Georgia weather and crops, 2004 March 21

State Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date March 21, 2004
Issue GA-CW1204
Agricultural Summary DRY CONDITIONS
Much of the State experienced warm temperatures and dry conditions last week, according the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Dry conditions prevailed around the state as top soil moisture was reduced by warm temperatures and wind. The warm weather improved pastures, small grains and winter grazing. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.
Producers continued preparing land for spring planting. Fertilizer was applied to pastures, hay fields and pecan trees. Corn planting continued around the state. Peppers and cabbage reportedly looked good. Greenhouse tobacco transplants were clipped. Rain is needed to replenish surface moisture. Routine care of livestock and poultry continued.

Crop Progress Table March 21, 2004
Data for this table will resume in April 2004.

Crop Condition Table

March 21, 2004

Crop

Very Poor

Vegetables

1

Wheat

0

Pasture

2

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

4

29

59

3

30

60

10

45

41

Excellent
7 7 2

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

March 21, 2004

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

0

6

50

44

0

Dist 2(NC)

0

0

26

71

3

Dist 3(NE)

0

5

69

25

1

Dist 4(WC)

1

18

47

34

0

Dist 5(C)

7

13

43

36

1

Dist 6(EC)

5

7

42

42

4

Dist 7(SW)

1

9

40

45

5

Dist 8(SC)

0

12

49

36

3

Dist 9(SE)

0

13

33

53

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 21, 2004

Prev Year

5 Year Avg

Very Short Short Adequate Surplus

--Percentages--

3

NA

NA

34

NA

NA

60

NA

NA

3

NA

NA

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

March 21, 2004

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

0

20

73

Dist 2(NC)

0

19

73

Dist 3(NE)

0

8

88

Dist 4(WC)

9

26

60

Dist 5(C)

5

53

42

Dist 6(EC)

4

15

81

Dist 7(SW)

6

46

46

Dist 8(SC)

2

42

51

Dist 9(SE)

1

41

57

Surplus
7 8 4 5 0 0 2 5 1

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

MARCH 21, 2004 1/

2004

Air Temperature

Precipitation Totals

Extreme Weekly Rain

30

60

Soil

Location

Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day

Day Season Temp

ALMA

84 41 65 0.00 0 0.94

7.00 7.51 62

ALPHARETTA

78 36 56 0.18 4 1.58

7.62 8.70 55

ARLINGTON

86 45 65 0.06 1 1.35

6.90 7.65 65

ATTAPULGUS

85 41 65 0.03 3 1.95

7.77 8.58 67

BLAIRSVILLE

72 29 51 0.81 5 2.38

7.15 8.14 51

BRUNSWICK

84 46 65 1.38 2 4.25

8.16 8.58 65

BYRON

84 40 63 0.07 3 1.33

7.69 8.56 61

CAIRO

85 43 65 0.02 2 1.93

8.01 8.87 62

CALHOUN

78 36 54 0.48 5 2.33

7.63 8.83 54

CAMILLA

86 42 64 0.21 1 1.22

7.73 8.50 66

CORDELE

85 42 65 0.07 1 1.33

4.60 4.86 62

COVINGTON

80 38 61 0.09 2 1.42

8.06 8.91 59

DAHLONEGA

74 32 55 0.37 3 2.64

8.97 10.03 53

DALLAS

80 37 58 0.32 3 2.08

8.90 9.96 56

DAWSON

86 41 64 0.06 1 1.67

7.05 7.40 69

DEARING

81 39 63 0.41 3 2.54

7.18 7.82 57

DEMPSEY

80 39 61 0.09 2 1.21

6.89 8.11 59

DIXIE

85 42 65 0.00 0 1.92

8.20 8.73 68

DUBLIN

85 39 64 0.06 1 1.46

6.86 7.34 63

DULUTH

79 37 57 0.18 2 1.56

7.54 8.66 56

DUNWOODY

78 36 58 0.15 3 1.49

7.89 9.00 56

EATONTON

80 33 59 0.11 2 1.51

7.15 7.91 58

ELLIJAY

74 32 53 0.46 4 1.90

8.01 9.21 53

FORT VALLEY

84 40 63 0.04 1 1.07

5.96 6.54 62

GAINESVILLE

78 37 56 0.21 3 1.21

6.83 8.02 57

GEORGETOWN

86 44 64 0.09 1 1.85

6.84 7.58 63

GRIFFIN

80 40 61 0.08 2 1.22

6.73 7.80 59

HOMERVILLE

85 40 64 0.00 0 2.04

7.70 8.11 64

JACKSONVILLE 83 39 63 0.07 2 1.69

8.66 9.44 60

JONESBORO

80 40 60 0.13 2 1.15

7.09 8.43 58

LAFAYETTE

80 36 54 0.51 3 3.15

9.24 10.70 53

MIDVILLE

83 40 64 0.05 1 2.84 10.83 11.34 65

NAHUNTA

87 39 64 0.54 2 3.29

8.18 8.42 65

NEWTON

85 44 64 0.34 1 1.61

9.47 10.37 64

PINE MOUNTAIN 84 40 60 0.36 3 1.94

7.18 8.47 59

PLAINS

84 43 64 0.12 1 2.85

8.18 8.82 62

ROME

82 37 56 0.46 4 3.17 10.28 11.54 55

ROOPVILLE

84 34 58 0.12 2 1.38

8.15 9.55 59

SAVANNAH

86 38 64 0.00 0 1.20

5.84 6.51 62

SNEADS

88 48 66 0.13 1 2.28

9.17 9.71 65

STATESBORO

84 41 64 0.00 0 1.80

7.21 7.65 64

TIFTON

83 47 65 0.15 1 1.59 10.78 11.46 61

VALDOSTA

85 47 67 0.00 0 1.49

7.07 7.40 70

VIDALIA

84 42 65 0.00 0 1.10

7.59 8.12 62

WATKINSVILLE 80 38 59 0.20 3 1.29

7.41 8.50 58

WILLIAMSON

81 40 61 0.13 2 1.05

5.65 6.63 59

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 21, 2004
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Routine care of livestock and poultry. Warm weather led to improvement in pastures and small grains.
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Corn planting continues. Dry weather, farmers have expressed soil moisture concerns.
DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL No rain this week. Warm temperatures have helped improve small grain, winter grazing, and pasture conditions to some extent but we are needing some rain really bad. Farmers continue to prepare land for spring planting but need moisture.
We need rainfall. The past few fronts have missed us totally.
Dry!
Dry weather is slowing the growth of winter grazing.
Have had some problems with cows consuming extremely low quality hay.
Need rain badly!
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Corn planting continues. Approximately 10-12% complete.

Warm weather has spring green up well under way. Corn is being planted.
Temperature has dropped, hope to warm back up this week. Corn planting is well underway.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.17" of rainfall. Wheat and livestock good condition overall. Lime application and field preparation continues.
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Getting dry. Pepper and cabbage on plastic looks good. A lot of tillage work going on. Clipping tobacco plants in the greenhouse. Applying fertilizer to pecan trees. Received a number of lawn weed control calls. Fire ants are beginning to become active. Winter grazing needs some rain. Some folks burning pastures.
We have good subsoil moisture, but top soil moisture is getting less due to land preparation. High temperatures and wind have removed some top soil moisture. The recent rain gap and hot windy days are drying soil, and are causing some concerns from corn growers planting now. As usual it feels like we have went from winter right into summer.
Field work is progressing on corn, tobacco, and cotton soil preparation for planting. Fertilizing pastures and hayfields. Cleaning up and fertilizing pecan orchards.
It is very dry. Rain is needed pretty quickly. Some farmers are irrigating wheat. Irrigating wheat is like throwing money into a black hole. You don't see a return on it!
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Dry weather continues, corn planting well underway. Cool weather will postpone tobacco planting this coming week.
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