State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 1, 2004 Issue GA-CW0504 Agricultural Summary COLD AND RAINY WEATHER The State experienced cold and rainy weather, with some ice early last week, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Some areas received as much as three inches of needed rain. Rain brought temporary relief to the moisture deficit. More rain was needed to replenish topsoil, subsoil, and farm ponds. Rain and cold temperatures limited field work. Hay feeding to livestock continued. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Row crop producers took soil samples and limed fields. Growers continued to prep for planting spring crops. Some producers applied fertilizer and sprayed weeds in small grains. Other activities included transplanting tobacco, harvesting vegetables, and the routine care of livestock and poultry. Crop Progress Table February 1, 2004 Data for this table will resume in April 2004. Crop Condition Table February 1, 2004 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 1 Wheat 0 Pasture 3 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 4 39 54 4 37 54 18 42 36 Excellent 2 5 1 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level February 1, 2004 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 5 23 53 19 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 6 21 69 4 Dist 3(NE) 0 20 48 31 1 Dist 4(WC) 0 4 56 40 0 Dist 5(C) 3 26 36 33 2 Dist 6(EC) 8 21 41 30 0 Dist 7(SW) 0 15 38 44 3 Dist 8(SC) 5 20 44 28 3 Dist 9(SE) 5 10 46 38 1 *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. Soil Moisture Table Feb 1, 2004 Prev Year 5 Year Avg Very Short Short Adequate Surplus --Percentages-- 0 NA NA 6 NA NA 73 NA NA 21 NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level February 1, 2004 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 0 42 Dist 2(NC) 0 4 91 Dist 3(NE) 0 6 87 Dist 4(WC) 0 0 53 Dist 5(C) 1 6 56 Dist 6(EC) 0 1 91 Dist 7(SW) 0 10 67 Dist 8(SC) 0 3 83 Dist 9(SE) 0 14 71 Surplus 58 5 7 47 37 8 23 14 15 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2004 1/ 2004 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 73 24 44 1.81 3 2.34 2.34 2.34 49 ALPHARETTA 52 19 35 0.02 1 2.90 2.90 2.90 36 ARLINGTON 69 23 45 0.97 3 1.76 1.76 1.76 49 ATTAPULGUS 71 25 48 2.40 3 3.21 3.21 3.21 51 BLAIRSVILLE 53 12 34 0.00 0 2.22 2.22 2.22 39 BRUNSWICK 75 29 48 0.99 3 1.42 1.42 1.42 54 BYRON 56 24 40 2.70 1 4.09 4.09 4.09 45 CAIRO 70 25 47 2.07 3 2.93 2.93 2.93 55 CALHOUN 56 14 35 0.00 0 2.88 2.88 2.88 43 CAMILLA 70 24 46 2.53 2 3.31 3.31 3.31 50 CORDELE 57 24 43 1.05 1 1.42 1.42 1.42 48 COVINGTON 56 23 37 0.15 2 2.91 2.91 2.91 40 DAHLONEGA 62 21 36 1.87 3 2.93 2.93 2.93 39 DALLAS 52 21 36 0.02 2 3.48 3.48 3.48 41 DAWSON 67 23 43 1.30 2 1.77 1.77 1.77 48 DEARING 57 25 38 0.29 2 1.66 1.66 1.66 42 DEMPSEY 54 20 37 0.11 2 3.06 3.06 3.06 40 DIXIE 73 25 48 2.35 3 2.88 2.88 2.88 52 DUBLIN 58 23 40 1.52 1 2.39 2.39 2.39 44 DULUTH 52 20 35 0.02 2 3.23 3.23 3.23 41 DUNWOODY 51 20 35 0.02 2 3.17 3.17 3.17 39 EATONTON 56 21 37 0.45 2 2.72 2.72 2.72 40 ELLIJAY 51 15 34 0.01 1 2.71 2.71 2.71 38 FORT VALLEY 56 22 40 1.99 1 2.86 2.86 2.86 43 GAINESVILLE 50 24 36 0.02 2 2.71 2.71 2.71 41 GEORGETOWN 67 20 44 1.55 2 2.64 2.64 2.64 49 GRIFFIN 55 21 37 0.13 2 2.86 2.86 2.86 43 HOMERVILLE 76 26 46 2.47 3 2.88 2.88 2.88 52 JACKSONVILLE 56 23 39 2.64 2 3.92 3.92 3.92 44 JONESBORO 55 21 37 0.07 2 3.25 3.25 3.25 40 LAFAYETTE 54 17 35 0.01 1 3.90 3.90 3.90 40 MIDVILLE 56 26 39 2.30 2 3.34 3.34 3.34 41 NAHUNTA 76 21 45 1.89 2 2.14 2.14 2.14 51 NEWTON 70 23 46 2.95 3 3.86 3.86 3.86 52 PINE MOUNTAIN 55 20 39 0.36 1 2.88 2.88 2.88 44 PLAINS 56 23 42 1.56 1 2.90 2.90 2.90 46 ROME 56 18 36 0.01 1 4.30 4.30 4.30 42 ROOPVILLE 56 14 36 0.04 2 3.07 3.07 3.07 43 SAVANNAH 63 21 41 0.95 3 1.73 1.73 1.73 50 SNEADS 70 31 50 3.54 3 4.18 4.18 4.18 52 STATESBORO 59 24 39 1.71 2 2.62 2.62 2.62 44 TIFTON 68 27 45 3.40 2 4.11 4.11 4.11 50 VALDOSTA 75 27 48 2.36 3 2.69 2.69 2.69 51 VIDALIA 58 23 41 1.99 2 2.84 2.84 2.84 47 WATKINSVILLE 54 24 36 0.19 1 2.93 2.93 2.93 40 WILLIAMSON 53 19 36 0.10 2 2.58 2.58 2.58 40 1/ Weather data supplied by Georgia Automated Environmential Monitoring Network (AEMN) and the office of the State Climatologist, University of Georgia. For detailed Georgia weather data visit the AEMN homepage, www.georgiaweather.net. NA - not available. District Highlights These comments are written by the Georgia County Extension Agents, and have been complied and edited by the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. DISTRICT COMMENTS February 1, 2004 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Two+ inches of rain. Cold weather limits field work. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Cold and rainy, with some ice, early in the week. Had two+ inches of badly needed rain in most areas of the county. Some winter injury to small grains. Hay feeding continues to increase for livestock. Cold, rainy weather is keeping winter annuals and pasture at a stand still. Mud is becoming a problem on dairies. Welcome rains occurred earlier in the week. Still need more to replenish topsoil, subsoil, and farm ponds. Producers spraying weeds in small grains. Some producers applying fertilizer to small grains. Cattle continue to be fed hay and feed due to poor to fair grazing conditions. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 2.74" rainfall. Field preparation and equipment renovation for 2004 planting season has begun. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Approximately two inches of rain brought needed relief for grains and temporary grazing. Agricultural producers are upbeat about upcoming crop year. Greenhouse tobacco transplants look good. Row crop producers are taking soil samples and liming fields where it is needed. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Pastures are being burned. Soil samples are being taken. Over one inch of rain occurred this week, just what the county needed. Contact Information David S. Abbe, State Statistician Phone: 706-546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga