Georgia weather and crops, 2004 May 2

Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date May 2, 2004
Issue GA-CW1704 Agricultural Summary May 2, 2004
RAIN!! Rain finally fell over Georgia last week, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Rains were a welcome sight, providing limited relief from drought conditions. Showers allowed spring planting to resume in parts of the State. Pasture and field conditions improved with the moisture. More rain is needed to overcome drought conditions. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Rain helped pastures and fields to green-up. Producers continued to fertilize and spray hay fields for weeds. Field preparation was accelerated throughout the State. Beds for peanuts were prepared. Strawberry, blueberry and blackberry crops looked good. Thrips threatened vegetable crops in south Georgia. Grazing was scarce. Livestock producers were forced to feed increased amounts of hay. Some producers were weaning calves early as a result of drought conditions. Other activities included field planting and the routine care of livestock and poultry.

Crop Progress Table
Corn, Planted Corn, Emerged Cotton, Planted Peanuts, Planted Sorghum, Planted Soybeans, Planted Soybeans, Emerged Tobacco, Transplanted Wheat, Boot Wheat, Heading Onions, Harvested Watermelons, Planted Apples, Blooming Peaches, Harvested

May 2, 2004 97 92 18 10 19 11 4 98 98 93 34 91 100 0

Prev Week
94 82
9 3 9 6 0 91 95 86 20 89 79 0

Prev Year
88 79 19
4 16
7 1 85 96 88 21 90 86 1

5 Year Avg 95 90 23 9 20 7 2 96 97 92 29 92 92 0

Crop Condition Table

May 2, 2004

Crop

Very Poor

Corn

0

Cotton

1

Hay

4

Sorghum

0

Tobacco

0

Wheat

3

Onions

6

Watermelons

1

Apples

0

Peaches

0

Pasture

7

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

7

39

47

6

54

39

22

52

20

7

55

38

9

54

33

16

44

35

15

31

40

11

55

28

0

19

67

0

1

99

23

48

20

Excellent
7 0 2 0 4 2 8 5 14 0 2

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

May 2, 2004

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

2

10

39

49

0

Dist 2(NC)

1

3

69

22

5

Dist 3(NE)

3

25

53

19

0

Dist 4(WC)

9

34

41

11

5

Dist 5(C)

10

28

38

22

2

Dist 6(EC)

10

28

51

10

1

Dist 7(SW)

2

30

50

17

1

Dist 8(SC)

18

25

33

22

2

Dist 9(SE)

1

6

70

23

0

*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

May 2, 2004

Prev Year

--Percentages--

Very Short

10

1

Short

43

7

Adequate

44

74

Surplus

3

18

5 Year Avg
12 31 51
6

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

May 2, 2004

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

1

34

45

Dist 2(NC)

8

45

45

Dist 3(NE)

19

52

29

Dist 4(WC)

17

50

33

Dist 5(C)

11

58

30

Dist 6(EC)

13

41

44

Dist 7(SW)

3

29

62

Dist 8(SC)

13

37

48

Dist 9(SE)

