Georgia weather and crops, 2005 February 20

Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date February 20, 2005
MODERATE TEMPERATURES SPARK PASTURE GROWTH Temperatures were fairly moderate throughout the State this past week, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Low temperatures got to the low 20's in north Georgia and the mid 30's for south Georgia. High temperatures reached the high 70's in south Georgia and the low 60's for north Georgia. Soil moisture levels were rated 10 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus.
Precipitation levels varied throughout the state. Almost 2 inches of rain came to much of the northern part of the State, while the southern areas received as little as .05 inches. While north Georgia has received a lot of rain, some areas in central Georgia have a deficit amount of moisture. In the areas that received rain, some pastures were dying from excess moisture. Highbush blueberries were beginning to bloom. The bushes will need to be protected from freezing weather. Pasture, vegetable, and wheat conditions were all rated in mostly good or fair condition.
County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities included soil testing, lime and fertilizer application, planting sweet corn, laying plastic for spring tomatoes, field preparations for corn and peanuts, and routine care of livestock and poultry.

Crop Progress Table February 20, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005.

Crop Condition Table

February 20, 2005

Crop

Very Poor

Vegetables

0

Wheat

0

Pasture

4

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

5

42

47

2

32

62

12

47

35

Excellent
6 4 2

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

February 20, 2005

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

8

15

57

20

0

Dist 2(NC)

0

1

60

37

2

Dist 3(NE)

0

31

36

28

5

Dist 4(WC)

2

3

41

45

9

Dist 5(C)

10

12

41

37

0

Dist 6(EC)

2

10

44

44

0

Dist 7(SW)

4

12

45

38

1

Dist 8(SC)

7

15

53

24

1

Dist 9(SE)

0

9

40

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

Feb 20, 2005 Prev Year

--Percentages--

Very Short

0

NA

Short

10

NA

Adequate

76

NA

5 Year Avg
NA NA NA

Surplus

14

NA

NA

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

February 20, 2005

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

0

8

82

Dist 2(NC)

0

2

60

Dist 3(NE)

0

1

57

Dist 4(WC)

0

16

64

Dist 5(C)

0

1

94

Dist 6(EC)

0

1

89

Dist 7(SW)

0

7

84

Dist 8(SC)

0

17

76

Dist 9(SE)

0

22

75

Surplus
10 38 42 20
5 10
9 7 3

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 20, 2005 1/

2005

Air Temperature

Precipitation Totals

Extreme Weekly Rain

30

60

Soil

Location

Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day

Day Season Temp

ALMA

76 30 55 0.07 2 1.71 2.49 2.49 55

ALPHARETTA

68 27 47 1.36 3 4.02 5.60 5.60 47

ARLINGTON

74 32 56 0.08 3 1.95 3.87 3.87 57

ATTAPULGUS

78 31 57 0.51 2 1.85 3.04 3.04 58

BLAIRSVILLE

63 21 43 1.41 5 2.60 4.87 4.87 45

BOWEN

72 30 54 0.08 2 2.19 2.84 2.84 57

BRUNSWICK

77 34 56 0.09 1 1.67 2.53 2.53 57

BYRON

70 31 53 0.14 2 2.86 3.87 3.87 53

CALHOUN

69 24 46 1.96 4 3.39 4.61 4.61 48

CAMILLA

75 29 56 0.05 1 1.69 2.60 2.60 58

CLARKS HILL

70 27 52 0.23 2 3.33 4.64 4.64 52

CORDELE

73 32 55 0.06 2 2.54 4.14 4.14 55

COVINGTON

70 28 50 0.48 3 3.02 4.26 4.26 50

DAHLONEGA

69 26 45 1.64 4 3.69 5.19 5.19 45

DALLAS

69 29 48 1.10 3 2.90 4.49 4.49 48

DAWSON

72 29 55 0.05 2 2.31 3.71 3.71 56

DEARING

68 32 52 0.17 2 2.95 4.28 4.28 52

DEMPSEY

69 29 50 0.41 2 3.38 4.90 4.90 49

DIXIE

78 33 57 0.29 2 1.44 2.59 2.59 58

DUBLIN

70 28 53 0.09 2 2.12 3.10 3.10 54

DULUTH

70 27 47 0.95 2 3.26 4.46 4.46 49

DUNWOODY

68 28 47 1.20 2 3.43 4.91 4.91 48

EATONTON

70 25 49 0.15 3 3.44 5.10 5.10 49

ELLIJAY

63 24 44 1.86 4 3.20 4.73 4.73 45

GAINESVILLE

67 32 47 1.31 3 3.50 4.73 4.73 50

GEORGETOWN

72 27 54 0.26 2 3.34 5.98 5.98 57

GRIFFIN

68 31 50 0.42 3 3.91 5.57 5.57 51

HOMERVILLE

78 28 54 0.12 2 1.13 2.08 2.08 57

JACKSONVILLE 69 28 52 0.15 2 2.96 4.51 4.51 52

JONESBORO

70 29 50 0.61 3 4.31 6.15 6.15 49

LAFAYETTE

64 25 46 1.58 4 2.75 4.13 4.13 48

MCRAE

71 26 52 0.09 3 1.73 2.42 2.42 54

MIDVILLE

66 29 52 0.15 2 2.91 4.17 4.17 53

NAHUNTA

78 26 54 0.19 2 1.74 2.56 2.56 58

NEWTON

75 29 55 0.08 2 1.64 3.39 3.39 58

PINE MOUNTAIN 73 28 51 0.27 4 2.48 4.18 4.18 51

PLAINS

72 31 54 0.16 2 3.06 4.97 4.97 54

ROME

68 26 47 1.27 3 2.54 3.65 3.65 49

SASSER

72 31 55 0.05 2 3.13 4.96 4.96 56

SAVANNAH

69 25 49 0.08 2 1.35 2.26 2.26 56

SHELLMAN

73 30 55 0.11 2 2.39 4.18 4.18 58

SKIDAWAY

76 32 53 0.10 2 1.18 1.80 1.80 54

STATESBORO

68 30 53 0.15 2 2.39 3.26 3.26 55

TIFTON

72 33 55 0.06 2 2.06 3.13 3.13 54

TIGER

65 23 43 1.12 4 3.10 4.49 4.49 44

VALDOSTA

78 34 58 0.20 1 1.20 2.34 2.34 57

VIDALIA

71 30 54 0.07 2 1.39 2.33 2.33 56

WATKINSVILLE 70 31 49 0.79 2 4.55 6.79 6.79 49

WILLIAMSON

71 29 50 0.44 3 3.40 5.35 5.35 50

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 February 20, 2005
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Some pastures are staying too wet and getting dying grass from this situation.
Routine care of livestock and poultry.
Lots of rain, but winter grazing well established and just waiting for some warm weather to jump.
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Started raining Saturday night. Received as much as 2 inches in some areas of the county.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available.
DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL We have seen temperatures rise over the past few days. We've also seen our rainfall patterns continue to develop some consistency. Hopefully, we'll continue to see the cooler temperatures impact insect problems.
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Top dressing wheat.
Top moisture is ok but subsoil still short.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Started planting sweet corn this week. Eighty-five% of plastic laid for spring tomatoes. Spread lime, fertilizer, and prepared land for corn and peanut. We received 01" of rainfall.
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL

Highbush blueberries are beginning to bloom. Will have to start freeze protecting at freezing and below temperatures. Last three fronts passing through county have not brought much rainfall. We are 5-6 inches short of rain for 2005. Farmers are getting field work done with the open weather we are having.
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Onions continue to improve as weather conditions improve.
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