Georgia weather and crops, 2004 February 8

State Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date February 8, 2004
Issue GA-CW0604
Agricultural Summary HEAVY RAINS
The State experienced heavy rains late in the week that helped replenish soil moisture and surface water, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Heavy rains caused muddy conditions for livestock operations. Poor pasture and winter grazing conditions led to increased hay feeding for livestock producers. County Extension Agents reported and average of 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
Growers continued to take soil samples and prepare for spring planting. Producers applied lime and nitrogen to fields and pastures. Tobacco, in the greenhouses, and cabbage transplanted into the fields looked good. Some areas started to see growth of winter wheat and winter grazing. Small grains and wheat looked good. Routine care of livestock and poultry continued.

Crop Progress Table February 8, 2004
Data for this table will resume in April 2004.

Crop Condition Table

February 8, 2004

Crop

Very Poor

Vegetables

1

Wheat

0

Pasture

4

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

4

35

56

4

34

57

17

41

36

Excellent
4 5 2

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

February 8, 2004

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

5

21

41

33

0

Dist 2(NC)

0

11

40

47

2

Dist 3(NE)

0

20

41

29

10

Dist 4(WC)

1

10

57

32

0

Dist 5(C)

10

21

30

37

2

Dist 6(EC)

8

21

39

32

0

Dist 7(SW)

1

15

33

48

3

Dist 8(SC)

7

18

48

25

2

Dist 9(SE)

0

10

54

35

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 8, 2004

Prev Year

5 Year Avg

Very Short Short Adequate Surplus

--Percentages--

0

NA

NA

3

NA

NA

68

NA

NA

29

NA

NA

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

February 8, 2004

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

0

2

63

Dist 2(NC)

0

1

41

Dist 3(NE)

0

3

71

Dist 4(WC)

0

0

59

Dist 5(C)

0

4

64

Dist 6(EC)

0

1

85

Dist 7(SW)

0

3

64

Dist 8(SC)

0

1

81

Dist 9(SE)

0

7

78

Surplus
35 58 26 41 32 14 33 18 15

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 8, 2004 1/

2004

Air Temperature

Precipitation Totals

Extreme Weekly Rain

30

60

Soil

Location

Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day

Day Season Temp

ALMA

75 29 51 1.60 2 3.50 3.94 3.94 52

ALPHARETTA

57 23 38 2.42 4 4.58 5.32 5.32 39

ARLINGTON

78 26 48 1.81 3 2.93 3.57 3.57 51

ATTAPULGUS

77 28 51 1.35 3 4.29 4.56 4.56 52

BLAIRSVILLE

59 20 38 2.66 5 4.23 4.88 4.88 41

BRUNSWICK

76 31 53 1.42 4 2.50 2.84 2.84 56

BYRON

68 25 44 0.99 4 4.58 5.08 5.08 48

CAIRO

77 28 50 1.34 3 3.89 4.27 4.27 55

CALHOUN

57 25 40 2.18 3 4.11 5.06 5.06 45

CAMILLA

78 27 50 1.47 3 4.28 4.78 4.78 52

CORDELE

71 27 47 0.84 2 2.10 2.26 2.26 50

COVINGTON

63 26 40 2.55 2 4.99 5.46 5.46 42

DAHLONEGA

58 23 38 2.80 4 5.06 5.73 5.73 39

DALLAS

56 25 38 2.44 4 5.21 5.92 5.92 42

DAWSON

76 25 47 1.95 2 3.54 3.72 3.72 50

DEARING

69 25 43 0.94 3 2.29 2.60 2.60 46

DEMPSEY

63 25 40 1.66 3 4.00 4.72 4.72 42

DIXIE

80 28 51 1.24 3 3.88 4.12 4.12 53

DUBLIN

71 26 47 1.27 2 3.24 3.66 3.66 49

DULUTH

58 24 38 1.99 4 4.46 5.22 5.22 42

DUNWOODY

57 25 37 2.51 4 4.89 5.68 5.68 41

EATONTON

65 23 40 1.61 3 3.87 4.33 4.33 42

FORT VALLEY

67 27 45 0.92 2 3.49 3.78 3.78 47

GAINESVILLE

56 27 38 2.75 4 4.68 5.46 5.46 42

GEORGETOWN

73 25 47 0.97 4 3.37 3.61 3.61 51

GRIFFIN

63 25 40 1.61 2 3.86 4.47 4.47 44

HOMERVILLE

80 30 52 1.04 3 3.68 3.92 3.92 55

JACKSONVILLE 68 24 44 1.25 3 4.74 5.17 5.17 47

JONESBORO

57 26 39 1.88 4 4.19 5.13 5.13 42

LAFAYETTE

58 26 38 2.56 4 5.28 6.46 6.46 41

MIDVILLE

72 27 46 1.94 2 4.80 5.28 5.28 48

NAHUNTA

80 28 52 1.22 3 3.16 3.36 3.36 54

NEWTON

78 26 49 2.18 3 5.52 6.04 6.04 54

PINE MOUNTAIN 64 24 43 1.55 3 3.66 4.43 4.43 46

PLAINS

71 26 46 1.01 3 3.65 3.91 3.91 48

ROME

57 26 40 2.29 3 5.68 6.59 6.59 43

ROOPVILLE

61 22 39 2.36 3 4.48 5.43 5.43 44

SAVANNAH

73 29 51 1.11 3 2.19 2.84 2.84 53

SNEADS

73 34 52 1.03 2 5.11 5.21 5.21 52

STATESBORO

75 28 48 0.85 2 3.08 3.47 3.47 50

TIFTON

75 29 50 2.70 2 6.33 6.81 6.81 51

VALDOSTA

79 29 52 0.89 2 3.44 3.58 3.58 53

VIDALIA

74 29 49 1.33 3 3.72 4.17 4.17 51

WATKINSVILLE 54 25 38 1.83 4 4.07 4.76 4.76 42

WILLIAMSON

62 22 39 1.55 4 3.55 4.13 4.13 43

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 8, 2004
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST We had three inches of rain this week.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Heavy rain fell at end of week along with high winds. Pastures muddy. The major activity is the routine care of livestock and poultry.
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Starting to see some growth of winter wheat and winter grazing.
Too wet and/or raining most of the week to be in the fields. Routine care of livestock & poultry.
DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Heavy rain late in the week. Rains were welcome for small grains and winter grazing but made for lots of mud around livestock operations. Hay feeding continues to be heavy for livestock due to very poor pasture conditions and poor winter grazing conditions. Some farmers taking soil samples in preparation for spring planting and spring fertilization of pastures and hayfields. Rain also helped in bringing pond and stream levels back up.
Rain has made mud a problem on dairy farms. These conditions combined with cold temperatures will likely negatively affect cow health. Growing conditions for winter forages have not been great for some time.
Producers are still feeding livestock with hay from last year. The weather has cooled off significantly. We have been on the fringes of the severe winter weather so far.
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Wheat is looking good finally. Heavy rains on Friday. Cooler temperatures.

More rain forecasted for late this week.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.26" of rainfall. Small grain looks good overall.
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Preparing land for planting. Tobacco in greenhouses doing well. Cabbage transplants in field look good. Applying lime and applying nitrogen to winter grazing. Selling beef cattle. Heavy rain Friday afternoon. Largest single rain event in several weeks. Tobacco transplants in the greenhouse look very good. Farmers are taking soil samples and spreading lime.
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available.
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