4

40

55

Surplus
20 2 0 0 1 2 6 2 1

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

MAY 2, 2004 1/

2004

Air Temperature

Precipitation Totals

Extreme Weekly Rain

30

60

Soil

Location

Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day

Day Season Temp

ALMA

86 44 69 0.86 4 1.19 1.27 8.77 71

ALPHARETTA

79 37 62 1.48 4 2.99 4.26 12.34 66

ARLINGTON

86 44 68 4.49 5 5.90 6.15 13.66 74

ATTAPULGUS

83 41 66 2.08 3 2.99 4.31 12.77 74

BLAIRSVILLE

72 32 59 2.69 4 6.96 9.42 15.82 62

BRUNSWICK

84 52 71 2.67 5 3.55 5.12 12.13 73

BYRON

83 43 67 1.82 4 2.54 2.74 11.22 69

CAIRO

83 47 69 1.54 4 2.20 2.77 11.37 69

CALHOUN

79 35 62 3.21 5 4.60 7.03 14.55 66

CAMILLA

84 46 69 4.11 4 4.92 5.55 13.78 74

CORDELE

85 44 69 4.05 4 4.25 4.60 9.33 72

COVINGTON

81 41 64 1.23 4 2.04 2.91 11.43 68

DALLAS

79 38 62 1.69 4 5.53 7.15 16.29 65

DAWSON

85 43 68 2.30 4 2.66 2.97 10.24 74

DEARING

82 42 66 3.91 5 4.71 5.78 13.08 67

DEMPSEY

80 38 64 2.17 5 3.30 4.15 11.96 69

DIXIE

85 48 70 2.03 4 2.93 3.08 11.70 74

DUBLIN

83 43 68 2.78 4 3.45 3.70 10.95 72

DULUTH

81 37 63 1.06 3 2.45 3.87 11.93 66

DUNWOODY

78 39 63 1.61 3 2.86 4.34 12.69 65

EATONTON

82 34 64 1.73 5 2.43 3.10 10.74 70

ELLIJAY

75 33 59 2.07 3 4.36 6.24 14.29 63

FORT VALLEY

82 46 67 1.95 4 2.99 3.15 9.63 72

GAINESVILLE

75 43 62 1.45 4 2.89 4.17 11.60 67

GEORGETOWN

84 40 68 3.12 4 3.58 3.73 11.19 73

GRIFFIN

80 41 64 2.17 4 3.20 4.03 11.53 67

HOMERVILLE

85 42 69 2.34 3 3.40 3.52 11.51 72

JACKSONVILLE 82 43 66 2.26 4 3.48 4.18 13.44 70

JONESBORO

81 39 64 1.37 5 2.42 3.19 11.24 67

LAFAYETTE

78 35 61 1.16 4 2.67 5.86 14.32 64

MIDVILLE

82 43 67 2.44 4 3.35 3.72 14.88 73

NAHUNTA

86 43 68 2.27 4 4.55 5.31 13.01 74

NEWTON

84 44 68 3.28 5 4.11 5.04 15.02 74

PINE MOUNTAIN 82 41 64 3.10 4 4.69 5.78 13.71 67

PLAINS

85 44 67 3.02 4 3.69 3.90 12.55 72

ROME

80 38 63 3.55 5 5.06 8.10 18.15 66

ROOPVILLE

81 35 62 1.33 5 2.85 4.51 13.45 69

SAVANNAH

85 43 68 1.52 4 4.02 4.12 10.54 70

SNEADS

83 55 71 3.46 4 4.54 5.12 14.63 73

STATESBORO

83 47 68 2.12 4 2.71 2.96 10.40 74

TIFTON

83 48 69 3.29 4 5.00 5.42 16.70 71

VALDOSTA

86 51 71 1.97 3 3.25 3.41 10.69 78

VIDALIA

84 47 68 1.68 3 2.43 2.61 10.62 72

WATKINSVILLE 79 42 64 1.14 4 1.78 2.77 10.93 67

WILLIAMSON

81 38 64 2.47 4 3.39 4.00 10.35 69

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 May 2, 2004
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Rains on Saturday and Sunday are a welcome sight and much needed.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Much needed rain finally arrived. Things are much greener, but for how long?
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Rain amounts between 2 and 4 inches fell over the county during the last week.
Rain!
We have received two small rains which have helped top soil moisture. But we are still very short on moisture.
Scattered rain last week helped soil moisture conditions; pastures & hayfields hopefully will benefit & grow. A lot of hay is still being fed.

DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Dry is the best way to describe the crop conditions in the county. We need rainfall and we need it yesterday.
Only received a total of about 8/10 of an inch of rain over weekend. Slight relief from dry weather conditions. Soil moisture still low, we need more rainfall. Farmers fertilizing hay fields and controlling weeds.
Drought conditions worsen in central Georgia. Some livestock producers are feeding hay due to lack of grass. Some are weaning calves early as a result of the drought.
Three days of light rain improved soil moisture, but not enough to overcome extended dry spell.
Please send more rain! Conditions are extreme.
Only one light shower this week, not enough to relieve the extreme drought conditions here. Rain (if it comes ) this weekend will be too late to help the wheat, rye and oat crop. Hay is off to a late start and grazing for livestock is just about non-existent here. Livestock producers are feeding a lot more hay and feed than normal.
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Got 1" of rain early in week followed by another 1 1/2" in late week. Some planting done in between. Fields wet now - should be planting full speed by end of week.
Weekend rains will drastically improve crop conditions and allow spring planting to continue.
Finally some rain. Things have turned around and look better.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Rain throughout weekend restored soil moisture. Pasture and hay fields should soon respond. Planting of dryland crops will progress very rapidly. Planting of irrigated cotton and peanuts shifted into high gear last week before the rain.
A small amount of rain did only a small amount of temporary good.
Beds are being prepared for peanuts and field preparation. We received 0.7" of rainfall.
Rain!
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Planting has ceased until rainfall. Some soil preparation. Irrigation of tobacco and veggie where possible. Got 3/4 inch of rain on Friday and expect more over the weekend.
Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are good.
Rains bring relief to many crops.
Scattered rain earlier in week - parts of county very dry, while other sections moisture was replenished. Good rain Friday across entire county. This most recent rain will get cotton planting into full swing.
Some scattered rain this week - one half inch or less.

Scattered light showers increase crop planting activities. Thrips pressure in vegetable crops has been heavy.
Most farmers received 2+ inches rainfall last week. It couldn't have come at a better time.
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Received rainfall. Planting should begin this week.
Rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 0.5 inches to 2.5 inches in the county.
Contact Information David S. Abbe, Director Georgia Agricultural Statistics Phone: 706-546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga