Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date March 6, 2005 DECLINING PASTURE CONDITIONS BUT ADEQUATE MOISTURE There were warmer temperatures during the day and cold across the state at night according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Low temperatures were in the 20's for most of the state. High temperatures reached the low 80's in south Georgia and the mid 60's for north Georgia. Soil moisture levels were rated 2 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Precipitation was mostly a half inch or less. Pasture, vegetable, and wheat conditions were all rated in mostly good or fair condition. Pasture conditions continued to decline. Pasture conditions were particularly bad for the western and south central parts of Georgia due to excessive rains. Hay feeding continued. Wheat started jointing. County Extension Agents reported an average of 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities included soil testing, yearly monitoring for moths by apple growers, lime application, small grains being top dressed, burn down (spraying) of wheat prior to corn planting, field preparations for green beans, and routine care of livestock and poultry. Crop Progress Table March 6, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005. Crop Condition Table March 6, 2005 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 0 Wheat 0 Pasture 5 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 4 36 54 1 30 65 12 38 44 Excellent 6 4 1 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level March 6, 2005 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 16 15 40 29 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 3 33 64 0 Dist 3(NE) 0 15 41 37 7 Dist 4(WC) 12 10 39 35 4 Dist 5(C) 7 7 28 58 0 Dist 6(EC) 0 20 30 50 0 Dist 7(SW) 5 21 40 33 1 Dist 8(SC) 6 8 50 35 1 Dist 9(SE) 0 9 40 50 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 Mar 6, 2005 Prev Year --Percentages-- Very Short 0 NA Short 2 NA Adequate 78 NA Surplus 20 NA 5 Year Avg NA NA NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level March 6, 2005 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 0 80 Dist 2(NC) 0 0 78 Dist 3(NE) 0 0 60 Dist 4(WC) 0 2 75 Dist 5(C) 0 0 73 Dist 6(EC) 0 1 82 Dist 7(SW) 0 5 86 Dist 8(SC) 0 2 82 Dist 9(SE) 1 8 72 Surplus 20 22 40 23 27 17 9 16 19 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY MARCH 6, 2005 1/ 2005 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 72 31 49 0.03 2 2.31 4.56 4.56 52 ALPHARETTA 64 25 41 0.52 3 5.83 9.77 9.79 44 ARLINGTON 81 32 58 0.22 1 2.17 4.09 4.09 58 ATTAPULGUS 73 32 50 0.06 2 2.55 5.08 5.08 55 BLAIRSVILLE 62 19 37 0.14 2 5.12 8.42 8.42 43 BOWEN 72 30 49 0.00 0 2.88 4.96 4.96 54 BRUNSWICK 73 32 52 0.00 0 4.65 7.09 7.09 55 BYRON 73 26 46 0.08 2 3.54 6.22 6.22 51 CAIRO 72 30 50 0.01 1 2.46 4.59 4.59 59 CALHOUN 65 23 41 0.12 2 4.83 7.22 7.22 45 CAMILLA 72 28 50 0.00 0 2.30 4.26 4.26 54 CLARKS HILL 69 26 45 0.29 2 4.80 8.24 8.24 48 CORDELE 72 30 48 0.00 0 1.72 5.15 5.16 53 COVINGTON 68 25 44 0.07 1 3.43 6.01 6.01 47 DAHLONEGA 64 23 41 0.26 1 5.62 9.03 9.03 43 DALLAS 64 26 43 0.23 2 3.90 7.03 7.03 45 DAWSON 73 27 48 0.00 0 1.78 4.50 4.50 54 DEARING 70 27 46 0.34 2 3.46 6.72 6.72 50 DEMPSEY 68 25 44 0.04 1 3.72 6.82 6.82 46 DIXIE 73 30 50 0.01 1 2.75 5.04 5.04 54 DUBLIN 73 28 47 0.12 3 2.07 4.45 4.45 52 DULUTH 65 26 42 0.31 2 5.06 8.32 8.32 46 DUNWOODY 64 26 42 0.59 2 6.00 9.46 9.46 45 EATONTON 69 24 44 0.08 2 3.55 7.07 7.07 46 ELLIJAY 59 23 38 0.27 2 4.87 7.56 7.56 43 GAINESVILLE 63 29 43 0.32 1 5.26 8.45 8.45 47 GEORGETOWN 72 28 48 0.01 1 2.39 6.96 6.96 54 GRIFFIN 69 25 44 0.06 1 3.97 7.58 7.58 49 HOMERVILLE 73 30 49 0.03 1 2.32 4.26 4.26 55 JACKSONVILLE 71 27 46 0.08 1 2.68 6.10 6.10 51 JONESBORO 67 28 44 0.14 2 5.36 9.27 9.27 47 LAFAYETTE 63 20 41 0.14 2 3.94 6.26 6.30 45 MCRAE 73 28 46 0.06 2 2.09 3.91 3.92 53 MIDVILLE 72 30 47 0.17 2 4.48 7.37 7.37 49 NAHUNTA 73 29 49 0.01 1 3.68 6.00 6.00 55 NEWTON 73 28 49 0.00 0 2.04 4.89 4.89 55 PINE MOUNTAIN 70 23 44 0.04 1 4.71 7.51 7.51 48 PLAINS 73 27 47 0.00 0 2.04 6.17 6.17 49 ROME 65 21 42 0.06 1 2.88 5.10 5.10 47 SASSER 73 27 49 0.01 1 2.61 6.33 6.33 52 SAVANNAH 74 28 47 0.10 2 2.34 4.33 4.33 54 SHELLMAN 73 27 48 0.01 1 2.10 5.22 5.22 53 SKIDAWAY 74 31 49 0.04 2 2.63 4.20 4.20 52 STATESBORO 72 30 48 0.17 3 2.21 4.94 4.94 52 TIFTON 71 28 49 0.00 0 2.35 4.60 4.60 53 TIGER 63 22 39 0.42 2 4.57 7.72 7.72 41 VALDOSTA 73 33 52 0.04 1 2.61 4.75 4.75 56 VIDALIA 73 29 48 0.10 1 1.13 3.16 3.16 53 WATKINSVILLE 66 26 44 0.14 1 4.76 9.52 9.52 45 WILLIAMSON 68 24 44 0.04 1 3.54 7.47 7.47 47 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 6, 2005 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Rain and snow showers Tuesday. Even with recent warmer weather, not seen much change in small grains, wheat, rye, etc. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Large hail fell in county last week but have heard of no damage. The apple growers have begun their yearly monitoring for coddling moth, oriental fruit moth, and tufted apple budmoth. Routine care of livestock and poultry this week - wet conditions in pastures and livestock feeding areas. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST No comments available. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL Where dry, applying lime, fertilizing fescue pastures and hayfields; feeding hay and routine care of livestock; lots of calves arriving. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Cold and windy! March did come in like a lion. Many farmers topdressing small grains this week also preparing land for spring planting, etc. Heavy hay feeding continues for livestock. We have experienced cold weather over the last five days. Hopefully, we'll see the suppression of insect and disease problems. Fields at this time are too wet for soil preparation. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Wheat has started jointing, some "burn-down" spraying prior to corn planting. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST We received 1.16" of rainfall. Field preparation for greenbean plantings. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Everything is pretty normal for this time of year. 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