Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date February 27, 2005 RAIN DOUSES MOST OF THE STATE Temperatures were warm during the day, and fairly cold at night throughout the State this past week, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Low temperatures were in the low 20's in north Georgia and the mid 40's for south Georgia. High temperatures reached the low 80's in south Georgia and the low 70's for north Georgia. Soil moisture levels were rated 4 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Precipitation levels were high throughout most of the state. Some areas received 4 or 5 inches of rain, while other areas received less than an inch. Early spring fruits approached full bloom. Onions were reported to be in excellent condition. Pasture, vegetable, and wheat conditions were all rated in mostly good or fair condition. Pasture and grazing conditions continued to decline. Hay feeding increased due to the muddy or dry conditions. Erosion was reported for parts of the southern part of the State. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities included soil testing, lime application, small grains being top dressed and side dressed, tobacco and cabbage were transplanted, field preparations for corn, and routine care of livestock and poultry. Crop Progress Table February 27, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005. Crop Condition Table February 27, 2005 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 1 Wheat 0 Pasture 7 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 5 41 48 1 29 66 14 38 39 Excellent 5 4 2 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level February 27, 2005 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 15 20 34 31 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 5 37 55 3 Dist 3(NE) 0 0 49 39 12 Dist 4(WC) 16 14 27 34 9 Dist 5(C) 11 10 34 45 0 Dist 6(EC) 0 21 34 45 0 Dist 7(SW) 6 15 39 39 1 Dist 8(SC) 6 15 52 26 1 Dist 9(SE) 0 14 29 56 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 Feb 27, 2005 Prev Year --Percentages-- Very Short 0 NA Short 4 NA Adequate 66 NA 5 Year Avg NA NA NA Surplus 30 NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level February 27, 2005 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 0 40 Dist 2(NC) 0 0 62 Dist 3(NE) 0 0 90 Dist 4(WC) 0 0 56 Dist 5(C) 0 0 48 Dist 6(EC) 0 0 60 Dist 7(SW) 0 5 73 Dist 8(SC) 0 12 79 Dist 9(SE) 0 6 74 Surplus 60 38 10 44 52 40 22 9 20 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2005 1/ 2005 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 81 38 60 2.04 5 3.70 4.53 4.53 60 ALPHARETTA 73 28 50 3.67 5 7.67 9.27 9.27 50 ARLINGTON 81 32 58 0.22 1 2.17 4.09 4.09 58 ATTAPULGUS 78 41 60 1.98 4 3.82 5.02 5.02 61 BLAIRSVILLE 69 22 46 3.41 5 6.01 8.28 8.28 49 BOWEN 80 37 59 2.12 4 4.17 4.96 4.96 61 BRUNSWICK 82 44 61 4.56 6 6.21 7.09 7.09 61 BYRON 78 36 57 2.27 6 5.13 6.14 6.14 58 CAIRO 80 42 60 2.14 5 3.74 4.58 4.58 62 CALHOUN 71 26 49 2.49 4 5.87 7.10 7.10 52 CAMILLA 82 37 60 1.66 3 3.27 4.26 4.26 61 CLARKS HILL 75 31 51 3.31 4 6.63 7.95 7.95 55 CORDELE 80 37 59 1.02 4 3.43 5.16 5.16 59 COVINGTON 75 31 54 1.68 5 4.69 5.94 5.94 55 DAHLONEGA 72 28 48 3.58 5 7.23 8.77 8.77 48 DALLAS 72 31 51 2.31 4 5.21 6.80 6.80 52 DAWSON 81 37 59 0.79 4 3.04 4.50 4.50 60 DEARING 78 35 54 2.10 4 5.05 6.38 6.38 55 DEMPSEY 74 33 55 1.88 5 5.26 6.78 6.78 55 DIXIE 81 40 60 2.44 4 3.87 5.03 5.03 62 DUBLIN 78 35 58 1.23 4 3.35 4.33 4.33 59 DULUTH 73 29 50 3.55 4 6.80 8.01 8.01 52 DUNWOODY 71 30 51 3.76 5 6.49 7.97 7.97 52 EATONTON 76 30 53 1.89 5 5.31 6.99 6.99 55 ELLIJAY 69 27 47 2.56 4 5.72 7.29 7.29 48 GAINESVILLE 72 32 49 3.40 5 6.86 8.13 8.13 53 GEORGETOWN 80 36 59 0.97 4 4.11 6.95 6.95 62 GRIFFIN 74 34 55 1.95 5 5.86 7.52 7.52 56 HOMERVILLE 81 37 60 2.15 4 3.28 4.23 4.23 61 JACKSONVILLE 77 36 57 1.51 5 4.47 6.02 6.02 58 JONESBORO 74 32 54 2.98 5 7.29 9.13 9.13 54 LAFAYETTE 71 27 48 2.03 4 4.78 6.16 6.16 50 MCRAE 79 33 58 1.44 5 3.17 3.86 3.86 59 MIDVILLE 78 37 56 3.03 5 5.91 7.20 7.20 58 NAHUNTA 82 35 59 3.43 5 5.16 5.99 5.99 61 NEWTON 81 38 60 1.50 4 3.05 4.89 4.89 61 PINE MOUNTAIN 76 35 56 3.29 5 5.77 7.47 7.47 56 PLAINS 79 37 58 1.20 5 4.16 6.17 6.17 58 ROME 73 29 50 1.39 4 3.93 5.04 5.04 52 SASSER 81 37 59 1.36 4 4.34 6.32 6.32 59 SAVANNAH 82 32 55 1.97 3 3.27 4.23 4.23 60 SHELLMAN 82 37 59 1.03 4 3.29 5.21 5.21 62 SKIDAWAY 82 42 58 2.36 4 3.43 4.16 4.16 58 STATESBORO 79 35 56 1.51 5 3.90 4.77 4.77 59 TIFTON 80 39 59 1.47 4 3.41 4.60 4.60 58 TIGER 69 25 46 2.81 4 5.87 7.30 7.30 47 VALDOSTA 82 42 61 2.37 4 3.52 4.71 4.71 61 VIDALIA 79 38 58 0.73 5 2.12 3.06 3.06 60 WATKINSVILLE 74 30 52 2.59 5 7.12 9.38 9.38 53 WILLIAMSON 74 32 55 2.08 5 5.48 7.43 7.43 56 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 27, 2005 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Four to five inches of rain this past week has everything saturated. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Heavy rain this week - pastures muddy and grazing short. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Wet! Rain through the week has pastures sloppy and regressing; soil testing, lime applications were abundant. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Some light showers mid week. Warmer than average temperatures. Small grains being topdressed and some land being prepared for spring planting. Heavy hay feeding continued for livestock due to poor pasture conditions. Conditions on dairies & beef operations are very wet & muddy. Winter grazing and pasture in low areas are too wet to graze. We have gotten more than an average amount of rainfall recently. We experienced an increase in erosion on some fields as well as a upturn in temperatures in the county. How this effects us in the long term is yet to be determined. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Soil moisture continued to be adequate with surpluses taking place in some areas. Rain has helped. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 0.17" of rainfall. Wheat greenup. Farmers sidedressing wheat and corn fields preparation for planting. Wet! DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Tobacco transplants look good. First seedings have been clipped two to three times. Early spring fruit (pears, plumbs, blueberries, etc) is approaching full bloom. Warm weather is speeding up green up in lawns. We are still very short on rainfall for 2005. We have only totaled a little over one inch of rain for the year. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Onions continue to improve and overall are in excellent shape. Last week was our county market hog show and it was a success. We are currently in the process of transplanting cabbage and preparing land for spring vegetables. 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