State Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 29, 2004 Issue GA-CW0904 Agricultural Summary WINTER WEATHER Snow, ice, and rain fell across the state mid-week, according to the the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Wet conditions slowed field work and preparations for spring planting. County Extension Agents reported an average of 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Mud continued to be a problem around livestock operations. Small grains looked good, but in need of nitrogen. Fields have been too wet to top-dress. Sunshine is needed for greenhouse plantings. Routine care of livestock and poultry continued. Crop Progress Table February 29, 2004 Data for this table will resume in April 2004. Crop Condition Table February 29, 2004 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 1 Wheat 0 Pasture 5 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 4 34 55 7 40 47 14 41 37 Excellent 6 6 3 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level February 29, 2004 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 10 21 39 30 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 9 25 65 1 Dist 3(NE) 0 25 49 14 12 Dist 4(WC) 1 2 69 28 0 Dist 5(C) 9 22 35 28 6 Dist 6(EC) 5 11 45 39 0 Dist 7(SW) 1 13 35 47 4 Dist 8(SC) 8 13 40 37 2 Dist 9(SE) 5 5 56 33 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 29, 2004 Prev Year --Percentages-- Very Short 0 NA Short 1 NA 5 Year Avg NA NA Adequate 41 NA NA Surplus 58 NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level February 29, 2004 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 0 68 Dist 2(NC) 0 0 58 Dist 3(NE) 0 1 47 Dist 4(WC) 0 0 36 Dist 5(C) 0 0 19 Dist 6(EC) 0 0 39 Dist 7(SW) 0 3 43 Dist 8(SC) 0 0 34 Dist 9(SE) 0 0 53 Surplus 32 42 52 64 81 61 54 66 47 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2004 1/ 2004 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 72 31 48 0.93 4 5.39 7.50 7.50 52 ALPHARETTA 64 26 42 0.70 4 5.01 7.91 7.91 43 ARLINGTON 72 33 48 1.21 4 5.83 7.51 7.51 52 ATTAPULGUS 74 34 50 1.83 4 5.97 8.46 8.46 53 BLAIRSVILLE 62 25 41 0.25 3 3.79 6.01 6.01 44 BRUNSWICK 67 35 49 2.68 4 6.05 7.01 7.01 55 BYRON 68 29 45 1.25 4 4.39 8.48 8.48 49 CAIRO 73 34 50 1.66 4 6.14 8.60 8.60 55 CALHOUN 64 25 43 0.64 3 4.27 7.15 7.15 45 CAMILLA 72 33 49 0.95 4 5.15 8.23 8.23 51 CORDELE 71 30 47 1.20 4 3.31 4.73 4.73 50 COVINGTON 66 28 43 1.03 4 5.61 8.52 8.52 45 DAHLONEGA 61 27 42 0.35 4 4.83 7.76 7.76 43 DALLAS 64 27 43 0.99 4 5.42 8.90 8.90 45 DAWSON 70 34 47 1.54 4 5.52 7.27 7.27 50 DEARING 67 28 44 2.02 3 5.64 7.30 7.30 46 DEMPSEY 65 27 43 0.91 3 4.75 7.81 7.81 45 DIXIE 74 36 50 1.81 4 6.35 8.62 8.62 54 DUBLIN 70 28 45 1.37 3 4.86 7.25 7.25 49 DULUTH 64 26 42 0.76 4 4.71 7.94 7.94 45 DUNWOODY 63 27 43 0.67 4 5.09 8.26 8.26 45 EATONTON 66 25 42 1.24 3 4.92 7.64 7.64 46 ELLIJAY 62 24 42 0.19 3 4.84 7.55 7.55 44 FORT VALLEY 68 31 45 1.01 4 3.62 6.48 6.48 48 GAINESVILLE 61 30 43 0.34 3 4.44 7.15 7.15 47 GEORGETOWN 68 30 47 1.73 5 4.85 7.46 7.46 51 GRIFFIN 65 27 43 0.92 3 4.64 7.50 7.50 47 HOMERVILLE 72 34 49 1.92 4 5.63 7.99 7.99 54 JACKSONVILLE 68 29 44 1.51 4 5.34 9.26 9.26 48 JONESBORO 65 27 43 0.85 5 4.88 8.13 8.13 45 LAFAYETTE 64 25 42 0.35 2 4.00 7.90 7.90 44 MIDVILLE 68 30 45 2.66 3 7.82 11.16 11.16 48 NAHUNTA 72 32 48 2.57 4 6.23 7.70 7.70 53 NEWTON 73 32 48 1.22 4 6.33 9.98 9.98 54 PINE MOUNTAIN 67 27 44 1.40 4 5.05 7.93 7.93 47 PLAINS 68 32 46 2.68 4 5.75 8.65 8.65 49 ROME 67 26 44 0.68 4 4.75 9.05 9.05 47 ROOPVILLE 67 25 42 0.77 4 5.87 8.94 8.94 47 SAVANNAH 72 28 47 1.11 4 4.74 6.42 6.42 53 SNEADS 70 39 51 2.08 4 5.92 9.51 9.51 53 STATESBORO 70 29 46 1.59 3 4.82 7.44 7.44 50 TIFTON 70 33 49 1.41 4 7.47 11.28 11.28 52 VALDOSTA 75 37 51 1.37 4 5.03 7.28 7.28 53 VIDALIA 70 32 46 0.99 3 5.19 8.01 8.01 51 WATKINSVILLE 64 27 43 0.95 5 5.23 8.16 8.16 46 WILLIAMSON 65 25 43 0.77 3 3.77 6.35 6.35 45 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 29, 2004 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Two inches of snow on Thursday. Snow and ice fell Wednesday night leading to soggy field conditions. Routine care and feeding of livestock were major activities of the week. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Wet weather is stopping some very important field work. Nitrogen spreading and row crop work. Rain and snow have improved topsoil moisture conditions. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Rain and a little snow and ice on Thursday. Really muddy conditions continue around livestock operations. Rains are hampering farmers and cattlemen from being able to topdress their small grains and winter grazing. Small grains looking good but needing nitrogen. Wet conditions also keeping soil preparation for spring planting from being possible. Cold and wet describes our current conditions. Lots of rain. Field work is very limited. Rainy weather and wet soil conditions have slowed field work this week. Most fields were too wet to work in. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Wet and not much field work is taking place unless it is on high ground. Rains during week have slowed field work. Corn planting should start this week. Sunshine sure feels good. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 2.80" of rainfall. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Wet and cool. Rain and wet soils are hampering soil preparation for spring crops. Received 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain this week. Skies have been very cloudy and temperatures low. This is bad for greenhouse plantings and any other crops needing bright weather. Early season blueberries will have to be protected from freezing if the temperature gets low enough. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Cold and rainy on Wednesday and Thursday. 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