Georgia weather and crops, 2005 March 27

Georgia Crop Weather
Week Ending Date March 27, 2005
HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WEEKEND The State experienced heavy rainfall over the weekend, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Three to four inches of rain were common, with some areas receiving over seven inches. There were reports of large hail, damaging winds, and tornados in some areas of southwest Georgia. Rain kept fields wet, which slowed land preparation and planting. Soil moisture levels were rated 44 percent adequate and 56 percent surplus.
Corn planting was delayed late in the week but some planting advanced early in the week. Top-dressing of small grains and winter grazing continued where weather allowed. Warm, spring- like weather has helped permanent pastures green up. Tobacco transplants appear in good shape. Livestock producers continued to hay feed due to poor conditions in parts of central Georgia.
County Extension Agents reported an average of 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities included assessing damage from the thunderstorms and tornados, and the routine care of livestock and poultry.

Crop Progress Table March 27, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005.

Crop Condition Table

March 27, 2005

Crop

Very Poor

Vegetables

1

Wheat

0

Pasture

2

Poor Fair Good

--Percentage--

6

35

54

2

30

63

11

38

47

Excellent
4 5 2

Pasture Condition Table - District* Level

March 27, 2005

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

--Percentage--

Dist 1(NW)

17

17

28

38

0

Dist 2(NC)

0

6

31

60

3

Dist 3(NE)

9

16

37

38

0

Dist 4(WC)

1

10

28

59

2

Dist 5(C)

0

21

34

44

1

Dist 6(EC)

0

21

34

44

1

Dist 7(SW)

0

6

49

40

5

Dist 8(SC)

2

8

53

37

0

Dist 9(SE)

0

0

28

69

3

*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 27, 2005 Prev Year

--Percentages--

Very Short

0

NA

Short

0

NA

Adequate

44

NA

Surplus

56

NA

5 Year Avg
NA NA NA NA

Soil Moisture Table - District Level

March 27, 2005

Very Short Short Adequate

--Percentages--

Dist 1(NW)

0

0

71

Dist 1(NW)

0

0

56

Dist 2(NC)

0

2

52

Dist 3(NE)

0

0

54

Dist 4(WC)

0

0

43

Dist 5(C)

0

0

56

Dist 6(EC)

0

0

57

Dist 7(SW)

0

0

40

Dist 8(SC)

0

0

23

Dist 9(SE)

