Georgia weather and crops, 2004 March 14

State Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date March 14, 2004
Issue GA-CW1104
Agricultural Summary MILD TEMPERATURES
The State experienced mild temperatures, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Sunny, dry conditions allowed soil preparation to continue. Wheat and other small grains looked good. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork.
Producers continued top-dressing in preparation for spring planting. Corn planting is well under-way in south Georgia. South Georgia started planting sweet corn and tomatoes. Field preparation for vegetables and tobacco was active. Tobacco transplants, in the greenhouse, looked good. Producers burned fields and fertilized cool season pastures and hayfields. Routine care of livestock and poultry continued.

Crop Progress Table March 14, 2004
Data for this table will resume in April 2004.

Crop Condition Table

March 14, 2004

Crop

Very Poor

Vegetables

1

Wheat

0

Pasture

3

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

5

32

56

2

32

59

11

40

42

Excellent
6 7 4

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

March 14, 2004

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

6

11

47

35

1

Dist 2(NC)

0

3

19

75

3

Dist 3(NE)

0

21

39

39

1

Dist 4(WC)

0

12

55

33

0

Dist 5(C)

9

12

30

41

8

Dist 6(EC)

7

8

35

47

3

Dist 7(SW)

1

14

40

40

5

Dist 8(SC)

0

11

43

41

5

Dist 9(SE)

4

4

53

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 Mar 14, 2004

Prev Year

5 Year Avg

Very Short Short Adequate Surplus

--Percentages--

1

NA

NA

16

NA

NA

72

NA

NA

11

NA

NA

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

March 14, 2004

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

0

24

59

Dist 2(NC)

0

1

83

Dist 3(NE)

0

1

89

Dist 4(WC)

0

13

76

Dist 5(C)

0

14

67

Dist 6(EC)

2

13

79

Dist 7(SW)

5

33

59

Dist 8(SC)

1

13

72

Dist 9(SE)

0

19

78

Surplus
17 16 10 11 19
6 3 14 3

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

MARCH 14, 2004 1/

2004

Air Temperature

Precipitation Totals

Extreme Weekly Rain

30

60

Soil

Location

Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day

Day Season Temp

ALMA

78 31 54 0.00 0 2.81

7.06 7.51 56

ALPHARETTA

72 27 48 0.05 1 2.33

7.78 8.52 50

ARLINGTON

79 34 55 0.00 0 2.72

6.95 7.59 59

ATTAPULGUS

78 32 56 0.05 1 2.99

8.28 8.55 61

BLAIRSVILLE

64 23 44 0.27 1 1.90

6.68 7.33 48

BRUNSWICK

77 37 56 0.19 2 3.68

6.85 7.20 60

BYRON

76 31 53 0.00 0 1.94

7.99 8.49 56

CAIRO

77 34 56 0.09 1 3.66

8.47 8.85 59

CALHOUN

72 24 48 0.00 0 2.55

7.40 8.35 51

CAMILLA

79 32 55 0.00 0 2.26

7.79 8.29 60

CORDELE

77 33 54 0.00 0 1.73

4.63 4.79 57

COVINGTON

73 28 51 0.13 1 2.03

8.35 8.82 53

DAHLONEGA

66 28 47 0.14 1 3.28

8.99 9.66 48

DALLAS

72 28 49 0.04 1 2.62

8.93 9.64 52

DAWSON

78 32 54 0.00 0 2.26

7.16 7.34 61

DEARING

74 31 52 0.08 2 3.41

7.10 7.41 53

DEMPSEY

73 29 51 0.00 0 1.96

7.30 8.02 53

DIXIE

80 32 56 0.07 1 3.55

8.49 8.73 61

DUBLIN

77 30 53 0.03 1 2.24

6.86 7.28 56

DULUTH

73 27 49 0.02 1 2.31

7.72 8.48 52

DUNWOODY

70 28 50 0.01 1 2.22

8.06 8.85 52

EATONTON

73 26 50 0.07 1 2.19

7.34 7.80 54

ELLIJAY

67 24 45 0.00 0 2.21

7.93 8.75 49

FORT VALLEY

74 31 53 0.00 0 1.61

6.21 6.50 56

GAINESVILLE

67 32 49 0.04 1 1.63

6.99 7.81 53

GEORGETOWN

75 29 54 0.00 0 2.76

7.25 7.49 57

GRIFFIN

72 31 51 0.00 0 1.94

7.11 7.72 54

HOMERVILLE

80 32 54 0.11 1 3.30

7.87 8.11 59

JACKSONVILLE 75 29 52 0.00 0 2.51

8.94 9.37 55

JONESBORO

72 29 51 0.00 0 1.87

7.36 8.30 53

LAFAYETTE

70 25 48 0.00 0 3.18

9.00 10.19 49

MIDVILLE

75 31 52 0.09 1 4.18 10.81 11.29 58

NAHUNTA

78 30 53 0.18 1 3.86

7.68 7.88 60

NEWTON

79 39 54 0.00 0 2.59

9.51 10.03 59

PINE MOUNTAIN 74 29 50 0.00 0 2.18

7.34 8.11 53

PLAINS

74 33 53 0.00 0 3.63

8.44 8.70 55

ROME

73 27 50 1.03 1 4.19 10.17 11.08 54

ROOPVILLE

73 26 49 0.00 0 2.38

8.48 9.43 55

SAVANNAH

75 30 52 0.09 1 2.55

5.86 6.51 58

SNEADS

74 42 58 0.01 1 3.25

9.47 9.58 60

STATESBORO

77 32 53 0.19 1 3.04

7.26 7.65 57

TIFTON

76 36 55 0.00 0 3.27 10.83 11.31 57

VALDOSTA

80 36 57 0.10 1 2.72

7.26 7.40 62

VIDALIA

77 33 54 0.11 2 2.99

7.67 8.12 56

WATKINSVILLE 71 29 50 0.01 1 2.10

7.61 8.30 53

WILLIAMSON

72 28 51 0.00 0 1.41

5.92 6.50 54

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 March 14, 2004
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Started the apple IPM trapping program this weekend.
Sunny weather improved condition of pastures this week. Routine care of livestock and poultry are major activities.
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Buds are beginning to break. This could leave us susceptible to hard late frost.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Temperatures are very mild. Winter annuals are growing well. Soil moisture beginning to decline in the absence of substantial rainfall.
Wind and sunny days have allowed for drying fields and pastures. Routine care of livestock and poultry. Spreading lime, fertilizing cool season pasture and hayfields.
DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL We could use some rain. Pastures beginning to green up just a little. Small grains and winter grazing are looking good. Farmers preparing land for spring planting.
We have enjoyed the warmer temperatures. So far the planting season is right on schedule.
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Corn planting is underway. Fields are being plowed. Wheat looking bigger and better with fertilizer and sunshine.

Days suitable for work have improved as winter wheat continues to mature. Sun is shining. Field work is progressing well.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Farmers are planting corn for grain, sweet corn, and fresh market tomatoes. Wheat is in good condition overall. Field cultivation continues. Around 15-20% of corn has been planted. Soil is very, very dry.
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Some sweet corn has been planted. Fixing soil for veggies and tobacco. Fertilizing and liming pecan trees. Burning pastures and controlling winter weeds on conservation tillage fields. Preparing for burn down and killing weeds in pasture. Preparing fields for tobacco transplanting.
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Planting corn and ground turning. Dry soil conditions have increased soil preparation and lime applications.
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