain harvest and warm season hay harvest continue in 
full swing. Plowing cool season pastures and hay fields in preparation for
planting has ceased as producers wait for a good, deep-soaking rain to 
soften soils."

 	                                     -- Lamar Adams, Walthall

"Both cotton and peanuts look good. Hay is being cut and baled at every break
in the weather. Army worms are showing up. Some land is being broken up in 
preparation for ryegrass. We are seeing more agricultural land in the county 
being split up for housing developments."

	                                      -- Lee Taylor, Forrest

"We need a good rain. Hay harvest has been in full swing and most folks have 
caught up with the harvest of summer grasses. Cotton and peanuts need some rain
in order to fill pods and bolls at this stage of the game."

	                                       -- Mike Steede, George

"Rains received over the weekend helped relieve dry conditions over the 
county."

	                                   -- Tommy Bishop, Jasper

"Rain over the weekend is helping keep grass growing for pastures and hay. 
Armyworms are bad in a lot of Bermuda grass fields. Cattle is looking really 
good. Fall gardens are benefitting from the recent rain. Soybeans are 
looking pretty good, but producers are having to keep a check on loopers 
and bean leaf beetles."

	                                      -- Chuck Grantham, Jones

"Rains late in the week brought relief from dry weather to most of the county.
Pastures were beginning to show signs of drought stress. Many producers took
advantage of the dry weather to prepare winter grazing fields."

	                                         -- Victor Lee, Newton

"Rain in June and July has provided soil moisture to pastures and hay fields 
which should insure adequate feed for cattle now and in the winter. Producers 
are reporting that hay supplies will be higher than last year's yields."

	                                    -- Florieda K. Mason, Perry

                                   
Weather Information Table
          
Weather Summary from August 16, 2004 to August 22, 2004 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       94  51  74  79  -5  2.11 +1.41  3  4.44                   
Cleveland        94  56  76  80  -4  0.88 +0.57  3  1.27                   
Tunica                       80      0.30 -0.21  2  0.79               0.20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  94  51  75  80  -5  1.50 +0.94  3  2.86                   

2. North-Central
Hickory Flat     91  50  72  78  -6  0.59 -0.18  2  1.37                   
Calhoun City     89  53  73  79  -6  1.51 +0.81  2  3.07                   
Independence     91  51  73  79  -6  0.87 +0.20  2  1.11                   
Oxford           92  49  73  78  -5  0.65 -0.12  2  0.93                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  92  49  73  79  -6  0.91 +0.21  2  1.62                   

3. Northeast
Booneville       95  56  75  78  -3  0.55 -0.20  2  1.32                   
Iuka             89  46  70  76  -6  0.95 +0.11  3  4.38                   
Ripley           90  53  71  78  -7  0.86 +0.23  3  2.17                   
Tupelo           92  58  76          1.23        2  1.87                   
Verona                       80      0.77 -0.10  2  1.36               0.28
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  95  46  73  79  -6  0.90 +0.20  3  2.44                   

4. Lower Delta
Moorhead         91  61  77  81  -4  1.24 +0.75  3  3.99                   
Rolling Fork     95  58  76  81  -5  0.46 -0.10  3  2.35   98  71  85      
Stoneville       93  57  76  81  -5  0.73 +0.31  3  1.15               0.22
Yazoo City       92  54  75  81  -6  1.57 +0.84  3  1.97                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  95  54  76  81  -5  1.00 +0.44  3  2.37   98  71  85  0.22

5. Central
Canton           90          81      1.56 +0.87  3  3.14                   
Carthage         90  53  72  80  -8  1.82 +1.05  3  5.46                   
Lexington        91  53  73  79  -6  0.86 +0.23  3  1.51                   
Eupora           91  54  74  79  -5  1.11 +0.48  2  3.36                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  91  53  73  80  -7  1.34 +0.63  3  3.37                   

6. East-Central
Aberdeen         92  53  76  79  -3  0.51 -0.12  3  1.67               0.25
Houston          90  49  73  78  -5  1.50 +0.83  3  4.54                   
Louisville                   79      0.30 -0.33  2  1.81                   
State University 93  56  75  80  -5  0.21 -0.49  2  0.34   85  76  80  0.23
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  93  49  75  80  -5  0.63 -0.07  3  2.09   85  76  80  0.24

7. Southwest
Crystal Springs  92  59  76  81  -5  2.45 +1.64  3  3.87   95  75  84      
Natchez          92  56  76  81  -5  0.11 -0.80  2  1.75                   
Oakley           95  53  76  80  -4  2.98 +2.14  1  3.93   98  79  88      
Vicksburg        91  53  74          3.36        2  4.92                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  95  53  75  81  -6  2.23 +1.33  2  3.62   98  75  86      

8. South-Central
Collins          92  55  75  80  -5  0.67 -0.22  2  1.15                   
Columbia         92  57  76  81  -5  1.80 +0.82  2  6.06                   
Tylertown        92  56  75  81  -6  0.95 -0.10  2  5.93                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  92  55  76  81  -5  1.14 +0.16  2  4.38                   

9. Southeast
Beaumont         95  57  77          0.30        2  1.53                   
Hattiesburg      94  58  76  81  -5  1.19 +0.14  2  3.15                   
Laurel           92  58  76  81  -5  0.61 -0.28  2  5.51                   
Newton                       79      0.64 -0.20  3  3.25               0.19
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  95  57  76  80  -4  0.69 -0.14  2  3.36               0.19

10. Coastal
Bay St Louis                 82      0.30 -1.03  2  2.97                   
Gulfport         89  66  80  82  -2  0.53 -0.73  3  3.82                   
Poplarville      93  61  77  81  -4  1.16 +0.09  2  5.25   94  71  82  0.24
Waveland         92  63  78  81  -3  1.03 -0.21  2  3.83                   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme/Average  93  61  78  81  -3  0.91 -0.32  2  4.30   94  71  82  0.24

State Averages   95  46  75  80  -5  1.15 +0.37  2  3.05   98  71  83  0.23

DFN = Departure from Normal.