~. - ....... v GI\ 1\4;DO ,(;1 FI vV4' i99~ /II-~ GEORGIA WEATHER & CROPS USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service Cooperative Extension Service Georgia Department of Agriculture BEORBI~ AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE Stephens Federal Building, Suite 320 Athens, Georgia 30601 Phone: (7061546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: www.nass.usda.gC)v/ga 135-98-35 Publication No. USPS 383-970 Week Ending November 8, 1998 Released 4 P.M. Monday, November 9, 1998 HARVEST CONTINUES We want to get our releases to you more quickly! To do this, we will begin E-mail or Fax delivery to as many subscribers as possible. Please let us kno w your E-mail or Fax number and we will begin faster delivery of the releases you have reauested. CROP HIGHLIGHTS Scattered showers during the week brought limited moisture to fields in the northern third of the State, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Although the rest of the State received some scattered showers, most areas remained extremely dry and in need of rain. Statewide, harvesting progress proceeded at an above normal pace. Most crop conditions remained steady. Cotton conditions improved slightly with 35 percent of the crop remaining for harvest rated fair or better. Harvest progressed well and remains ahead of last year while slightly behind the five year average. Yields continue to hold strong in the extreme southern area, however some east central localities have been disappointed with lower than expected yields. Peanut combining is nearing completion, but continues to lag behind last year and the five year average. Soybean harvest made excellent progress by week's end and continues to outpace last year and the five year average by more than a week. Soybean producers in North Georgia have been pleased with yields in fields near river bottoms. Condition of the crop remains steady. Winter wheat plantings made good progress during the week with seeding about two days ahead of last year but a week behind the five year average. The condition of the early emerging crop is mostly good. Planting progress for rye is near last year, while small grains planted is equal to the five year average. Dry weather delays continue to hinder field preparations for small grain planting in the central part of the State. Onion transplanting showed progress from the previous week and now equal to the average. Pecan conditions were virtually unchanged. Producers in some southern localities are receiving lower than expected yields. Progress remains ahead of last year and average. Apple harvest is nearing completion and about a day ahead of the five year average. Despite the scattered showers during the week, pasture condition ratings declined slightly. Northern cattlemen continue feeding hay and supplements due to poor conditions. CROP CONDITION-NOVEMBER 6, 1998 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair --Percentage-- ExcelGood lent Cotton 12 23 39 24 2 Soybeans 21 27 36 15 1 Wheat 1 12 37 47 3 Pecans 17 35 33 13 2 Pasture 15 27 41 16 1 CROP PROGRESS Nov. 8, Nov.8, 5 Year 1998 1997 Avg. --Percentage-- Cotton, Bolls Open 95 Cotton, Harvested 65 Peanuts, Dug 99 Peanuts, Threshed 94 Rye, Planted 77 Sorghum, Harvested for Grain 92 Soybeans, Dropping Leaves 99 Soybeans, Harvested 53 Wheat, Planted 16 Wheat, Emerged 8 Other Small Grains, Planted 61 Onions, Transplanted 8 Apples, Harvested 98 Pecans, Harvested 38 97 97 56 67 100 100 99 98 77 79 77 86 98 99 30 36 12 18 8 11 62 61 7 8 98 97 33 34 Very Short Short Adequate Surplus SOIL MOISTURE Nov. 6, Nov.6, 1998 1997 29 0 49 1 22 64 o 35 5 Year Avg. 2 13 64 21 County Extension Officials reported an average of 6.2 days suitable for field work. Other activities included taking soil and nematode samples, general maintenance of harvesting equipment, defoliating cotton and routine care of livestock. Georgia Weather and Crops (ISSN 383970) is published weekly, mid-March through mid-December, by the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service, Athens, Georgia, 306015099. Periodicals postage paid at Athens, GA and additional mailing offices. Subscription fee $12 per year except free to data contributors. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service, Stephens Federal Building, Suite 320 Athens GA 306015099. ' , LOCATION GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 19981/ AIR TEMPERATURE EXTREME WEEKLY WEEKLY RAIN 30 DAY 60 DAY SEASON AVG. 4 INCH SOIL ALMA 85 40 60 0.07 1 0.07 4.31 45.23 65 ARLINGTON ATTAPULGUS 82 34 82 34 58 1.26 1 1.26 4.3 47.74 65 59 0.07 2 0.07 9.3 47.52 71 BLAIRSVILLE 79 19 48 0.16 3 0.20 4.95 46.25 60 CALHOUN 71 19 48 0.34 3 0.38 1.39 37.46 59 CAMILLA 82 37 60 0.66 1 0.66 9.89 43.17 65 CORDELE 81 36 59 0.39 1 0.42 4.20 44.23 67 DAWSON 79 36 57 0.42 1 0.42 6.18 55.35 67 DUBLIN 82 35 57 0.31 3 0.31 4.05 43.91 65 DULUTH 76 28 51 0.34 4 0.38 1.50 42.33 62 EATONTON 79 29 53 0.25 4 0.25 4.25 39.35 61 ELLIJAY 68 25 47 0.68 3 0.77 3.26 43.93 58 FORT VALLEY 79 36 57 0.12 2 0.14 2.01 26.39 65 GAINESVILLE 74 32 51 0.28 4 0.30 1.58 32.31 62 GRIFFIN 77 30 54 0.25 4 0.25 2.30 43.33 64 LAFAYETTE MIDVILLE 66 24 82 36 48 0.00 0 0.00 0.86 30.95 68 58 0.06 2 0.06 3.24 43.19 70 PLAINS ROME ROOPVILLE 80 35 69 27 75 26 56 0.32 2 0.32 5.22 51.85 64 50 0.65 4 0.82 3.75 39.99 59 51 0.37 2 1.12 5.48 49.03 61 SAVANNAH STATESBORO TIFTON 82 35 82 34 81 40 57 0.00 0 0.00 7.57 49.03 68 56 0.11 1 0.11 4.84 50.44 68 60 0.04 2 0.04 4.36 41.20 67 VALDOSTA WATKINSVILLE WILLIAMSON 83 39 79 33 74 26 61 0.00 0 0.00 6.16 37.16 69 54 0.16 4 0.16 3.44 47.57 63 52 0.28 4 0.28 2.35 33.53 62 1/ Weather data supplied by Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network and the office of the State Climatologist, University of Georgia. NA - Not Available. SOIL MOISTURE DELINEATION FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6,1998 MOSTLY VERY SHORT GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE STEPHENS FEDERAL BLDG. SUITE 320 ATHENS, GEORGIA 30601 PHONE: (706) 546-2236 CAMILLA 0.66 VALDOSTA 0.00 PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ATHENS, GA 30601