0

0

36

Surplus
29 44 46 46 57 44 43 60 77 64

Weather Information Table

GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

MARCH 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

80 50 64 3.36 6

7.66 9.58 10.40 62

ALPHARETTA

81 43 57 3.04 5

6.75 13.43 15.03 54

ARLINGTON

80 48 65 5.05 5

7.61 9.89 11.81 65

ATTAPULGUS

81 48 66 6.99 5 11.97 14.26 15.45 66

BLAIRSVILLE

76 35 54 2.32 3

4.90 10.31 12.58 53

BOWEN

79 50 64 7.87 5 11.89 14.31 14.97 65

BRUNSWICK

82 53 65 2.83 5

9.14 11.61 12.49 64

BYRON

79 45 62 3.63 4

6.96 10.86 11.87 61

CAIRO

81 49 67 6.13 5 11.23 13.25 14.09 64

CALHOUN

82 41 57 2.94 3

5.58 11.05 12.28 57

CAMILLA

78 49 66 6.68 5

9.94 11.83 12.74 65

CLARKS HILL

81 44 59 3.18 4

5.21 11.47 12.79 60

CORDELE

80 50 63 7.87 5 10.51 13.14 14.74 61

COVINGTON

81 44 59 3.16 4

4.74 9.03 10.28 58

DAHLONEGA

77 41 56 3.09 3

5.73 12.49 14.03 51

DALLAS

81 43 58 3.59 4

7.30 11.70 13.29 55

DAWSON

79 44 64 4.99 4

7.12 9.59 10.99 63

DEARING

81 46 61 4.04 4

6.79 11.23 12.56 57

DEMPSEY

81 42 59 4.18 5

6.16 10.77 12.29 59

DIXIE

81 49 67 4.55 5 10.96 12.78 13.94 66

DUBLIN

78 47 62 7.04 5

9.74 12.09 13.07 62

DULUTH

81 44 57 3.21 5

5.99 12.03 13.24 56

DUNWOODY

81 42 58 2.84 4

6.26 12.75 14.23 56

EATONTON

80 41 59 3.02 4

5.20 10.00 11.68 58

ELLIJAY

79 38 55 2.95 3

5.51 10.89 12.46 53

GAINESVILLE

78 45 56 3.34 3

6.19 12.32 13.59 57

GRIFFIN

81 42 60 4.11 4

6.28 11.44 13.10 58

HOMERVILLE

82 50 65 3.04 5

8.33 9.76 10.71 66

JACKSONVILLE 76 46 62 4.85 5

7.62 11.28 12.83 60

JONESBORO

82 43 59 3.27 4

6.00 12.63 14.47 56

LAFAYETTE

81 41 57 1.26 3

2.84 7.30 8.68 54

MCRAE

79 44 62 5.67 5

8.59 10.49 11.18 62

MIDVILLE

78 47 62 4.69 4

6.69 11.89 13.18 62

NAHUNTA

83 45 62 2.54 5

8.27 10.46 11.29 64

NEWTON

79 47 65 6.17 5

9.24 11.17 12.92 66

PLAINS

81 46 63 7.38 5

9.46 12.75 14.66 61

ROME

80 43 58 1.35 4

2.97 6.61 7.72 56

SASSER

78 46 64 5.93 5

8.80 12.10 13.93 63

SAVANNAH

78 46 58 4.66 5

8.53 9.98 10.94 63

SHELLMAN

79 44 64 6.04 5

8.20 10.74 12.53 65

SKIDAWAY

81 50 63 5.18 5

9.50 10.79 11.52 60

STATESBORO

72 38 51 1.32 2

3.28 5.67 6.54 56

TIFTON

76 50 65 4.43 5

7.28 9.59 10.66 61

TIGER

74 34 53 3.04 3

5.21 10.59 12.02 52

VALDOSTA

82 52 68 4.46 5 11.69 13.24 14.43 64

VIDALIA

81 47 63 3.74 5

5.43 6.99 7.93 62

WILLIAMSON

81 41 60 4.69 4

7.18 11.94 13.89 59

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 March 27, 2005
DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available.
DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Heavy rain and thunderstorms early this week resulted in wet field conditions that prevented field work - primary activities include routine care of livestock and poultry.
DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Rain, poultry litter & warmer temps have pastures greening up.
DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Warm weather has winter grazing and small grains hopping. Permanent pastures have greened up. Rainfall amounts Saturday night and Sunday were between 5-6 inches in most of county. Wet!
Rain during the week and heavy over the weekend; small grains progress well, no significant pest problems yet. Spread lime and fertilizer on pastures and hayfields; routine care of livestock and poultry.
Warmer, spring like, temperatures late in the week. Small grains and wintergrazing being topdressed. Equipment maintenance and preparation being done for spring planting. Hay feeding to livestock continued to be heavy due to pasture conditions.
DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Temperatures have warmed up significantly in the county. Spring has meant a surplus in rainfall thus far.
Rain and more rain! Over 5 inches in some parts of the county. The rains brought a halt to land preparation and planting.
Much rain lately. The ground is soaked and corn planting will be delayed.
Wet weather and wet soil conditions are slowing corn planting and land preparation for other crops.
DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Five to eight inches of rain over weekend has all activities shut down.
Corn planting in progress, powdery mildew found in some wheat.

Very wet. Six inches of rain over the weekend.
Lots of rain, some erosion. Sunshine looks good.
DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Continuing rains maintain soil moisture at relatively high levels.
Tornadoes and storms on Tuesday resulted in rye blown down and at least 3 cows killed and 15 injured, some severely. Numerous sheds and barns damaged. Much damage to trees and fencing. Some tractor and other farm equipment damaged. Three inch flash flood caused washing in fields, affecting newly planted corn.
Corn being planted.
Small grains and winter grazing responding well to warm weather. Permanent pastures greening up. Seven to nine inches of rainfall fell Saturday night through Sunday. Lots of local flooding, erosion in fields, and standing water in low areas. Too wet to plow!
DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Some wind damage. Lots of rainfall. Farmers are delayed in planting corn and preparing tobacco dirt for planting. Had 2 to 4 inches of rain on March 22. Fields are muddy. It will be 3-4 days before they will be able to get back to doing field work. Sunny, warm weather is helping pastures and hay fields to greenup and start growing. Tobacco transplants look good. We are two to three weeks away from transplanting.
Rain fall amounts across the county ranged from 1.5 inches to 4+ inches. Some field damage due to heavy downpours were experienced.
Field corn is being planted now.
DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST Six to seven inches rain and hail in some areas.
Onions bulbing heavily, but need dry weather conditions to avoid disease onset.
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