Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date January 30, 2005 ICE STORM SWEEPS THE STATE It was a very cold week, for most of the state, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperature dropped into the low teens in north Georgia, while lows in the 20's were reported for south Georgia. Soil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. The extreme cold suppressed disease and insects for most crops. A weekend ice storm hit most of the state. During the week some areas had over an inch of precipitation. The ice caused power outages and damage to trees. Pasture, vegetable, and wheat conditions were all rated in mostly good or fair condition. Pasture conditions were still declining in the eastern central part of the state due to lack of rain. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities included deciding on 2005 crops, harrowing fields, applying chicken litter, discing cotton stalks, some tillage of vegetable fields, spraying small grains for weeds, soil testing, lime and fertilizer application and other preparations for spring planting. Routine care of livestock and poultry took place as well. Crop Progress Table January 30, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005. Crop Condition Table January 30, 2005 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 0 Wheat 0 Pasture 3 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 5 37 56 1 32 63 14 42 38 Excellent 2 4 3 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level January 30, 2005 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 4 19 59 18 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 5 48 45 2 Dist 3(NE) 0 15 38 40 7 Dist 4(WC) 1 5 43 43 8 Dist 5(C) 6 9 30 53 2 Dist 6(EC) 1 24 41 34 0 Dist 7(SW) 2 16 43 38 1 Dist 8(SC) 5 20 48 24 3 Dist 9(SE) 0 11 38 51 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 Jan 30, 2005 Prev Year --Percentages-- Very Short 1 NA Short 14 NA Adequate 78 NA 5 Year Avg NA NA NA Surplus 7 NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level January 30, 2005 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 4 94 Dist 2(NC) 0 4 82 Dist 3(NE) 0 2 92 Dist 4(WC) 0 4 78 Dist 5(C) 0 8 83 Dist 6(EC) 1 28 71 Dist 7(SW) 3 12 81 Dist 8(SC) 2 21 69 Dist 9(SE) 0 35 65 Surplus 2 14 6 18 9 0 4 8 0 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY JANUARY 30, 2005 1/ 2005 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 70 21 44 0.88 3 1.70 1.70 1.70 47 ALPHARETTA 67 12 39 0.81 1 2.41 2.41 2.41 39 ARLINGTON 71 18 45 0.57 3 2.49 2.49 2.49 48 ATTAPULGUS 74 22 47 0.73 3 1.92 1.92 1.92 52 BOWEN 69 19 44 0.92 2 1.58 1.58 1.58 50 BRUNSWICK 71 22 47 0.79 2 1.67 1.67 1.67 51 BYRON 68 16 40 0.33 1 1.34 1.34 1.34 47 CAIRO 73 21 47 0.80 2 1.64 1.64 1.64 57 CALHOUN 70 10 39 0.53 2 1.76 1.76 1.76 40 CAMILLA 71 19 45 0.53 2 1.44 1.44 1.44 50 CLARKS HILL 68 13 39 1.06 2 2.38 2.38 2.38 43 CORDELE 67 17 43 0.90 2 2.50 2.50 2.50 49 DAHLONEGA 66 10 39 0.98 2 2.52 2.52 2.52 41 DALLAS 68 14 39 0.52 1 2.11 2.11 2.11 42 DAWSON 70 17 43 0.71 2 2.11 2.11 2.11 49 DEARING 69 14 40 1.17 2 2.50 2.50 2.50 47 DEMPSEY 67 13 39 0.71 2 2.23 2.23 2.23 42 DIXIE 73 22 47 0.64 1 1.80 1.80 1.80 51 DUBLIN 67 16 42 0.68 2 1.66 1.66 1.66 46 DULUTH 68 13 39 0.76 1 1.97 1.97 1.97 42 DUNWOODY 67 14 39 0.76 1 2.24 2.24 2.24 41 EATONTON 69 10 39 0.75 2 2.43 2.43 2.43 42 ELLIJAY 63 10 36 0.68 3 2.24 2.24 2.24 40 GAINESVILLE 65 16 39 0.72 1 1.99 1.99 1.99 44 GEORGETOWN 69 15 43 0.87 3 3.51 3.51 3.51 49 GRIFFIN 67 14 40 0.89 2 2.55 2.55 2.55 45 HOMERVILLE 71 21 45 0.57 2 1.52 1.52 1.52 51 JACKSONVILLE 67 12 40 0.79 2 2.34 2.34 2.34 46 LAFAYETTE 67 11 40 0.52 2 1.90 1.90 1.90 42 MCRAE 66 14 42 0.41 1 1.10 1.10 1.10 47 MIDVILLE 68 15 41 0.51 2 1.80 1.80 1.80 46 NAHUNTA 71 18 44 0.69 2 1.53 1.53 1.53 51 NEWTON 73 18 45 0.49 3 2.24 2.24 2.24 51 PINE MOUNTAIN 68 13 40 0.16 2 1.86 1.86 1.86 43 PLAINS 68 15 43 1.12 2 3.03 3.03 3.03 45 ROME 69 14 39 0.55 2 1.66 1.66 1.66 42 SASSER 68 20 43 0.98 3 2.81 2.81 2.81 47 SAVANNAH 68 18 41 0.53 2 1.49 1.49 1.49 49 SHELLMAN 69 18 43 0.59 3 2.38 2.38 2.38 48 SKIDAWAY 69 24 43 0.42 2 1.15 1.15 1.15 46 STATESBORO 67 18 42 0.94 2 1.81 1.81 1.81 48 TIFTON 69 20 44 0.73 2 1.80 1.80 1.80 50 TIGER 62 11 38 0.87 2 2.30 2.30 2.30 38 VALDOSTA 74 24 48 0.67 2 1.86 1.86 1.86 52 VIDALIA 66 19 43 0.68 2 1.62 1.62 1.62 49 WATKINSVILLE 69 13 39 1.11 1 3.37 3.37 3.37 41 WILLIAMSON 67 13 40 0.85 2 2.80 2.80 2.80 42 1/ Weather data supplied by Georgia Automated Environmental 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 January 30, 2005 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Routine care of livestock and poultry--some tillage of vegetable fields began this week. Ice storm which stayed two days with accumulation of two inches. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Ice storm, power outages, extensive damage to pine trees, fences damaged by falling trees and limbs, about an inch of precipitation. Mild weather turned to cold and ice; small grains in mostly good to fair shape, insects at a minimum thus far; routine care of livestock & poultry; soil sampling, applied lime. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL It has been colder as of late which has been beneficial in terms of pest and disease suppression. Producers began to apply fertilizer to winter grains. Producers applied herbicides to small grains to control weeds. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Need rain! Sprayed weeds in wheat, spread lime. Very cold this week. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Field preparation and cotton stalk discing. Ice, inch of rain, some damage. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Harrowed land, applied chicken litter, deciding on what crops to plant. Getting ready for 2005 crop season. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available. 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